Paintless dent repair
Many hail dents in aluminum can be pushed out without repainting, but aluminum is less forgiving than steel and needs more patience. See paintless dent removal for how it works.
Ford repair guide
Aluminum trucks, steel frames
When Ford moved the F-150 to an aluminum-alloy body in 2015, it changed truck repair in Texas. The cab, bed, doors, hood and fenders are aluminum; the frame underneath is high-strength steel. The Super Duty followed in 2017 and the Expedition in 2018. Aluminum panels are joined with rivets and structural adhesives as well as welds, and aluminum has to be kept away from steel tools so it doesn't corrode.
Elsewhere in the range, the picture changes. The Mustang is a steel car with aluminum parts such as the hood and front fenders, the Bronco is body-on-frame with removable doors and roof panels, and the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning are electric. We confirm the model and year from the VIN and plan the repair around Ford's procedures. Hail is its own topic on aluminum; see our hail damage repair page.
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Repairing an aluminum Ford truck
Aluminum is lighter than steel and resists rust. It also has stricter repair rules.
01
Separate tools and area
Steel particles on aluminum cause galvanic corrosion that shows up months later. Our aluminum work has its own tools and its own area.
02
Rivets and adhesives
Ford joins aluminum panels with self-piercing rivets and structural adhesives as well as welds. Replacement sections are joined the way Ford's procedures specify.
03
Frame and body checked separately
The frame is steel and the body aluminum. After a hard hit, the frame is measured on our frame bench and the body is checked for alignment on it.
04
Beds and cabs
Some damaged panels can be sectioned at locations Ford's procedures allow, rather than replacing a whole bed side or cab panel. The plan shows which approach your truck needs.
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Texas hail on aluminum panels
Hail is part of life in Central Texas, and dents in aluminum behave differently from dents in steel.
When panels are replaced
Sharp, deep or stretched dents, or dents on edges and body lines, may not come out cleanly. Those panels are repaired conventionally or replaced.
Document for insurance
We photograph and map the dents panel by panel, so your insurer and you see the same damage. Hail claims usually fall under comprehensive coverage; check your policy.
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Mustang, Bronco and Ford Performance
Mustang
A steel body with aluminum parts such as the hood and front fenders on recent generations. Shelby GT350 and GT500 models have their own panels and aero, ordered by VIN.
Bronco
Body-on-frame with removable doors and roof panels. After trail damage we check the frame, rock rails and fender flares along with the body, and the fit of removable panels.
Ford GT
The 2017 to 2022 Ford GT is built around a carbon-fiber tub, and the 2005 to 2006 GT on an aluminum spaceframe. Both are assessed case by case.
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Tinted clearcoats and Ford colors
Tinted clearcoat
Colors like Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat carry part of their color in the clear layer. The depth of that tinted clear changes the shade, so it's matched on test panels before painting.
Bright solids and metallics
Bronco, Mustang and truck colors range from bright solids to metallics. We read the panel with a spectrophotometer and blend into adjacent panels where needed.
Model guide
Ford models and their construction
A general guide to Ford construction by family. Model year matters, so we confirm your vehicle from the VIN.
Trucks
- F-150 (2015 onward)
- Aluminum-alloy body on a high-strength steel frame.
- Super Duty (2017 onward)
- Aluminum body on a steel frame.
- Ranger
- Midsize body-on-frame pickup.
- Maverick
- Unibody compact pickup; hybrid versions carry a high-voltage battery.
SUVs
- Bronco
- Body-on-frame with removable doors and roof panels.
- Bronco Sport
- Unibody compact SUV.
- Explorer
- Unibody SUV.
- Expedition (2018 onward)
- Aluminum body on a steel frame.
Performance cars
- Mustang
- Steel body with aluminum parts such as the hood and front fenders on recent generations.
- Shelby GT350, GT500
- Earlier model years with model-specific panels and aero.
- Ford GT
- Carbon tub (2017 to 2022) or aluminum spaceframe (2005 to 2006).
Electric
- F-150 Lightning
- Electric pickup with the battery between the frame rails.
