Insurance companies are having their repair bills bumped up by cars having inefficient bumpers.

Thatcham research centre, which provides services to the car repair, insurance and car manufacturing industries, ran some tests, which showed that even a low-speed impact could cause considerable damage.

It estimates that the cumulative cost to motorists and the insurance industry of all the bodywork damage could amount to an annual total of £2 billion.

One of the tests, which were based on a new international standard trial from the Research Council for Automobile Repairs, proved that on a Suzuki Swift, a front and rear 6mph collision caused £4,600 worth of damage - enough to make it a write-off.

Other makes did not fare much better.

The Honda CR-V, Citroen C4 Picasso and Land Rover Freelander 2 also did badly with accident repairs costing and average of £2,700.

“It is time makers addressed this issue and fitted vehicles with bumpers that bump,” Thatcham’s Matthew Avery told Auto Express magazine.

As the peak-accident winter months approach thousands of car bumpers are again set to crumple as motorists and car insurers pick up the tab

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