Ceramic Coating or Paint Protection Film (PPF)

For those of you that has been asking whether I should get a ceramic coating or a paint protection film for my car, then you have come to the right place. Let’s shed some light on this question and dissect the pros and cons between these two products, see what’s best for each situation and hopefully by the end of this reading you can already decide which option is the perfect match for you. Now let’s get to it!

What is ceramic coating?

Ceramic coating is an extra layer of coat that is applied on top of your car clear coat surface that will act as a sacrificial layer which will absorb all the harmful elements such as the UV rays from the sun, dirt debris, bird poop and tree sap which will damage and oxidize your car making it looking older than it actually is. Ceramic coating will forms a semi-permanent bond with the car surface and it will not be washed away even if you clean it and won't degrade over short period of time, some coating if properly maintain can even last for years. If you're considering on getting a ceramic coating on your car, there is good chance that you already survey the market and see there is a lot of choices available out there. Many brands advertise their products have many capabilities and properties but generally they will serve as a long term protection for your car lasting at least around 2-3 years.

So, what do I get with ceramic coating?

The core advantage that you can get from ceramic coating is the 9H hardness protection in the pencil hardness scale, so your car will have a better resistant to minor scratches. Besides that, some coating like the Tevo Bodygard S60 will greatly enhanced chemical resistance which is important for those who lives in the city or industrial area because there is a high chance of acid rain occurring. Super hydrophobic surface with excellent water beading which is great for self cleaning and reducing watermark this is because the ceramic coating particles are so small, when applied to the surface it will seal all the pores making the surface smooth and slick that no water can grip into. As a bonus to that, it will increased the glossiness of your car making shine like a brand new car.

Paint Protection Film?

The paint protection film also known as clear bra is a clear film that is applied on top of your car surface, the easiest way to understand this is how we apply tempered glass to our smartphone but this time it's for your car. PPF provides almost the same function as ceramic coating except with a few difference. The core advantage if you choose PPF is the protection strength, PPF have better stone chip damage resistance compare to ceramic coating. Other than that, you will still get the chemical protection and oxidation from UV exposure. But at its core the PPF main purpose is to prevents any type of scratches from reaching the paint. 

The Bad

Both ceramic coating and PPF will do a pretty good job at protecting your car and so far I only highlight the advantage of both products, now let's take a look at the cons.

For the ceramic coatings the most obvious and until this day this article is posted, there is no known ceramic coating that is able to withstand a damage from rock chips. That is why you will only hear ceramic coating claim is SCRATCH RESISTANCE not SCRATCH PROOF make sure you know the difference. Besides that, it is quite pricey though not as much as the PPF.

The list is a bit longer for PPF, by having a higher resistance to stone chip compared to ceramic coating the PPF trade off is that it will slightly minimizes shine of your car and it's not very hydrophobic, water can still bead but not as much as the ceramic coating. Furthermore, overtime the film layer can turn into a yellowish color and you're going to have to change the film. Most PPF will claim that it can last up to five years but it depends on many factors, exposure to the sun, how frequent you washed your car and more. White cars in a harsh environment tends to have their PPF turns yellowish much faster and it is much easier to notice compared to a darker hue car. Lastly, the price, a PPF application on your car is about double the price of a ceramic coating which is quite steep and hard for most people to maintain and replace once every couple year.

Now which one for me?

Well, I'll say it depends. if you're living in a harsh area and you're car is constantly getting abused by stone chips and scratches, go for the tough protection for PPF and if you want to highlight the looks of your car, choose the ceramic coating. Both comes at a very different price tag and excel at different areas, now you can mix both choices and some detailer might recommend this step if you want cut some cost. Let's say only the front part of your car is the area that is frequently damaged by stone chip but your car body is fine, you can go with applying PPF on partial front of your car and coat the rest of the body with ceramic coating. Now some car looks great with this method and some car does not make sure to only choose this method if you're really confident with your detailer.

Now that you know the goods and bad between ceramic coating and PPF I hope you can decide which is the best for you.