Buying a Replacement Car Hood Online: What You Need to Know

If your car was involved in a front-end collision or some other accident that resulted in significant damage to the hood, you’re likely going to need a replacement.

Buying car parts online is a convenient way to purchase a replacement hood from the safety and comfort of your own home. Going this route also gives you access to a wider selection of hoods with different materials, designs, and finishes.

To ensure that you’re choosing the right hood for your vehicle, here’s what you need to know about purchasing a replacement hood online.

Finding the Right Car Hood Replacement

Proper fitment is extremely important when buying a replacement hood. You’ll need one that’s specifically designed for your vehicle to ensure secure and precise alignment with adjacent parts, like your fenders and front bumper cover.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on finding the right hood for your vehicle on CarParts.com.

1. Start by entering your vehicle’s year, make, model, submodel, etc. in our vehicle selector towards the top of the page. This will filter your search results to parts that are verified to fit your specific vehicle.


2. Type in the name of the part you’re looking for (“hood”) into the search bar at the top of the page. Alternatively, if you have it, you may also enter the OE part number of your hood.
3. Once you hit “enter,” you may also refine your selection of replacement hoods by using the filters on the left-hand side of the page. You can filter by brand, price point, style, material, and more.

What to Do When You Receive Your Hood Replacement

How to Inspect your Replacement Hood

Even when professionally packaged, damage can occur in transit. This is why we encourage you to thoroughly inspect your order upon delivery. If your shipment arrives damaged, rest assured that we’ll work with you to take care of it as soon as possible. 

Ask a friend for help.

Car hoods can be heavy and difficult to lift and maneuver on your own. Avoid hurting yourself or damaging your new replacement hood by getting another set of hands to help you move the package.  

Check the package.

Inspect the package for any obvious signs of damage before opening it.

Open the package carefully.

Be careful when using a knife or box cutter when opening your package to avoid accidentally scratching the surface of your replacement hood.

Inspect the contents of the package.

First, check to see if you have the correct item. Next, make sure that the reinforcements and padding have remained intact.

Check the hood thoroughly.

Inspect the hood for any major dents, especially at the corners and edges. Don’t worry about minor surface scratches or dents. The hood has a protective primer coating that will need to be completely sanded and prepped for your base coat/clear coat application.

Sign for the delivery, and make a note on your delivery driver’s receipt if needed.

If the product is in acceptable condition, sign for the delivery and proceed with pre-installation prep.

If one or more of the following applies, please make a note on your delivery driver’s receipt when signing:

1. “Packaging is damaged.”
2. “Product is damaged.”
3. “Subject to inspection.” [If you don’t get a chance to thoroughly inspect the product at the time of delivery.]

Contact us.

If your product was damaged upon delivery, please contact us immediately, and we’ll work with you to take care of it ASAP.

How to Prep Your Replacement Car Hood for Installation

Follow these steps to prep your replacement hood before moving on to painting and installation:

Sand the hood.

Use 400-500 grit sandpaper to sand the hood. Keep in mind that your goal is not to remove the coating, but only to scuff the surface so that the primer can adhere to it. 

Degrease the hood.

Remove any grease from the hood by using a paint prep degreaser and paint prep static wipes.

Prime the hood.

Select the most suitable primer for your vehicle and apply it to your hood’s surface. Inspect for any dents that weren’t noticeable before. Now is the time to fix those with a filling primer and to smooth out the surfaces 

Let dry, then repeat steps 1 and 2.

Wait for the primer to dry. Then, sand the surface of the hood once more. Degrease, then wipe it down thoroughly. 

Now your new replacement hood is ready for paint and installation!

If you need further assistance or have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help!

Where to Get a New Hood for Your Vehicle

You might have to stop driving your vehicle if the car hood shows signs of severe corrosion or damage. It covers and protects the engine bay, so there’s more at stake when the outer body panel fails. Fortunately, CarParts.com can help you get a compatible replacement car hood for your car or truck.

Enjoy convenient shopping for car hoods online with CarParts.com. Plug the year, make, model, and engine of your car or truck into our website’s integrated vehicle selector, and the search results will show the most suitable products in our catalog of parts and accessories. You can place your order with a few clicks or taps, and our secure website makes it safe and stress-free. All our on-hand products are ready to ship from the nearest distribution center, ensuring the part you ordered arrives in only several business days. We guarantee the quality of your new car hood by exclusively sourcing our parts from trusted auto parts brands.

Let CarParts.com help you find a high-grade hood that fits your vehicle and budget. Don’t miss out on the best deals on car hoods, and order what you need today!