Learn about the pros and cons of these popular vehicle paint protection technologies, and decide which is best for your needs and budget.
Keeping your vehicle looking like it just rolled off the production line is no easy task. The act of motoring poses all manner of threats to your car’s shiny paintwork, particularly if it doesn’t have an additional protective layer.
As a UK driver, your car’s paintwork might encounter any of the following over a given year:
- Gravel/pebbles
- Other road debris
- Hailstones/freezing rain
- Extreme heat
- Sand
- Bird droppings
- Some kinds of tree sap
- Vandalism
- Accidental damage (being struck by other car doors/shopping trolleys etc.)
- Insects
Given all these risks, it makes sense that many car owners look for ways to protect their paint. Here we’ll discuss the two main options: Paint Protection Film (PPF) and Ceramic Coating.
Paint Protection Film (PPF)
PPF is a transparent, self healing film that is applied either all over the paintwork, or in certain high-risk areas. Often made of thermoplastic urethane, PPF wraps act as an additional barrier between your car’s clear coat/paintwork and the damaging action of rocks, gravel, hailstone - and much else. Because it’s made of thermoplastic urethane, scratches can ‘self-heal’ - assuming there is enough sunshine to soften the material.
Pros of Paint Protection Film (PPF)
1. Impact resistance
PPF affords protection from common hazards such as gravel and road debris. Because it self-heals, it goes on working to keep your clear coat and paintwork in great condition for years. Protection against environmental factors
Investing in a PPF also means your vehicle’s paintwork will be shielded from various environmental threats, including bird droppings, oxidisation, ultra-violet rays from the sun, and even chemical stains. PPF also helps protect paintwork from being faded by the sun - although the entire body would need to be coated for full protection.
2. Invisible protection
When professionally installed, PPF is nearly invisible to the eye, meaning your car’s original, factory-fresh paint job should stand the test of time.
3. It lasts for years
Another key advantage of PPF is that it should go on protecting your car’s paintwork for several years - assuming it is correctly installed.
4. Partial coverage is possible
You can reduce overall costs by having PPF applied to high risk zones of your car’s paintwork. However, there is a downside to this approach, as we discuss below.
Commonly, PPF installers offer three levels of coverage: the ‘kick up zone’ (front panel and wing mirror but not bonnet); ‘front end’ (the entire front zone up to the door, plus bonnet); and ‘full car’ (all paintwork).
Cons of PPF
1. You may experience yellowing
PPF manufacturers often claim that their products do not ‘yellow’ over time. However, some types of PPF may in fact suffer discolouration due to extended sun exposure and/or a buildup of dirt in the material. PPF is more porous than the bare clear coat.
2. Dirt lines can appear with partial coverage
If you decided to cover only the high risk areas of your vehicle, in time you might see dirt lines develop at the edges of the film. Even if the edges are tucked behind panels, the PPF-coated zones will look slightly different to uncoated areas.
3. Uneven paint wear with partial coverage
If you partially cover your vehicle with PPF and later remove the coating, the previously protected areas may well look brighter than those that were left bare.
4. Protecting effects diminish over time
The degree of protection will diminish over time - usually after between 5 and 7 years, depending on the selected PPF product. This is because the thermoplastic urethane gradually wears away due the ‘self healing’ action.
5. PPF can be expensive
In the UK, having your car covered in PPF costs around 1,000 GBP. However, this can vary depending on the model/size, and the installer.
Getting the front portion of your vehicle covered will cost around 350 GBP. But again, this can vary.
Your location may also impact how much you pay (a Central London installer will likely charge more than one in Liverpool or Glasgow, for example).
Ceramic coating
Also known as ‘nano ceramic coating’, this is a liquid polymer coating that chemically bonds to the clear coat, protecting it from gravel, road debris, UV rays and weather damage, among other threats. Ceramic coatings also repel water, and give your vehicle a glossy, just-off-the-production-line appearance. Most ceramic coatings are made of something called silicon dioxide (SiO2). Others also contain additives such as titanium dioxide (TiO2).
It’s possible to purchase ceramic coating and apply it yourself. However, while DIY coatings can be cheap, they generally don’t last as long as products used by professional car detailers. This is because cheaper coatings contain less silicon dioxide (SiO2) than more expensive ones.
Pros of ceramic coating
1. Glossy, factory-fresh appearance
Ceramic coatings are a popular option because they do a great job of maintaining the ‘newness’ of a vehicle. The coating also boasts a ‘hydrophobic’ effect, which means rain droplets bead on-contact and roll off - which effectively cleans the car.
2. Protection against sun fading and chemicals
Like PPF, a ceramic coating would protect your vehicle from the fading effects of the sun’s UV rays, which over time can break down the chemical bonds in your paintwork. Chemical spillages are also less likely to cause any lasting damage. Brake fluid, some kinds of tree sap, and even bird droppings contain chemicals that might stain your paintwork without the presence of a protective coating.
3. Easier to clean and maintain
With a ceramic coating, dirt and debris doesn’t easily adhere to your car’s paintwork, making it much easier to clean. It should also prevent water spots and stains, although some products may be more effective in this regard than others. How well the coating is applied will also impact its protective qualities.
4. Long lasting protection
A professionally-applied ceramic coating usually lasts for several years - and reduces how often you need to wax and seal your car, saving time, money and hassle in the long term.
5. Can be very cheap if you “DIY”
By buying a ceramic coating online and applying it yourself, you could save hundreds of pounds over enlisting a professional. And of course, this option is much cheaper than the PPF route.
Cons of ceramic coatings
1. Less scratch resistant than PPF
A ceramic coating offers a good degree of protection against light scratches, but is not as effective as PPF when it comes to deeper cuts and abrasions.
2. It must be applied properly
In order to enjoy maximum benefits of a ceramic coating, the vehicle in question must be thoroughly cleaned and prepared before application can commence. It must also be applied evenly. It is therefore important to find an experienced installer with a solid reputation. Incorrectly applied ceramic coatings will offer considerably less protection against scratches, abrasions, chemicals etc.
3. May not last as long as professionally-applied products
As mentioned, Do-It-Yourself ceramic coatings tend to contain less silicon dioxide (SiO2) than products used by professionals, which means their protective effects might only last a year or so.
4. Professional application can be costly
Having a ceramic coating applied to a small car starts at around 500 GBP. This figure can rise to around 2,000 GBP for a larger vehicle. Prices are high due to the labour intensive application process, and the professional-level coatings used.
Doing nothing / using waxes and sealants
But what if you choose to do nothing, and don’t apply any protective barrier to your car?
It won’t be a surprise to learn that unprotected paintwork is much more likely to get chipped and scratched over time. The colour will also fade due to the sun’s UV rays.
However, if you apply wax and sealant every few months, your paintwork will enjoy a minor degree of protection and should look better for longer.
That said, wax and sealant doesn’t offer anywhere near the same level of protection as a PPF wrap or ceramic sealant.
The ‘do nothing’/wax-and-sealant routes would require you to pay for a respray/restoration every few years - assuming you wanted to fix any scratches and abrasions. However, without PPF or ceramic protection, you might also have to deal with rust/corrosion.
