PPF, ceramic coating or a wrap: what each one actually does

PPF is a clear film that takes stone chips and light scratches so your paint doesn't. A ceramic coating is a thin hard layer that adds gloss and makes the car easier to wash, but it won't stop a chip. A wrap is a colour-change film for a new look. Lots of owners combine them.

PPF: when the worry is chips

Paint protection film is a physical layer between the road and your paint. Stones thrown up on the highway hit the film, not the clear coat. Most people start with the front of the car, since that's where chips happen, and some cover the whole car.

PPF comes in gloss, matte or satin, and colour. Matte film turns gloss paint flat, and it's also the right film for cars that are matte from the factory.

It won't fix paint that's already damaged. We check the paint and note existing marks before we start.

Ceramic coating: when the worry is washing and gloss

A coating is applied as a liquid and hardens on the paint. Water and dirt slide off more easily, so the car is quicker to wash and stays glossy for longer between washes.

A coating doesn't absorb impacts, so a stone that would chip bare paint will chip coated paint too.

Wrap: when you want a different colour

A colour-change wrap's main job is the look: a new colour or finish, without a respray. It also covers the paint underneath, but it's a different product from PPF and isn't made to take stone chips the same way.

If you want both a new colour and chip protection, ask about colour PPF.

Using them together

• PPF on the front, coating on the rest: a common mix. The film covers the chip zone and the coating makes the whole car easier to clean.
• Coating over PPF: some owners coat the film too, for the same easy-wash effect.
• Tint with either: window tint covers the glass, which none of the above do.

Which one should you pick?

Not sure? Tell us how you use the car when you book, and we'll go through the options when we see it.