Protect a new car before the first rock chip
The best time to coat or film a car is before it has been through a winter, a highway commute or an automatic wash. Here is what to do in the first 90 days, what it costs on your exact car, and how to get real offers without calling five shops.
What new car owners run into
Dealer 'paint protection' is usually a sealant applied in a wash bay for $800 to $1,500. A studio coating costs the same and lasts years.
Modern OEM paint is baked at the plant. You do not need to wait 30 days; you need to get it protected before the first chip.
90 percent of chip damage lands on the hood, bumper, fenders and mirrors. Film there, coating everywhere, is the order that pays.
The plan
Run your make and model through the calculator to see partial front, full front and coating ranges.
PPF cost for my car →Four questions decide PPF, ceramic or both for how you drive and how long you keep it.
Decide in two minutes →Studios send real prices for your car; you lock one and reserve the slot.
Get offers →Prices for the cars you drive
Tools for this
- 🛡️PPF cost calculatorPartial front to full body: what paint protection film costs for your car, SUV or truck.
- ✨Ceramic coating cost calculatorPrice Silver, Gold and Diamond coatings for your exact vehicle size and paint condition.
- 🧭PPF or ceramic? Decision helperFour questions, one straight recommendation with the reasoning installers use.
Read before you book
- Best Paint Protection for a New Car: Ceramic, PPF or BothReview
- Ceramic Coating on a New Car: Why Day One Is the Best TimeGuide
- Should I Ceramic Coat a New Car? When It Pays and When It Doesn'tGuide
- Partial Front vs Full Front PPF: Coverage, Cost and Which to PickGuide
- PPF vs Ceramic Coating: Which Protection Your Car Actually NeedsReview
- Is PPF Worth It? Where Paint Protection Film Pays for ItselfGuide
Questions new car owners ask
Should I protect a new car before I drive it home?
Ideally within the first few weeks. Factory paint is fully cured; the only thing waiting does is add chips you will then pay to correct.
Is the dealer paint protection worth it?
Rarely. It is usually a sealant with a warranty full of exclusions. A studio ceramic coating costs about the same and is a real multi-year product.
What is the minimum worth doing?
A partial-front PPF ($900 to $1,500 on a sedan) or a 3-year ceramic coating ($900 to $1,300). Both beat doing nothing by a wide margin at resale.