‘I Hope This Covers It:' Woman Sees $40 and a Note Under Her Windshield. Then She Sees What Happened to Her Kia

Motor 1

04-07-2025

A
Kia
owner claims someone left her $40 along with a note on her windshield after they rammed into her car. Danara Judd (@danarajudds) showed off the damage in a clip that's accrued over 409,000 views on the popular mobile application. While several people were taken aback by the small amount of money, others were skeptical of the TikToker's claim.
Kia Damage
Judd's video begins with her recording the front windshield of her vehicle. Placed on top of it is a written note. Its text is covered by two $20 bills. As she speaks off-camera, she removes the money, which is pinned to the vehicle's windshield beneath its wipers.
'I just come out from the store. Um, I found this note on my car,' she says. The note reads, 'Sorry about the damage, I hope this covers it. It is all I have.' Additionally, whoever penned the note capped it off with a drawing of a sad face.
Judd continues to state off-screen, 'And they left me $40. Let's take a look at the damage.' Following this, she backs away from the vehicle, putting more of it in view of her camera's lens. As she saunters around the car, nothing appears amiss—until she reaches the rear passenger's side. A portion of the bumper cover has been visibly separated from the car.
Furthermore, a portion of the car's body above the wheel well has a large gash, exposing her Kia's underbelly. Also, her rear blinker light has been smashed, and there are large, dark streaks blemishing the white paint job of her car.
Upon showing the harm caused to her vehicle, Judd sarcastically comments on the $40 she received. 'Yup, should cover it,' she says.
Kia Rear Bumper Cover Damage Cost
It's difficult to ascertain the specific vehicle model in Judd's video. However, the car does appear to be a newer model Kia sedan, judging from the rim, body type, and infotainment system shown in this
TikTok
she uploaded. In recent years, Kia has offered a number of
sedan models
, including the
Rio
,
Forte
,
Optima
,
Stinger
,
Cadenza
,
K900
,
K4
, and
K5
.
Overall, auto repair blog
The Cost Guys
broke down the cost of a rear bumper replacement as ranging anywhere from $70 to $2,000.
Several factors affect pricing. First, there are parts for the specific make and model of the vehicle. Second, the amount a mechanic charges for labor can widely vary, according to the website. Moreover, The Cost Guys writes that one's location and average pricing for a region can also influence bumper cover replacement costs.
The online store
Kia Parts Now
sells a K5 rear bumper upper cover for $279.10. Replacements for a
lower rear bumper cover
retail for a higher amount at $337.45. These prices don't factor in labor, either. But there are indeed guides uploaded online by DIY enthusiasts, like this 26-minute video, which clearly delineates
how to replace a rear bumper cover on a 2023 Kia K5
.
For a Kia Optima, drivers can expect to shell out anywhere from $200 to $700, according to
Car Costing
. Like the previously linked K5 clip, there are other online tutorials for Optima owners who want to swap out their rear bumper covers, too.
Rear Taillight Replacement Cost
In addition to the bumper damage, Judd's vehicle seems to have had its rear passenger taillight obliterated. To completely replace the side tail light assembly,
Parts Geek
, another online store, features some Kia options. For a 2019-2024 Kia Forte, drivers will have to fork over $102.97. The same website sells a tail light assembly for the Optima at more than double the cost at
$240.37
. Again, the installation cost of this component isn't factored into these aforementioned online prices, either.
More Damage and Associated Costs
Judd's exterior damage woes don't appear to stop at the rear bumper cover or tail light assembly. Her video shows what looks like a cracked portion of the car's rear passenger body panel. This area is located above the right back wheel well, and isn't connected to the rear bumper. Judging from her video, it seems that her car's rear fender panel was smashed in the collision. This may necessitate the purchase of an entirely new panel. Partsville, on its online eBay store, sells a 2014-2016 Kia Forte panel piece for
$530, with $170 shipping
.
Thus, using these referenced parts expenditures, along with labor costs and the extent of the damage to Judd's Kia, she could be looking at repairs that exceed $1,000, which is significantly higher than the $40 attached to her car's windshield.
Commenters React
Folks who replied to her video also expressed that they thought the amount left on her vehicle was a pittance. One person speculated that the repair estimates would be more in the $4,000 range. 'They are about $3800 short,' they wrote.
Another joked, 'I left $60. Someone must have taken $20.'
However, there were others who believed Judd was attempting to pass off her own damage as an accident. They claimed they saw rust on her vehicle, which they say is indicative of the damage to her car not being as fresh as the TikToker says it is. 'I see rust and no fresh pieces laying next to car. Nice try though,' one wrote.
'Fake post! Rust!!! Fresh hit and run don't produce rust,' another mused.
'Lol is the 'store' your driveway?' one TikToker mentioned, expressing that they thought Judd recorded the video at home. Another person echoed this sentiment, stating, 'I saw the house through the windshield…but your secret's safe with me.'
Motor1
has reached out to Judd via TikTok comment for further information.
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