I've been wanting to do an in depth analysis of this for a while now, considering the rising cost of PPF application compared to other options. So let's answer one of the most critical questions you might have when considering vehicle protection:

Ceramic Coatings vs Paint Protection Film (PPF): Which path should you take to protect your vehicle’s paint long term?

It is indeed a path, especially since if you stick to one strategy for the life of your paint, we’re talking about 2-3 life cycles of PPF, and possibly many more cycles for Ceramic Coating... and by cycle, I mean re-application of said protection since neither are permanent.

So if neither are a one-and-done solution, with time being a big part of the equation, which one is most cost effective? And which one is most effective at protecting your paint? 

1. Cost of Paint Correction and Ceramic Coatings

Pricing is More Dynamic Here: Paint Correction AND Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied to the vehicle’s surface to provide a protective layer. It offers excellent protection against contaminants, UV rays, and minor scratches. When modified with reduced-Graphine Oxide, durability, UV protection, and hardness is improved, as Graphene is the strongest substance known to man.

Generally the procedure for prep for Ceramic Coatings involves paint correction to make sure that scratches and imperfections aren’t sealed under the coating and locked in. Imagine putting a thin glass top over a scratched up wooden table and then trying to polish those scratches out... through the glass. Time consuming to say the least.

In some cases this isn’t necessary but if you have visible scratches, you won’t want to apply a thick ceramic coating over them. That would make them extremely difficult to correct in the future. The cost:

• Basic Ceramic Coating: Typically costs $700 to $1,500. And does not necessarily include paint correction.

• High-End Correction and Coatings: Can range from $1,500 to $3,000 or more, depending on the quality and durability of the product, with major add-ons for multi-stage paint correction.

So averages don't really explain everything here. If the car is brand new, paint correction will be a simple polish and prep before coating and will run you anywhere from $1-2k. If your car is fair or worse, the price goes up.

Also keep in mind that paint correction can only be done so many times before clear coat is diminished to the point of running out! This is bad, so limiting paint correction to 2-3 times in the life of your paint is necessary and this also depends on the severity of any damage.

NOTE: Ceramic Coatings can be enough to be sacrificial layers that can be scratched, corrected, removed, and replaced without tapping into the depth of your clear coat. Therefore allowing for many more corrections over the lifetime of the vehicle. 

COST: So let's just assume you have a new car with good paint and they just stick with a polish and a high end coating for $1800 to be fair.

They will tell you the coating will last 10 years, but this is debatable because that's only with really good maintenance, which is easy but not everyone does it...

But let's say that even if that coating lasts 7 years, reapplying another layer doesn't always require correction (but it is likely), so will cost you around $800 on the low end.

INTERVAL: Every 8-10 years (at most)

So over a 20 year period for ceramic coatings done by professionals, you are looking at $3000-4000 plus, assuming it's done 3 times in that period with minimal correction needed (which would last beyond 20 years) and that's if you have a great paint or a new car to start. I think this is being optimistic for people who really drive their cars though, so you'd be safer to assume you are going to spend $5k on paint maintenance with the coating route. 

2. Average Cost of Paint Protection Film (PPF)

PPF, or Paint Protection Film, is a transparent, thermoplastic urethane film that protects painted surfaces from damage. It's also known as clear bra, clear film, or clear paint film. PPF is made up of multiple layers of materials, including a topcoat, thermoplastic urethane, pressure sensitive adhesive, and siliconized release liner. It's applied by hand using water and a slip solution, which requires an experienced installer. The topcoat of PPF is often considered self healing, similar to quality clear coat, but will retain it's corrected state after heat is applied. The efficacy of this feature does depend on quality, condition, and age.

The cost to apply PPF to an entire luxury vehicle typically ranges from $3,000 to $7,000. This wide range depends on several factors, including:

• Vehicle size: Larger vehicles will naturally cost more.

• Film quality: Higher-end films with better clarity and durability will increase the cost.

• Installation complexity: The expertise required and the intricacy of the installation can affect pricing.

Average cost: $5,000

Interval: every 8-10 years

If you need paint correction this would be more. But let's assume on a new vehicle, you would need to do this at least twice in a 20 year period. Likely costing more than $10,000 as prices of PPF installation rises over time, and removal and replacement does require more labor. It's unlikely you will be able to get a quality job done 2-3 times in a 20 years period for less than $12,000 (3 times will likely be needed in 20 years to maintain for the life of the vehicle beyond 20 years, if that makes sense)

Although, there is a way to maximize the life of PPF that can be done at home. By applying ceramic coating OVER PPF, you harness the benefits of faster washing and weather protection to ease and extend the life of the PPF to it's ideal 10 year period (maybe more). And it doesn't have to be expensive in this case, but we'll come back to that...

