Whether you’re buying a new car or a used one or you just want to protect the vehicle that you already own, you have options. The two most common and popular choices are PPF (paint protection film) and a ceramic coating. Both of which can be quite costly. However, repainting your car is going to cost a lot more and put you through unnecessary stress.
Torque Chase Verdict
PPF vs Ceramic Coating: Which is Best?
After extensive research, and a few in-person quotes, a self-healing PPF is the best option for paint protection. While ceramic coating will absolutely be better than no protection, PPF is going to protect your vehicle’s paint the best. PPF is going to cost more than a ceramic coating, but it is going to prevent scratches, rock chips, and some vandalism, whereas ceramic coating won’t.
Paint Protection Film Overview
What is PPF (Paint Protection Film)?
PPF is essentially a clear plastic film that gets adhered to the outside of your car. You can do front bumper/hood, rear bumper, or the entire car. The front bumper/hood is most important because when you’re driving, the front bumper and hood is going to take damage from road debris, rock chips, bugs, etc. It will also protect from scratches and swirls caused by washing the car.
PPF can be completely clear which will make your car look no different than it already does, it will just be protected. You can also buy matte PPF that will give your car’s paint a matte finish without having to worry about the matte paint protection hassles.
How is PPF installed?
PPF can be installed a few different ways. Firstly, you can install it yourself, or you can bring it to a qualified installer. I recommend using an installer. This will cost you more, but it will be done better than you can do at home.
Next, there’s two different ways to actually install it. The best and most thorough way to install PPF is remove some of the more intricate body panels and wrap them separately. Then using a computer program such as DAP from Xpel, create a “kit” that is designed specifically for your car. This allows the installer to wrap the edges of PPF around the underside of the panels. Doing this is going to make the PPF look way more professional and give you the best possible protection. The other way to install it is the cut sheets for each body panel and cut and apply as you go. This is the faster but less favorable option because you risk cutting into the paint while wrapping.
How much does PPF cost?
The cost of PPF is going to fluctuate a ton depending on the coverage you want. Wrapping the full car is going to cost more than just the front bumper. The size of your vehicle is going to be a huge factor in the price as well. A small two-seat sports car has much less surface area than a full-sized truck.
Based on research and in-person quotes, a full front bumper, hood, and mirror wrap can cost $1,400-$2,500 depending on the size of your vehicle. Some installers will do a partial front wrap which will only coat about half of the hood. This will save you a few hundred dollars but will leave a noticeable seam across the middle of the hood. A full vehicle wrap covering every inch of exposed paint will typically cost $5,000-$10,000+ depending on the size of the vehicle.
Why is PPF so expensive?
Installing PPF onto a vehicle requires numerous people and a lot of man hours to complete correctly. That along with the cost of materials will add up fast. The vehicle’s paint needs to be cleaned and prepped before installation which can take a few hours to do. You also need to disassemble and reassemble numerous body panels during the PPF installation process which adds cost.
What are the downsides to PPF?
PPF can be quite costly to install which is its biggest drawback. It can also cause damage to the paint of your vehicle when it is being removed if it is not applied correctly. This means you need to use a reputable installer to ensure quality of installation.
How long does PPF last on your car?
Depending on a few factors such as whether the car is garage kept, a properly installed PPF job can last 7-10 years before needing to be replaced. Most people trade-in their cars before the 7-10 year mark which means you likely won’t need to worry about it during the duration of your ownership.
Does PPF increase your vehicle’s resale value?
A properly installed PPF job on your car will almost always increase your car’s resale value. It’s a highly marketable feature for car dealerships and it gives you leverage when trading in or selling your vehicle. You likely will not receive the full cost of the PPF job back in your trade-in value, but it should grant you a portion of the cost depending on the condition of the PPF and how long it has been since it was installed.
Can PPF stop scratches and prevent stone chips?
The entire purpose of PPF is to prevent stone chips and scratches. The only thing PPF won’t necessarily prevent is vandalism. The PPF is a thin plastic film and if someone wants to scratch or damage your car, if they try hard enough, they can break through the film and get down to the paint.
Ceramic Coating Overview
One of the major factors of ceramic coating that turned me away from it is the fact that it needs constant “maintenance”. You will need to clean and wash your car frequently. For some people, that’s a good thing. Some people love doing this kind of maintenance. However, if you’re like me and the majority of Americans, we work, we have stress and we tend to fall behind on things from time to time.
Benefits of Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating is still an upgrade over no paint protection at all. Ceramic coating will make it easier to clean your vehicle, make it harder for bugs and bird droppings to harm your paint, and give your vehicle a beautiful shine.
Disadvantages of Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating does have some drawbacks. It does not protect your car from paint chips or scratching. The coating does not last as long as something like PPF so you may need to redo the ceramic coating more than once during the lifetime of your vehicle ownership. You may also need to perform maintenance such as waxing from time to time still to maintain the shine and integrity of the coating.
How much does ceramic coating cost?
If you install ceramic coating yourself, the cost will be significantly cheaper. However, if you’ve never performed a ceramic coating before, it is recommended that you get it done at an automotive detailer. Depending on the size of your vehicle and the installer’s process, a ceramic coating will likely cost between $500 and $2,500. The more detailed oriented the installer is, the more it will cost because it will take more time, but you will likely get a better quality coating this way.
How do I wash my car after a ceramic coating?
The most important thing to avoid after a ceramic coating is an automatic car wash. These car washes will not only destroy the ceramic coating, but it will also leave micro scratches and swirls all over the paint. You must use a pH neutral soap when washing your vehicle and you should use very plush microfiber towel to wash and dry it. Use light strokes when washing and drying and try to avoid scrubbing too hard against the paint.
How often does ceramic coating need to be reapplied?
With proper maintenance, a ceramic coating will need to be reapplied every 3-4 years. If the coating is not being washed and cared for appropriately, it won’t last as long.
Is it bad to wax over a ceramic coating?
Waxing your vehicle that has a ceramic coating is actually recommended. However, the wax you use needs to contain ingredients like carnauba wax or synthetic shine polymers. Otherwise, the wax can damage the ceramic coating.
Conclusion
PPF will cost you significantly more upfront, but long-term it’s the better choice over ceramic coating. PPF will last longer than a ceramic coating. Ceramic coating doesn’t protect from scratches or rock chips, whereas PPF will protect from these. PPF adds resale value to your car and ceramic coating does not.
If you’re on a budget, I recommend doing PPF on the front bumper/hood to save some money. This will still better protect your car than a ceramic coating.
Whether you choose to do a PPF or ceramic coating, I personally recommend using a high-rated, local installer rather than doing it yourself. You will get better results this way. It will cost you more but it’s cheaper than damaging your car or having to redo it because you did something wrong.
