1.What ceramic coating and PPF each actually protect
Ceramic coating and paint protection film (PPF) solve different problems and most buyers end up choosing one, the other, or a layered combination. Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that bonds to clear coat and adds gloss, hydrophobic beading, and resistance to chemical staining and UV fading. It does not stop a rock chip or a key scratch; it is cosmetic and chemical protection, not impact protection.
PPF is a thick urethane film, applied panel by panel, that physically absorbs rock chips, light scratches and road debris. Most modern films also self-heal light swirl marks with heat. PPF protects the panels it covers and nothing else, which is why coverage level (partial front vs. full front vs. full body) is the real decision, not brand.
Coateau's catalog carries both as separate services so the two can be compared on the same page instead of two different installer visits.
| Service | Tier | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Coating | Silver (1 yr) | Single-layer entry coating |
| Ceramic Coating | Gold (3 yr) | Multi-layer, stronger hydrophobics |
| Ceramic Coating | Diamond (5 yr+) | Flagship, hardest cure, paint correction incl. |
| PPF | Partial Front | Partial hood, fenders, mirrors |
| PPF | Full Front | Full hood, fenders, bumper, mirrors |
| PPF | Track Pack | Full front + rockers + A-pillars |
| PPF | Full Body | Every painted panel wrapped |
Coverage tiers as carried in data/services.ts.
2.Catalog price table at every vehicle size
The ranges below are the same ones the Coateau quote tool produces: a catalog base price for a sedan-size vehicle, multiplied by the vehicle-size factor in data/services.ts. A given studio's exact price still depends on paint condition, local labor rates and the brand of film or coating they run, which is why every range is a band and not a single number.
| Service | Tier | Car / Sedan | SUV / Truck | XL / Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Coating | Silver (1 yr) | $500–$800 | $600–$960 | $700–$1,120 |
| Ceramic Coating | Gold (3 yr) | $900–$1,300 | $1,080–$1,560 | $1,260–$1,820 |
| Ceramic Coating | Diamond (5 yr+) | $1,400–$2,000 | $1,680–$2,400 | $1,960–$2,800 |
| Paint Protection Film | Partial Front | $900–$1,500 | $1,080–$1,800 | $1,260–$2,100 |
| Paint Protection Film | Full Front | $1,800–$3,000 | $2,160–$3,600 | $2,520–$4,200 |
| Paint Protection Film | Track Pack | $2,400–$3,600 | $2,880–$4,320 | $3,360–$5,040 |
| Paint Protection Film | Full Body | $5,000–$8,000 | $6,000–$9,600 | $7,000–$11,200 |
Catalog ranges computed by lib/pricing.ts's quote(), the same function behind every live Coateau estimate.
3.PPF film warranty comparison
Warranty terms vary more than price does. Some films are transferable to a new owner and some are not; some require an annual paid inspection to keep the warranty valid and some don't say either way. The table below is built directly from data/ppfWarranties.ts, which records only what each manufacturer's own warranty page states. Where a manufacturer's page does not address a field, it is marked Unknown rather than guessed.
