Dent Repair on Aluminum Hoods and Aluminum Trucks
Dent Repair on Aluminum Hoods and Aluminum Trucks
Plenty of newer vehicles have aluminum hoods, and some trucks have aluminum bodies. Aluminum dents can come out without paint just like steel ones. The work is slower and takes a different touch, and a bad attempt can ruin the panel. Here is what we have learned working on aluminum, with real jobs from our files.
Why aluminum is harder than steel
Our estimating guidelines put it plainly: aluminum has less metal memory, which makes for a more challenging and time-consuming repair. Steel wants to go back where it came from. Aluminum does not, so it has to be worked in smaller steps. Hoods are also often double-paneled or heavily braced, especially toward the front, which limits access to the back of the dent.
When we cannot get a tool behind a dent, we glue pull it from the outside. That takes a lot longer than pushing from behind, but done right the result is the same.
Aluminum jobs from our files
- 2015 aluminum Ford F-150, driver’s door. Dents removed on location in Taylorville with no fillers and no paint. Factory paint kept.
- 2015 aluminum Ford F-150. Another company had already tried to fix these dents and made a mess of it. We saved the panel.
- 2016 Chrysler 300 C. Hail dent in an aluminum hood.
- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A 2-inch crease in the aluminum hood.
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450, aluminum hood. A dent bigger than a quarter. The impact had chipped the paint, and the owners had it touched up before we started, because they wanted to stay as close to original as possible.
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL450, aluminum rear quarter. Ten dents in one area with no tool access, so we glue pulled all of them.
- 2016 GMC Yukon. Dents taken out of a like-new aluminum hood.
- 2018 Ford F-150 aluminum trucks, Collinsville. Hail damage on hoods, roofs and sides after the November 2017 storm.
What that means for your estimate
We do not give flat prices over the phone. Two dents are never the same, and aluminum, bracing and access all change the time a job takes. We look at the panel, tell you what we see, and write it up. We think that is the fair way to do it: you pay for the work your car actually needs. More on how we estimate on the cost FAQ.
Leave it alone until a pro looks at it
Aluminum does not forgive mistakes. A pushed-up high spot or a heat-gun attempt can stretch the metal past the point where paintless repair can save it. If you want to see what can go wrong, read our do-it-yourself warning. And if the dents came from a hailstorm, start with how to check your car for hail damage.
Which shop to bring it to
Both shops handle aluminum. Springfield is open Monday to Wednesday and Lincoln is open Thursday to Saturday. If you are coming from out of town, our pages for Decatur, Taylorville and Bloomington-Normal have directions.
Get an estimate
Call 217-306-4175, or send us the details on our contact page. Estimates are free. If it’s an insurance job, your claim number and email are all we need to get started.
Scheduling: We’ll be back home from a massive hail storm. Taking appointments as early as October 16, 2026.
- Springfield: 550 North Street, Suite 2, Springfield, IL 62704. Monday to Wednesday, 8:00 to 5:00.
- Lincoln: 2009 N. Kickapoo St, Lincoln, IL 62656. Thursday to Saturday, 8:00 to 5:00.