Swan doors
The doors on the sports cars rise slightly as they open. They're checked through the whole arc, not just when closed, because a small misalignment shows up as contact partway through the swing.
Aston Martin repair guide
Bonded aluminum, from the DB9 to the DB12
The VH architecture arrived with the DB9 in 2004: extruded and pressed aluminum sections joined with structural adhesive and rivets. It went on to underpin the Vantage, DBS, Rapide and Vanquish of that era, and its successors, from the DB11 to the DB12, the current Vantage and the DBX, continue the bonded-aluminum approach. The carbon-tubbed One-77, Valkyrie and Valhalla are something else entirely, and the DB7 and earlier classics predate VH.
Bonded aluminum is strong, light and precise, and it doesn't forgive improvisation. Joints are recreated with the adhesives, rivets and procedures Aston Martin specifies, structural damage is measured on our frame bench and aluminum is worked with separate tools in a separate area. The paint matters as much: long hoods and curved flanks show every flaw. See our aluminum repair page for why the separation from steel matters.
Since 1977 · Aarau and Parma
Aston Martin and the Agnelli family
Aston Martin is one of the British makes the family workshops worked on, in Aarau, Switzerland, where the business began in 1977, and later in Parma, Italy. Leonardo learned the trade from his father, Stefano. Round Rock is the family's first workshop in Texas; it's new, and the Aston Martin experience comes from Europe.
Read our family historyAston Martin · 01
Glue, rivets and precision: repairing bonded aluminum
A bonded structure is assembled more like an aircraft than a traditional car. The repair follows the same logic.
01
Adhesive is structural
The adhesive carries load just like a weld would. Separating and rejoining bonded parts follows Aston Martin's procedure for the adhesive, the surface preparation and the curing.
02
Rivets where the factory put them
Rivets work alongside the adhesive. Their type and position are specified, so replacement sections are fitted exactly as the factory joined them.
03
Replace by section
Aluminum work-hardens and can crack if it's pulled like steel. Damaged structural sections are usually replaced at the joints Aston Martin defines rather than reshaped.
04
Kept clean
Aluminum and steel never share tools or work areas in our shop. Steel contamination causes corrosion that can appear long after the repair.
Aston Martin · 02
Swan doors, clamshell hoods and long front ends
Aston Martin's proportions are part of the design, and they make alignment more demanding.
Clamshell hoods
Many recent models use a large one-piece hood that wraps over the fenders. Its gaps run along the top of the car, where any misalignment is easy to see.
Long front ends
Front-mid engines put a long nose ahead of the windshield. After a front impact we check the cooling system, the crash structure and the hood hinges together.
Aston Martin · 03
Q by Aston Martin colors and finishes
Personalized colors
Q by Aston Martin can create colors outside the standard palette. The VIN and build details help us start from the right formula; the spectrophotometer and test cards confirm it against your car.
Satin and exposed carbon
Exposed-carbon parts and satin finishes need their own refinishing approach. Cracked carbon parts are replaced; scratches in the clear coat can sometimes be refinished.
Curves show everything
Long curved panels reflect light across the whole car, so color and texture both have to match. We blend into adjacent panels where the color needs it and tell you which ones in advance.
Aston Martin · 04
DBX: bonded aluminum in an SUV
Same principles, different vehicle
The DBX uses bonded aluminum construction like the sports cars, with conventional doors and the sensors, cameras and air suspension of a modern SUV.
Everyday damage
Parking scrapes, bumper damage and door dings are as much a part of SUV life as anything else. Even a bumper repair involves checking the sensors behind it.
Calibration
When Aston Martin requires calibration after a repair, a dealer or calibration specialist carries it out. It's listed in your plan; we don't calibrate in-house.
Model guide
Aston Martin models and their structures
A general guide to Aston Martin construction by era. We confirm your exact car from the VIN.
VH era (2004 onward)
- DB9
- The first VH car: bonded and riveted aluminum.
- V8 and V12 Vantage
- VH architecture, 2005 to 2018.
- DBS, Rapide, Virage, Vanquish (2012)
- VH-based bonded aluminum.
Current generation
- DB11, DBS Superleggera, DB12
- Newer bonded-aluminum structures.
- Vantage (2018 onward)
- Bonded aluminum.
- Vanquish (2024 onward)
- Bonded aluminum with carbon-fiber body panels.
- DBX
- Bonded-aluminum SUV with air suspension.
Carbon specials
- One-77
- Carbon-fiber monocoque.
- Valkyrie, Valhalla
- Carbon-fiber tubs and hybrid powertrains; case by case.
Before VH
- Vanquish (2001 to 2007)
- Bonded aluminum with carbon-fiber elements.
- DB7
- Steel-based structure from before the VH era.
- DB4, DB5
- Aluminum panels over a steel frame (Superleggera construction).
Construction notes are general. Aston Martin repair information for your exact car is what the repair follows.
Good to know
Before you book a Aston Martin repair
Classic Aston Martins
Superleggera-era cars have hand-formed aluminum panels over a steel frame. They're assessed individually, original panels are kept where the damage allows and what's replaced is agreed in writing.
Low-volume parts
Aston Martin builds in small numbers, so some parts take time to arrive. We confirm availability before giving you a timeline and use OEM parts wherever Aston Martin's procedures require them.
Inspection
What we check on every Aston Martin
Photos show what's visible. These checks happen at the in-person inspection, before a repair plan is written.
- Structure generation from the VIN: VH, newer bonded aluminum or carbon
- Bonded joints and rivet lines near the damage
- Swan door alignment through the full arc
- Clamshell hood gaps and hinge points
- Cooling system and crash structure after front impacts
- Paint, carbon finish and the panels a match needs
Repair cost guide
What Aston Martin repairs cost: planning ranges
These are the ranges from our repair cost guide for an Aston Martin. 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 | $400 to $1,500 |
| Scratches, scuffs or a dent that needs paint | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| Bumper repair or replacement | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Door, fender or quarter-panel damage | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Major collision or structural damage | $15,000 to $50,000+ |
| Hail damage | $6,000 to $20,000+ |
| Full respray or color change | $15,000 to $40,000+ |
Low-volume parts, carbon or aluminum construction, bespoke finishes and model-specific procedures can change the number fast. 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 Aston Martin 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 an Aston Martin, we first establish which bonded structure the car uses and whether any bonded joints were loaded. 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.
Aston Martin repair questions
Did the DB7 use the VH platform?
No. The VH architecture arrived with the DB9 in 2004. The DB7 used a steel-based structure, so it's repaired differently from the bonded-aluminum cars.
Can bonded aluminum be repaired?
Yes, following Aston Martin's procedures. Damaged sections are usually replaced at defined joints, with the specified adhesives and rivets. What can't be done is treating it like steel: pulling, heating and welding at will.
Why do swan doors need special attention?
They rise as they open, so the hinge geometry matters through the whole arc. A door can look aligned when closed and still touch the fender partway open. We check the full swing.
Do you work on classic DB models?
Send photos and details. Superleggera-era cars have hand-formed aluminum panels over a steel frame, so we assess each one individually before agreeing on a plan.
Is Agnelli Bodyworks an Aston Martin approved body shop?
No. We're independent and don't claim Aston Martin approval or certification. We follow Aston Martin repair information and use OEM parts where it requires them.
Will my insurer pay for OEM Aston Martin parts?
Policies differ. We specify OEM parts where Aston Martin's procedures require them and explain why in the estimate we send your insurer.
