The Truth About Dealership PPF and Ceramic Coating

When you buy a new vehicle, the dealer often offers additional services such as paint protection film and ceramic coating. These offers are additional requirements to protect your investment, maintain its brand-new look, and increase its resale value. Although it is undoubtedly essential to protect car paint, obtaining these services from the dealer is often not the best idea.

You should avoid retailer paint protection film and ceramic coating services for many compelling reasons. From price and quality problems to adaptation and lack of expertise, this blog will explain them in detail and explain why independent, special installations are often better alternatives.

Top Reasons to Skip Dealership Paint Protection Film or Ceramic Coating

Top Reasons Why You Should Not Choose a Dealership Paint Protection Film

Below, you will find out the significant causes of why you should not select a dealership PPF.

1). More Package

Dealerships have one of the most common complaints about paint protection film and ceramic coating services. Because they work with buyers who have already spent thousands on a vehicle, dealers try to capitalize on that consumption mentality.

More importantly, high price: Retailers often charge more than the actual cost of what independent details charge for the same or better service.

Bundle with unnecessary objects: Often, ceramic coating or paint protection film comes as part of a “safety package,” but these packages also include many other elements, such as fabric protection products, nitrogen-filled tires, and highly pricy services that may not be necessary or valuable.

In many cases, the dealer does not work itself but outsources to a local third party and updates the customer on this.

2. Lack of Openness

When a dealer company sells you a complete package, they often fail to provide clear information:

Which brand or quality of ceramic coating or paint protection film is used
How many layers or coats are used
Prep work level before application
Warranty details (which may be unclear or misleading)

This lack of openness makes it difficult for buyers to make informed decisions. On the other hand, independent stores usually provide all these details, including product data sheets, warranty cards, and complete clarification of the work.

3. Quality and Application to All

Quality control is essential for paint safety, and using ceramic coatings or paint protection film requires careful attention to skills, experience, and details. Unfortunately, many dealers:

There are no trained professionals among the employees to work
Use standard or low-quality products
This can increase the application process, especially if they need to rotate the vehicle quickly

A Recognized Car Detailing Studio’s Work

On the other hand, how a skilled car detailing company works on giving you and your vehicle the best work that matches up with your expectations.

Appoint certified professionals with special training.
Use Advanced Brands for Coatings, such as UltrashieldX. Its paint protection film is made up of a thin polycaprolactone (TPU) base film sourced from prominent companies like BASF, Wanhua, Huntsman, Lubrizol, and Convestro. To make the adhesive layer of this PPF coating, they take the glue from the eminent Ashland company.
It offers customized application processes, including entire car body coverage for selective parts of the car, such as the front bumper, hood, side mirrors, and fenders.

4). Minimum or No Paint Improvement

Before getting done with car detailing, such as paint protection film or ceramic coating, it is necessary to fix the paintwork properly and to make the surface smooth and ready for PPF or ceramic coating applications. This involves removing surface errors:

Swirl marks
Lightly scratches
Oxidation
Water stain

Most dealers leave the step entirely or do it quickly, which results in errors during the coating.

Independent stores usually spend hours improving paint in several steps before applying a PPF or ceramic coat. Leaving this step reduces the efficiency of ceramic coating or paint protection film, and your car may get worse over time.

5). A Common Package

The dealer usually offers a generic package to everyone without looking at the factors of the client, such as:

Driving habits
Vehicle color
Parking environment (garage vs out)
Budget or conservation goals

However, a professional detail shop will consider your requirements and recommend a customized solution. For example:

You may only need paint protection film in highly affected prone areas such as the hood, bumper, and mirrors.

You may prefer an 8-year PPF over a 5- to 1-year-old ceramic coating, depending on how long you plan to keep the car. This level of flexibility and adaptation is not just available through most dealers.

6). Limiting Warranty

Retailers often promise long-term guarantees, sometimes a “lifetime” guarantee on their paint protection film. However, this Warranty:

which are not practical
Continuous maintenance is required at dealers (at your own expense)
It can be zero for small things like washing the car incorrectly

Meanwhile, warranties are generally more practical with a professional installer, as supported by realistic manufacturers. Many include transferable guarantees, meaning the safety is still valid if you sell the vehicle.

7). Poor Customer Service and Follow-Ups

If you have any problem with the coating or paint protection film installation from the dealer:

You may need to jump through hoops to get it resolved
The dealer can refer you to the third-party provider he used
You may find that no one takes responsibility for problems such as bubbling, wrinkles, or coating failure

Professional detailing studios with excellent reputations are more likely to stand behind their work and address any problem immediately and professionally.