| Brand | Line | Years | Finish | Self-healing | Top coat | Transferable | Notable conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPEL | Ultimate Plus | 10 | Gloss | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Must be installed by an authorized XPEL installer. Transferable to a new owner only if they submit proof of the original install date to XPEL. |
| XPEL | Stealth | 10 | Matte | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Covered under the same Ultimate Plus & Stealth warranty terms as XPEL's gloss film. Must be installed by an authorized XPEL installer; transferable with proof of original install date. |
| XPEL | Ultimate Fusion | 10 (4 yr on oxidation, loss of gloss, UV damage and fading) | Gloss | Yes | Hydrophobic top coat | Yes | Requires an annual inspection by an XPEL-certified Fusion installer within 30 days of the install anniversary, at the owner's expense. Missing an inspection voids the warranty. Transferable to a new owner with proof of the original install date. |
| STEK | DYNOshield | 10 (extends to 12 yr when paired with STEK Final Coat ceramic coating) | Gloss | Yes | Nano-ceramic-infused top coat | Unknown | Covers delamination, yellowing, bubbling and cracking. STEK advises against waxing since the ceramic topcoat already provides hydrophobic protection. |
| STEK | DYNOmatte | 10 | Matte | Yes | HYDROphobe top coat | Unknown | 8-mil film built for matte and satin finishes, which STEK notes are especially prone to scratching and staining. Covers delamination, yellowing, bubbling and cracking. |
| SunTek | Ultra | 10 | Gloss | Yes | HydroResist top coat | Unknown | Covers cracking, bubbling and yellowing. Certain restrictions apply; see dealer for details. Avoid automatic car washes, high-pressure nozzles, steam cleaning and power washers. |
| SunTek | Reaction | 12 | Gloss | Yes | Integrated super-hydrophobic ceramic coating | Unknown | Covers yellowing, bubbling, cracking and peeling. SunTek's highest PPF warranty tier. Hydrophobic durability can vary with environment and road chemicals; see dealer for restrictions. |
| 3M | Scotchgard Pro Series 200 | 10 | Gloss | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Must be installed by an authorized 3M installer; non-authorized installs void coverage. Headlight applications and physical-impact dents are excluded. 3M's own site could not be reached directly while building this comparer (repeated timeouts); these figures are corroborated across multiple installer and review pages that quote 3M's Pro Series warranty card, not a direct manufacturer fetch. Confirm with your installer's paperwork. |
| LLumar | Platinum | 10 | Gloss | Yes | HydroGard top coat | Unknown | Certain restrictions apply; see dealer for warranty details. Also available in a matte finish under the same warranty term. |
| LLumar | Valor | 12 | Gloss | Yes | Tetrashield top coat | Unknown | LLumar's top PPF tier; OEM-trusted Tetrashield technology. Hydrophobic durability can vary with road treatment chemicals and cleaning frequency. |
| Kavaca | Ceramic Coated | 12 | Gloss | Yes | Nanotechnology-infused ceramic top coat | Yes | Warranty and service record stay with the vehicle's VIN, so coverage can transfer to the next owner. Requires professional installation and maintenance as directed; some retailers tie a lifetime option to annual inspections, but that was not confirmed on the page we checked. |
Manufacturer-published terms, checked 2026-10-02. "Unknown" means the manufacturer's own page did not state that field.
4.How to read a quote
A real quote should name the service, the tier or coverage level, your vehicle's size class, a price range (not a single padded number pulled from thin air), and a deposit amount to hold the slot. Coateau's own deposit convention is 20 percent of the low end of the range with a $50 floor, and each service tier in the catalog carries its own typical deposit percentage (ceramic coating and PPF both default to 50 percent; window tint to 30 percent).
If a written quote does not name the film or coating line by brand, ask for it before booking. "Ceramic coating" and "PPF" are categories, not products, and the warranty table above only applies to the specific line a studio actually installs.
5.Questions to ask before you book
- Which brand and line of film or coating do you install, by name, not just the category?
- Is the warranty transferable if I sell the car, and does it require a paid inspection to stay valid?
- For PPF: is the quote for a pre-cut pattern or a bulk hand-cut install, and which panels exactly are covered?
- For ceramic coating: how many layers, and is paint correction included or billed separately?
- What does the deposit cover if I need to reschedule or cancel?
- Who is doing the physical install: the person quoting me, or a technician I have not met?
⚠What this document does not cover
- The exact price any specific studio will charge you; catalog ranges are national starting calibrations that each studio sets independently.
- Ceramic coating or PPF for boats, motorcycles, RVs, or aircraft.
- Insurance treatment of PPF or ceramic coating claims, which varies by insurer and state.
- DIY application of either product.
- A recommendation of one specific studio, brand, or installer.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, this is a common combination: PPF on impact-prone panels for physical protection, with a ceramic coating on top (or over the rest of the car) for gloss and chemical resistance. Confirm with your installer that the coating they use is compatible with the film's top coat.
No. PPF reduces the chance and severity of a chip or scratch on the panels it covers; it does not make a panel impervious to a hard enough impact.
Not automatically, but it is a reason to ask what's included. A price far below the catalog range for the tier described is more often a sign of fewer layers, no correction, or a shorter cure process than advertised.
Sources
- XPEL Warranty Information
- STEK USA, DYNOshield
- SunTek Films, Reaction PPF
- LLumar, Valor PPF
- Ceramic Pro, KAVACA Ceramic Coated PPF
Last verified 2026-10-02. Figures are catalog estimates and public data, not quotes, and never a Coateau rating.