Most Dealerships offer their own in-house Ceramic Coatings and Paint Protection Film (PPF). We always suggest asking who actually does the Ceramic Coatings or PPF for the dealership. Request the name and brand of the products, the warranty on the products, and the longevity of the coating being installed. We always recommend a second opinion from a professional high-end auto detailing shop. You will be surprised by the price, product, and even the quality difference.
Issues with Dealership Installed PPF
We see a lot of dealership installs on customer cars. Sometimes it’s just small trim pieces, headlights, or hoods. Other times we see full front packages or full car installs. As you can see in the image above, this is an example of a customer who came to us after the dealership installed the paint protection film. The lines are poorly cut and not stretched and wrapped around the edges. This will cause a discoloring effect, peeling and simply does not last.
We see a lot of dealership installs on customer cars. Sometimes it’s just small trim pieces, headlights, or hoods. Other times we see full front packages or full car installs.
Poor Preparation
The one thing that always clearly stands out is the lack of preparation for the areas being wrapped. We commonly see lots of dirt, edges peeling back, and terrible alignment of panels. Most jobs look very rushed and like the installer did not have a lot of experience. The other common thing we notice is the price….We have seen window stickers on cars that have a Full Front PPF package as high as 5995.00, which in our shop is coming close to full car price on a smaller car. With front end prices varying from car to car or market to market most of these installs are 2200-2800 jobs through a good installer.
Cheap PPF FILM
Lastly, we see the cheapest film on cars, it yellows or cracks after a very short time. We had a car in our shop recently that was less than a year old and had about 6500 miles on it, the film was already discolored and looked old. Quality of film is important in combination with the proper installation techniques.A proper install can save you money, time, and most importantly enhance your driving experience.
Professional PPF installation recommended
Professional installation of paint protection film (PPF) and ceramic coatings offers superior quality, precision, and durability compared to dealership installations. Dedicated professionals specialize in these protective solutions, using advanced techniques, premium-grade materials, and meticulous attention to detail. Unlike dealerships, which often outsource the work or rely on general technicians with limited experience, professional installers ensure proper surface preparation, seamless application, and optimal curing conditions. This results in a flawless, longer-lasting finish with maximum protection against scratches, rock chips, UV damage, and environmental contaminants. Additionally, professional shops typically provide customized solutions tailored to a vehicle’s specific needs, along with better warranties and aftercare support, making them a more reliable choice for preserving a vehicle’s appearance and value. We recommend getting PPF installed by a professional when purchasing any new car. We offer a new car prep package that can help keep your vehicle looking brand new off the lot, for years!
Dealership Upsells ceramic coatings, should you pay for it?
Ceramic Coatings are the most commonly installed dealer add on to cars. We see most cars that have a dealer installed “ Ceramic Coating” failing within a very short time. They have grown in popularity through dealers over the last few years and what we see is poorly installed coatings that do not perform well and are extremely overpriced. We have seen prices anywhere from 2500.00-4000.00 for a bad Ceramic Coating Job.
A client recently came in with a dealer installed coating that did not bead or sheet water, the paint was not polished at all prior to installation, and the dealership installed it in front of him in 15 mins. Most dealers install a spray on Ceramic Style Sealant vs A professional level coating. With all coatings the most important part is the preparation of the surface. It must be cleaned and decontaminated at a minimum but also doing a polish or paint correction is always recommended. We have even seen them fail at the first wash occasionally.
If you are interested in a ceramic coating I would treat it the same as the PPF. Find out the product used, longevity, and installation process. These are all very important factors. If they cannot explain this process they are most likely using a product that may cost 100.00 and not installing it correctly. With Professional Ceramic Coatings starting at about $1200.00, you’d be better off finding someone experienced with the product, preparation, and installation.