8). Delay in Delivery of Your New Vehicle

Retailers often install paint protection film and ceramic coating after selling vehicles, which can delay delivery for several days or weeks. If you are excited to take your new car home, it can be a disappointing wait, especially if the job quality does not meet expectations.

Going directly to a skilled automobile detailer allows you to go right after delivery:

Observe your new car properly
Planning service for simplicity’s sake
Choose what you want to protect
You are under the control of the timeline and can plan accordingly.

9). No Value in Service Financing

Some retailers pack a car loan package, which may seem practical, but you pay interest on that cost over time. The service would be less, but you end up paying more on your loan. Therefore, they don’t even suggest any beneficial package.

Not only are you paying more, but you are locked in a non-worthwhile situation, a fixed agreement, even if the quality of the service is worse.

Paying your known experts and car detailers allows you to avoid this network and focus entirely on your car protection.

10). No Relation to the Installer

When you go with a dealer, you cannot build any relationship with them; therefore, it is a one-time work that they serve you. Whereas when you choose a local, knowledgeable, skilled detailer:

You can build an ongoing relationship
You know who worked on your car
You can return to touch-up, inspection, and maintenance of the washer
They can offer loyalty programs or discounts on future services

This individual approach ensures better care, more confidence, and continuous support for completing your vehicle.

11). Limited Product Selection

The dealer often has exclusive contracts with some suppliers or what is most advantageous to them. You can’t question it:

Types of PPF or ceramic coating they are using
paint protection film thickness or finish
Options such as gloss or Matt Finish

A specialized car detailer offers broad options, including the latest technologies and the most durable products. You can choose products depending on your preferences, goals, and even beauty flavor.

12). The Dealer Staff are Sellers and do Not Provide Details About Experts

The person who recommends paint protection film and ceramic coating at the dealer is a sales manager, not a trained professional automobile detailer. Their job is to trap you and not educate you about proper paint security.

On the other hand, professional detailing studios are usually run by skilled professionals who take care of the vehicle and safeguard it. They will go through each step, explain the benefits and boundaries, and help you make the best decision for your car option.

13). Red Flags in Reviews

In-house or outsourced with PPF and ceramic coating services, several dealers have mixed or negative reviews online. General complaints include:

Line formation on the paint protection film
PPF-edges lift or bend
Turing yellowish with time
No communication or follow-up
High costs for bad results

Before using thousands, it is essential to read reviews and see examples of previous work. Skilled detailers usually maintain a portfolio of before and after images, social media sites, and many genuine, shiny reviews.

Conclusion

Leave the dealer and go to a professional’s automobile detailer. Although paint protection film and ceramic coating are excellent investments to protect your car’s finish, the dealer is probably the worst place to get it done. Between high costs, suspected quality, poor transparency, and lack of adaptation, the dealer is reduced in almost every aspect.

Instead, consider getting it done by a certified, skilled automobile detailer company. Not only do you have the opportunity to save money, but you will also get better results, better service, and better protection for a long time.

Before deciding:

Ask for product details and brand names
Asking for the first after-the-picture
Read reviews and admirers
Understand warranty coverage
Compared to many other known automobile detailers, get it done from the best

FAQS

Q1. Is it worth getting paint protection film or ceramic coating from a detailer?

A1. No, it is never suggested that you get your car’s PPF or ceramic coating done from a dealer, as you will not get the quality or longevity of the work here.

Q2. Why do car manufacturers not do PPF or ceramic coating?

A2. Applying paint protection film or ceramic coating to a car is not easy. It requires proper knowledge and years of experience because it is a complex task, and one single mistake can damage the entire appearance of the car.

Q3. Is getting dealership paint protection film done on your car worth it?

A3. Usually, it is not, as they don’t have skilled and trained people to do this work. Therefore, it affects the overall result, and the product doesn’t even give your car the proper efficiency.

Q4. Does paint protection film void your car warranty?

A4. Generally, a paint protection film doesn’t affect the car’s warranty. Still, it is advised to check with your car manufacturer’s details and be sure of it before getting any car detailing services done on your car.

Q5. Is paint protection film worth it?

A5. Yes, applying paint protection film to your car is always worth it, as it safeguards your vehicle’s paintwork from numerous environmental elements, such as tree sap, stone chips, chemical stains, road debris, minor scratches, and discoloration.

Q6. Is PPF better than ceramic coating?

A6. Both this paint protection film and ceramic coating have advantages, but paint protection film is preferred more over ceramic coating as UltrashieldX PPF holds numerous advantages. Ceramic coating can be layered over it, adding an amazing glossy finish to your car and its beneficial properties.

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