What PPF protects against
- Stone chips on the front of the car, the reason most people buy it
- Grit and road debris on the sills and behind the wheels
- Scuffs on door edges, door cups and the boot lip from loading
- Light scratches and bird mess etching
- Fading and staining of the paint underneath
How much of the car to cover
| Coverage | What it usually includes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| High-impact areas | Front bumper, leading edge of the bonnet and wings, mirror caps | Daily cars that do motorway miles |
| Full front | Full bumper, full bonnet, full wings, mirrors, often the headlights | New and high-value cars; no visible film line on the bonnet |
| Track or extended | Full front plus sills, rear arches and the A-pillars | Cars that see fast roads, track days or gravel |
| Full car | Every painted panel | Collectors and anyone who wants the whole car protected |
| Spot protection | Door edges, door cups, boot lip, loading area | Any car, a small job with a big effect |
Prices depend on the coverage and the car. Please enquire with the make, model and the panels you want covered.
Preparation first
Film goes on top of the paint and stays there for years, so the paint underneath has to be right first. The car is washed and decontaminated, and any swirls or light defects on the panels being covered are polished out before fitting. A chip that is already there will stay under the film, so it is worth touching it in first.
PPF, ceramic coating or both
A ceramic coating makes paint glossy and easy to wash but does not stop chips. PPF stops chips. Many owners fit film on the front of the car and coat everything else, including over the film, so the whole car washes the same way. The ceramic coating page explains coatings in full.
Looking after film
- Wait about a week before the first wash, while the film settles
- Hand wash with a pH-neutral shampoo; keep a pressure washer away from film edges
- Remove bird mess and bug splatter promptly, as with paint
- A coating on top makes the film easier to keep clean