Exposed carbon
Visible-weave parts are finished in gloss or satin clear. Scratches in the clear can often be refinished; a crack in the carbon underneath means the part is replaced. We tell you which, with photos.
McLaren repair guide
Every McLaren repair starts at the tub
McLaren builds its road cars around a carbon-fiber passenger cell: MonoCell on the 12C, MonoCage on the P1 and the 720S family, the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) on the Artura, and the Aerocell on the W1. On most models, aluminum structures bolted to the front and rear of that cell are designed to absorb crash energy and then be replaced. Which parts took the load decides almost everything about the repair.
That's why two McLarens with similar-looking damage can need very different work. A front-end hit that stopped in the aluminum crash structure is a parts-and-paint job; one that reached the tub is a question for McLaren's repair information. We explain which situation you're in, in writing, before anything is authorized. For carbon body parts and finishes, see our carbon fiber repair page.
Since 1977 · Aarau and Parma
McLaren and the Agnelli family
The family workshops, founded in Aarau, Switzerland in 1977 and later brought to Parma, Italy, have worked on McLarens alongside Italian exotics and German premium cars. Leonardo learned the trade from his father, Stefano, in Parma. Round Rock is the family's first shop in Texas: the experience comes from Europe, and the Texas workshop itself is new.
Read our family historyMcLaren · 01
MonoCell, MonoCage, MCLA: what the tub changes
The carbon cell is the strongest part of the car and the one you least want to touch. Repairs are planned around it.
01
The tub isn't straightened like a steel rail
Carbon doesn't bend and spring back the way metal does. When it's overloaded it can crack or delaminate inside the laminate, sometimes with little to see on the surface. Whether a damaged tub can be repaired, and how, is set by McLaren's repair information for that model.
02
Aluminum crash structures are meant to be replaced
The front and rear aluminum structures are the energy absorbers. After a hard hit they are usually replaced rather than reshaped, and they're worked on with aluminum-only tools so steel never contaminates them.
03
Mounting points tell the story
Suspension, crash-structure and subframe mounting points are where load enters the tub. Their positions, and any marks or cracks around them, are what the inspection looks at most closely.
McLaren · 02
Dihedral doors: one hinge, two motions
McLaren's modern road cars open their doors upward and outward. That's spectacular, and it makes door alignment after a side impact a three-dimensional job.
The opening comes first
A door can only be as straight as the opening it closes into. If the A-pillar, sill or roof rail has moved, adjusting the door just hides the problem, so the opening is checked before the door is set.
Alignment is checked through the whole swing
A dihedral door can look right when closed and still touch or bind partway up. Gaps, flushness and clearance are checked through the arc of travel, not only at the shut line.
Seals and struts
Door seals and the strut that holds the door open are inspected after any side damage. A door that doesn't seal properly shows up as wind noise, or as water at the first car wash.
McLaren · 03
Paint over carbon, and MSO colors
McLarens combine painted composite, aluminum panels and exposed carbon, sometimes on the same corner of the car.
MSO and special colors
McLaren Special Operations colors and other low-volume paints may not be in standard formula libraries. We read the panel with a spectrophotometer and spray test cards before the car is painted.
Blending around carbon breaks
Metallic and pearl colors are blended into the adjacent panels so there's no visible edge. On a car with carbon pieces between panels, the blend is planned around those breaks.
McLaren · 04
Why two similar-looking McLaren repairs get very different estimates
Panel damage versus structural damage
On a McLaren, the line between replaceable outer parts and the carbon structure is sharp. Damage that stays in bumpers, panels and crash structures is very different, in cost and in time, from damage that reaches the tub.
Low-volume parts
Many McLaren parts are produced in small numbers, so availability varies. The written plan says which parts are confirmed and which are still on order.
Photos first, teardown second
A photo estimate tells us a lot about panels and paint. It can't see the tub, so the final plan always follows an in-person inspection with the damaged area opened up.
Model guide
McLaren models and their structures
Each family uses its own version of the carbon cell. The model, year and options decide the parts and procedures.
Super Series and successors
- 12C, 650S, 675LT
- MonoCell carbon tub with aluminum front and rear structures.
- 720S, 765LT, 750S
- MonoCage II, with carbon extending up into the roof structure.
Sports Series and GT
- 540C, 570S, 570GT, 600LT
- MonoCell II carbon tub.
- GT, GTS
- MonoCell II-T, adapted for luggage space.
Hybrids
- Artura
- MCLA carbon architecture with a high-voltage hybrid system.
- P1
- MonoCage carbon structure with a hybrid powertrain.
- W1
- Aerocell carbon monocoque with a hybrid powertrain.
Ultimate Series
- Senna
- MonoCage III carbon structure.
- Elva, Speedtail
- Low-volume carbon cars (the Speedtail is a hybrid); parts and procedures confirmed case by case.
Structure names are McLaren's own terms. We confirm the exact build from the VIN before any repair plan.
Good to know
Before you book a McLaren repair
Hybrid McLarens have high-voltage systems
The Artura, P1, Speedtail and W1 are hybrids, so body repair can involve the high-voltage battery and wiring. McLaren's procedures set how the system is made safe and what has to be inspected after an impact. We'll explain what applies to your car when we review the damage.
Low-volume parts
Some parts are made in small batches. We confirm availability before giving you a timeline, and we use OEM parts wherever McLaren's procedures require them.
Inspection
What we check on every McLaren
Photos show what's visible. These checks happen at the in-person inspection, before a repair plan is written.
- Carbon tub condition around every mounting point near the damage
- Aluminum front and rear crash structures
- Door opening, hinge geometry and seal contact through the full swing
- Splitter, diffuser and underbody aero panels
- Suspension geometry and wheel alignment after any wheel impact
- Exposed-carbon clear coat and paint across adjacent panels
Repair cost guide
What McLaren repairs cost: planning ranges
These are the ranges from our repair cost guide for a McLaren. 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 McLaren 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 McLaren, the first question is whether any load reached the carbon tub. 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.
McLaren repair questions
Can a damaged McLaren carbon tub be repaired?
Sometimes. It depends on where the damage is and what McLaren's repair information allows for that model. Some damage can be repaired; some means the structure has to be replaced. We tell you what the inspection shows and what the manufacturer permits before any work is authorized.
Does Agnelli Bodyworks have McLaren certification?
No. We're an independent body shop and don't claim manufacturer certification or approval. We follow McLaren's repair procedures and use OEM parts wherever they are required.
My McLaren only scraped the front splitter. Is that a big job?
Often it isn't. Splitters and underbody panels are designed to be replaced. We check the mounting points and the crash structure behind them; if those are fine, it's usually a parts-and-fitting repair. Send photos of the underside for a free first estimate.
Can you match an MSO color?
We match it with a process rather than by eye: the panel is read with a spectrophotometer, test cards are sprayed and compared with the car in daylight, and the color is blended into the adjacent panels. For one-off colors, the paint code and build details from the VIN help us start from the right formula.
Will my insurer make me use a McLaren dealer?
No. In Texas you choose the repair shop. Your insurer can recommend one but can't require it. We work with your insurer on the claim and write supplements when the teardown finds more damage.
How long will a McLaren repair take?
It depends mainly on parts. We don't promise a date before parts are confirmed; once they are, you get a realistic timeline in writing.
