The short answer
Paint protection film (PPF) is a thick, clear film that physically stops rock chips and scratches. Ceramic coating is a thin, hard layer that adds gloss and makes the car much easier to clean, but it won't stop a rock chip. If chips are your worry, you need PPF. If you want shine and easy washing, you want coating. Many of our customers get both.
What PPF does
PPF, also called clear bra, is a urethane film applied over your paint. We use XPEL Ultimate Plus, an 8-mil film with a self-healing top layer. It absorbs impacts from gravel, sand and road debris so your factory paint doesn't. Light scratches in the film disappear with heat from the sun. It also resists bug splatter and bird droppings, which matters a lot in Florida.
Most people protect the front of the car, where chips happen: bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors and headlights. That's our full front package. Full body PPF covers every painted panel.
What ceramic coating does
Ceramic coating is a liquid that bonds to your paint and hardens into a clear protective layer. We use XPEL Fusion Plus Premium V2, a 9H-hardness coating with an 8-year warranty. It makes water bead and roll off, adds deep gloss, and helps protect against UV fading, bird droppings and bug acids. Washing gets much faster because dirt doesn't stick.
What it can't do is stop physical damage. A rock that would chip uncoated paint will still chip coated paint.
Side by side
| PPF | Ceramic coating | |
|---|---|---|
| Stops rock chips | Yes | No |
| Self-heals light scratches | Yes | No |
| Adds gloss | Yes | Yes, a lot |
| Water beading / easy washing | Some | Excellent |
| Coverage | Usually the front end | Paint, plastics, glass and wheel faces |
| XPEL warranty | 10 years | 8 years |
| Our price | Full front from $2,199 | From $1,999 |
Why many people do both
PPF and ceramic coating work best together. The film takes the hits on the front of the car, and the coating goes over the film and the rest of the paint for gloss and easy washing. XPEL designed Fusion Plus to go over both paint and PPF.
That's why we offer a bundle: add ceramic coating to a full front or full body PPF install and get $700 off the coating. A full front plus ceramic starts at $3,498 for coupes and sedans. See packages.
Which one is right for you?
- New car, driven on I-75 or US-41 daily: full front PPF plus ceramic coating.
- Weekend or show car, mostly garaged: ceramic coating, with PPF on the front if you drive it on the highway.
- Older daily driver with some chips already: ceramic coating to bring back gloss and make washing easier.
- Want a satin look: full body XPEL Stealth PPF, then a satin-safe coating on top.