Auto Insurance Claims: Auto collision with $800 damages to other car, mazada 6, auto body shop

Question
Hello,
I was at fault in a minor fender bender.  The other car's silver bumper (2003 Mazada 6) has my black fender paint scratched onto it.  The bumper seems fine (we were moving about 5 mph).
The other driver got an estimate of $817 from an auto body shop, which seems high (to remove the bumper and re-paint the whole thing)  My deductible is $250 and I have a clean record. Any advice on what to do?  I know the min threshold is $750 for damages in Calif. before my premiums can be raised.  

Answer
From the estimate amount that you're describing, it sounds like they are replacing vs. repairing the bumper cover or there is some hidden damage.  It does take a trained eye to see the actual damage on one of these plastic covers.  Rarely is it a matter of just refinishing.  Once the finish has been cracked across a wide area, they generally have to be replaced.  However, there are remanufactured covers available, which is all that you would really owe for.  After all, the car is 3 years old so you don't owe for a brand new, OEM part.  

I created an estimate for a rear cover on an 03 Mazda 6, adjusted for the high California labor rates and came up with a total of $820.93 for a brand new, Mazda cover.  The cover itself is not that much money and a remanufactured product is only about $50.00 less (if available).  

The only real issue here is if that cover is really repairable or not which is something that I cannot address without seeing it in person.

Good luck!