Comparison and Analysis

Let's evaluate the benefits and efficiency assuming that you would need both procedures re-done a similar amount of times.

1. Protection Level:

• PPF: BETTER FOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE. Offers superior protection against physical damage like rock chips, scratches, and minor abrasions. It’s a self-healing material that can recover from light scratches and swirl marks. This isn't even a competition when compared to Ceramic Coatings. PPF can preserve your paints original state underneath, even when physical damage occurs from rocks or abrasive objects.

• Ceramic Coating: BETTER FOR ELEMENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION. Provides excellent protection against chemical stains, UV rays, and makes washing easier due to its hydrophobic properties. However, it doesn’t shield against physical damage like rock chips or scratches as well as PPF. If the scratches are shallow, then you can get away with sacrificing the coating for perfect paint again (adding to the cost of this option of course).

2. Cost Efficiency:

• PPF: The initial investment is higher but includes protection against a wide range of potential damage. Over time, it may save money on paint repairs and maintain the vehicle’s resale value better than the alternatives. NOTE: PPF does make washing slower in some cases, because it's soft and contaminants tend to embed easier. It also can become unsightly if not maintained properly.

• Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating: A lower initial cost but often requires ongoing maintenance. The combined cost of periodic paint correction and ceramic coating could be costly in the long run, especially for high-end vehicles, if they receive a lot of road wear and tear. But ultimately the cost will likely amount to 1/3 of the cost of PPF

Which One Should you Choose?

Spend around $15000 over two decades to protect your paint from all damage?

OR

Spend around $5000 over two decades, but risk needing further corrections and even repainting if damage is severe enough.

It sounds like to me, that you get what you pay for. PPF costs 3 times as much, for a lot more protection overall.

We would highly recommend consider your needs as a driver though. If you have a high end vehicle that you really plan on driving hard, at the track or even on the road, then damage to your paint is highly likely. And paint correction is limited to the thickness of your coating or clear coat, so it's not something you can always do again with the scratches are deeper than the coating.

At the end of the day, high-end vehicle owners who prioritize maximum protection and long-term value, PPF is often worth the investment. Its superior protection against physical damage and its longevity provide a strong case for its higher upfront cost. Paint correction and ceramic coating, while effective, generally offer less protection and may result in higher cumulative costs over time.

Consider the cost of the protection vs the value of the vehicle, and whether saving $7-8000 dollars over two decades is worth the slight risk of having to over rely on paint correction.

PRO TIP: My personal preference is a front end "bra" of PPF to protect from rocks and flying rubber at the race track, paired with a full body Ceramic coating that I can easily do myself. This over all saves thousands of dollars and strategizes for the most important aspects of each type of protection. Which brings me to our "third" option.

Wait... A Third Option?

What if you could get all of the benefits of a Ceramic Coating (modified with Graphene) for a tiny fraction of the price?

You could extend the life of your PPF for negligible cost. You could renew your clear coat (or PPF) and make it easier to wash, with little effort. 

You could feel piece of mind that your paint will last, even if some correction is necessary in the future, without necessarily justifying the cost of paint correction... let me explain.

Our Graphene-Ceramic Coating: OverShield, can easily be applied in your garage or driveway in under 2 hours (I've done it in under 1 hour including prep), even if you don't have any experience, or trust yourself.

It's incredibly easy to work with because of it's slow flash times (drying time), giving you time to work around the vehicle without it solidifying into a cloudy mess before you can level it out (buff it).

It's forgiving as hell too. You can re-apply if you messed up an area in order to level it out, so you aren't stuck trying to paint correct a high spot (this is a thing with thicker coatings)

It is a full strength coating that professionals use, but it's THIN, meaning it won't impede paint correction if you decide to go back and have that done. Meaning you wouldn't necessarily need to correct your paint before installing it yourself, unless your paint is already looking sad. Your call.

Because it's "thin", it's not going to provide heavy physical damage protection. But it will create a more scratch resistant hardened surface, it can be sacrificial to protect against swirl marks, and it enhances your paint surface, making imperfections less noticeable after application.

And it last anywhere from 2-5 years depending on how you maintain your paint. Plus our Wash kit formulas keep it maintained!

And it's so easy you can do it yourself annually or every 2 years for under 100 dollars per application!

Save thousands on professional coatings, or on replacing PPF because it aged too quickly, by protecting your vehicle with OverShield!