Ceramic coating vs PPF: which do you need?
Short answer: paint protection film stops rock chips; ceramic coating makes paint easier to keep clean and glossy. Many owners get film on the front and a coating over everything.
Rated 5.0 from 56 Google reviews.
The short answer
Paint protection film is a clear, thick film. It is the only one of the two that stops rock chips and scratches. Ceramic coating is a thin liquid layer that cures hard. It gives gloss, easy washing and protection from the sun and droppings, but it will not stop a rock.
PPF is not a coating, and a coating is not a film. That mix-up is the most common one we hear. If you remember one line: film for impact, coating for upkeep.
Side by side
Both start at $1,200 here. Film jobs are always topped with a coating.
| Paint protection film | Ceramic coating | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Clear urethane film, physically thick | Liquid that cures into a thin, hard layer |
| Stops rock chips | Yes, on the panels it covers | No |
| Gloss and easy washing | Good, better with a coating on top | Yes, that is its main job |
| Light swirls | Most films heal with heat | Resists them, does not heal |
| Fixes existing swirls | No, correct first | No, correct first |
| Where it goes | High-impact panels, or the whole car | Every painted panel |
| Upkeep | Wash gently, mind the edges | Wash gently, no wax needed |
| Starting price here | From $1,200, plus the coating on top | From $1,200, prep included |
Which one for you
New car, highway miles
Film on the front, where the rocks hit. Add a coating over everything if you want washing to be easy too.
Gloss and easy washing
A ceramic coating. Garaged or around town, chips are less of a worry than wash time.
Black or dark paint
Correction first, then a coating. Add film on the front if you drive the interstate a lot.
Truck that sees gravel
Film on the front and the rockers, where gravel and mud hit, with a coating over the rest.
Leasing or selling soon
Maybe neither. Spend on correction before you sell, or on film if a lease return inspection is the worry.
Getting both
Film and coating work well together, and the order matters. The paint is corrected first, film goes on the high-impact panels, then the coating goes over the film and every other painted panel.
The result: the front is protected from chips, the whole car is glossy and slick, and washing takes a fraction of the time. Here, every film job is topped with a coating, so you always get both. We price them together in one quote.
Questions people ask
Which is better, ceramic coating or PPF?
Neither is better; they do different jobs. Film stops chips. A coating makes the paint glossy and easy to wash. Many owners get both.
Can you put ceramic coating over PPF?
Yes. It is a common combination. The coating makes the film slicker and easier to keep clean.
Do I need both?
If you get film, yes: we top every film job with a coating. If easy washing and gloss are the goal and chips are not, a coating alone may do it.
Do I still wash a car with film and coating?
Yes. Both make washing easier. Neither replaces it.
More answers on our FAQ page, or still stuck? Contact us.
Car and truck prices
Starting prices as posted by the shop. Your final price comes after we see the paint or gelcoat in person. See every package and price.
Ceramic coating
A hard, slick layer over the clear coat. Gloss that lasts and faster washes.
Starting at $1,200Paint protection film
Clear film that takes the rock chips and scratches so the paint does not.
Starting at $1,200Paint correction
Machine polishing that removes swirls and haze before anything is sealed in.
Starting at $600What owners say
Rated 5.0 from 56 Google reviews. One of them, word for word.
★★★★★Bryant and crew did a great job on my 21 year old F150. It was very dirty and they brought it back to life. Great job.
Tom M. on Google
Get a price for film, coating or both
Tell us the vehicle and what you are leaning toward. We reply with a starting price.
23060 US 80 E, Statesboro, GA 30461
info@elitecoatingsandfilms.com
Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Saturdays on request, for a fee.
Serving Statesboro, Savannah and the coast, up to 100 miles. See service areas or read about the shop.