Is it Worth it to Buy Paint Protection Film for Your Car?

By: David Smith

If you want to keep your car looking as new as possible, you can wash it regularly. But if you want to protect it from dings and scratches, you may want to take it a step further and get it wrapped with paint protection film, a long-lasting solution to protecting your investment and maintaining its new car look longer. Is the expense of having paint protection film installed on your new vehicle worth it?

What is paint protection film?

Paint protection film is one of the best ways to protect your car’s finish whether it’s brand new or you’ve just repainted your vehicle.

Paint protection film is a polyurethane film that is placed over the car’s body panels in order to protect them from scratches, UV rays, rock chips, and other road debris. Have you ever seen, or heard of, a clear bra? Well, that’s basically “stage one” of a protection film procedure. Most shops that do it nowadays cover the whole front bumper the entire hood, side mirrors, and rear bumper. Basically, all of the body panels that are considered “high impact” areas that are vulnerable to most damage.

When it comes to protecting your vehicle’s paint finish, it’s a jungle of flying objects and natural forces out there: stones, gravel, sand, bird droppings, winter salt, tree sap, bugs, oil, and other road debris. Fortunately, there’s an easy, long-lasting solution to protecting your vehicle and maintaining its new car look. Protekt® PPF by Madico® is a transparent automobile paint protection film with an industry-leading top coat that eliminates scratches over time, making it virtually self-healing. The film is optically clear and is resistant to stain and discoloration.

What can paint protection film cover?

If you do decide that you want to protect that fancy new car of yours, then you’ll likely find a lot of different shops in your area that provide a paint protection film service.

Most of them will offer different packages, or stages, that provide different levels of protection. For example, you can opt for just the clear bra and front bumper to be covered, or you can even get the whole car done, which would include areas that are vulnerable to road debris and chips such as quarter panels, door handles and side mirrors.

And paint protection film also can be installed on RV’s, boats, jet skis, utility vehicles, tractors and motorcycles to protect their surfaces, which are prone to damage and paint scratches

How much does automotive paint protection cost?

One of the most important aspects of ensuring that paint protection film properly protects your vehicle is making sure it’s installed correctly by a certified professional.

If you plan on getting your car professionally installed, it can cost from $1,000 to $7,000 depending on the coverage and type of vehicle. Although the initial investment may sound expensive, paint protection film ultimately can save you money on costly repairs and repainting. For even more protection, Madico’s Protekt PPF is backed by a 7-year warranty.

How do I care for my car after paint protection film is installed?

Bugs and tar will wipe away clean from a paint protection film’s surface. Once the film has cured, you can wash your vehicle regularly, but there is no need to pressure wash it, which could damage the film’s surface if sprayed too close to the edges.