- Mustang Mach-E
- Electric SUV with the battery in the floor.
Construction notes are general. Ford's repair information for your exact vehicle is what the repair follows.
Good to know
Before you book a Ford repair
Work trucks and fleets
If your truck carries a rack, toolbox or upfit, tell us. Accessories are removed and refitted as part of the repair, and we note anything that needs a specialist upfitter.
Lightning, Mach-E and hybrids
Electric and hybrid Fords carry high-voltage systems. Ford's procedures set how the system is made safe and inspected after an impact; we explain what applies to your vehicle.
Inspection
What we check on every Ford
Photos show what's visible. These checks happen at the in-person inspection, before a repair plan is written.
- Model year and body material from the VIN
- Steel frame measurements after any significant impact
- Aluminum panels: repairable, sectionable or due for replacement
- Bed, cab corners and tailgate alignment on trucks
- Hail dent mapping, panel by panel
- Tinted clearcoat and the panels a match needs
Repair cost guide
What Ford repairs cost: planning ranges
These are the ranges from our repair cost guide for a Ford. They help you plan; they are not a quote. Year, model, materials and hidden damage can move the final price, which follows an inspection.
| Repair | Planning range |
|---|---|
| Small dent, paint not damaged | $150 to $500 |
| Scratches, scuffs or a dent that needs paint | $350 to $1,200 |
| Bumper repair or replacement | $600 to $1,800 |
| Door, fender or quarter-panel damage | $800 to $2,500 |
| Major collision or structural damage | $5,000 to $15,000+ |
| Hail damage | $2,500 to $8,000+ |
| Full respray or color change | $5,000 to $12,000 |
Good parts availability and conventional steel construction usually keep straightforward repairs toward the lower end. Final pricing follows an inspection; confirm tax and all inclusions in your written estimate. Ranges last reviewed October 2026.
Compare repair types in the cost guideHow it works
How a Ford repair works with us
- 1
Send photos
Photos of the damage, the year and model, and the VIN if you have it. We reply with a free first estimate. You can do this today.
- 2
In-person inspection
From January 2027, at our Round Rock workshop. On a Ford, we first confirm whether the damaged panels are aluminum or steel and whether the frame took any load. Structural damage is measured on our frame bench against factory dimensions.
- 3
Written repair plan
Repair method, parts and paint, written down before you authorize anything. OEM parts wherever the manufacturer requires them. Driver-assist calibrations are done by a dealer or calibration specialist and listed in the plan.
- 4
Repair and handover
Repairs follow the manufacturer's procedures. Color is read with a spectrophotometer and sprayed in our paint booth, and you review the finished car with us before you take it home.
Insurance claim?
In Texas you choose the repair shop, not your insurer. We are independent, not part of an insurer's direct repair program. We write the supplements and push for OEM parts where the manufacturer requires them. How we handle claims
Warranty and timing
Warranty terms are given in writing before any work starts. Parts lead times vary by model, so we confirm timing once parts are ordered rather than promising a date up front.
Ford repair questions
Can an aluminum F-150 be repaired like a steel truck?
Not with the same methods. Aluminum needs dedicated tools, a separate work area and Ford's joining methods: rivets and adhesives as well as welds. Done properly, it repairs well.
Is the F-150's frame aluminum too?
No. The body is aluminum, but the frame is high-strength steel. After a hard hit, both are checked: the frame is measured and the body's alignment on it is confirmed.
Can hail dents on an aluminum truck be fixed without repainting?
Many can. Paintless dent repair works on aluminum, though it takes more care than on steel. Sharp, deep or edge dents may need conventional repair or new panels.
Can you match Rapid Red?
It's a tinted clearcoat, so part of the color is in the clear. We match it on test panels, adjusting the tinted layer, and compare with your truck in daylight before painting.
Are you a Ford certified collision shop?
No. We're an independent body shop and don't claim Ford certification. We follow Ford's repair information and use OEM parts where it requires them.
Do you repair Bronco trail damage?
Send photos. Trail damage often involves rock rails, flares and underbody parts as well as the body, so we inspect the frame and suspension too before giving you a plan.
