Ceramic Coating v Paint Protection Film, which is best? [Full Guide]

As car owners, we want to protect our vehicle's paint job over the entire vehicle and maintain its original form for as long as possible.

However, there are a lot of factors that can damage your car's exterior, including road debris, rock chips, stone chips, bird droppings, UV rays, and more.

Fortunately, there are many paint protection products on the market that can help you keep your car looking great.

Two of the most popular options are automotive ceramic coating and automotive paint protection film (PPF), also known as clear bras. In this post, we'll take a closer look at these two options and help you determine which one is the best choice for your car.

Ceramic Coating

Ceramic coatings are liquid polymer coatings that are applied to the surface of your vehicle and they have superb hydrophobic properties.

Please note that this must be applied after paint correction has taken place. As all the ceramic coating does is add a clear layer on top of the paint which has to be corrected to perfection as the light scratches will still show through.

They create a hydrophobic surface that repels water and prevents road debris, bird droppings, and other external elements from adhering to the paint surface.

This protective layer provides superior protection against minor scratches, swirl marks, and chemical stains, and it can also protect your car from acid rain, hard water spots, and mineral deposits.

Ceramic pro coatings are one of the easiest ways to protect your car's paint job, and they offer a high level of protection without adding any additional weight or altering the physical appearance of your car.

They also provide a long-lasting layer of protection that can help to maintain the resale value of your vehicle. Especially if it is applied to a new car

One of the best parts about ceramic coatings is that they are UV resistant, so they provide additional protection against the sun's harmful rays.

Here are some typical Ceramic Coatings we recommend.

Shine Armor

This is a quality easy to use ceramic car coating. Its main benefits are no streaking or smearing on application. Gives a hard protective barrier again most tough road grime and is ideal for a daily driver.

Its super chemical bond and chemical composition is safe for all surfaces so you will have no problems if some is applied to the plastic trim.

Mothers CMX Ceramic Coating

This product hails from the Mothers Detailing Brand you can therefore guarantee this is a quality product.

This comes in an even easier form to apply as it is a spray on application and is a good choice if you or your team members are short on time! Spraying on the coating can really save some time.

I can also add that this method is particularly useful for motorcycles as well as cars because the spray can really help you get those difficult to get to areas.

This coating does require 24 hours cure time to get a strong bond, particularly on a metal surface, something you may want to consider if the bike is in daily use!

Its another well renowned long-lasting protection product which can really benefit in the long run.

Please note this coating does not come in a kit form, it is just the coating in a spray bottle.

Paint Protection Films (PPF)

Paint protection films (PPF) are protective films that are applied to the surface of your whole car to create an additional layer of protection from paint damage.

These films are made from thermoplastic urethane and are designed to protect your car from physical damage, such as rock chips and other road debris.

They also protect your car from environmental factors, such as tree sap, bird droppings, and UV rays and UV protection.

PPF coatings are the best solution for protecting your car's paintwork and clear bra from minor scratches and physical and chemical damage.

They are a better option than car wax and offer better protection than other paint protection products.

PPF coatings provide an additional layer of protection that can be customized to fit the size and shape of your car. They are also designed to maintain the original appearance of your car and can be removed without damaging the paint surface.

Here are some Paint Protection Films we recommend and some benefits of paint protection film.

M films

M films is a super great option for car owners and any one in the automotive industry who want a protective layer of paint protection film. This is produced by the leading 3M firm and this assures it is a quality product, which is why we recommend it.

M films are designed to provide a great level of protection, as well as great self-healing technology.

The films also feature special elastomeric polymers, which help to keep the paint on your car’s surface and clear coating looking great.

For car owners who want the best protection for their vehicle’s paint, it is important to choose the right type of protective film and not have a vinyl wrap.

The best film will provide the most protection and will last for many years.

Xpel Film

Xpel film paint protection film is one of the best ways to protect your car’s paint.

It offers a range of options from basic protection to the Xpel ultimate film, which is designed to provide the highest level of protection.

Another benefit is that it also offers a matte finish option as well as a clear coat option.

Xpel paint protection film is one of the most popular options among car owners and it has even had some military use.

The best part of this product is that this virtually invisible urethane film gives all of us so much protection on a new vehicle than when you come to sell it. You can remove it and have a virtually NEW CAR bodywork wise to sell!

Your investment is completely protected for the years you own it by this world's first self-healing film

It is designed to be virtually invisible once applied, and provides protection against rock chips, bird droppings, road debris and more. It also offers self-healing technology, which means that scratches and swirl marks will heal themselves over time.

Xpel’s clear bra paint protection film is another great option for car owners who want to protect their vehicle’s paint.

The clear bra film provides a protective layer that helps protect against rock chips, road debris and more. It also helps protect against UV rays, stone chips, tree sap and other types of damage. 

Which One Is the Best Option?

When it comes to choosing between ceramic coatings and PPF coatings, there are a few factors to consider.

The main benefit of ceramic coatings is that they provide a hydrophobic surface that repels water and prevents road debris and other external elements from adhering to the paint surface.

This means that you don't need to wash your car as frequently and it stays cleaner for longer.

On the other hand, PPF coatings are the best choice for protecting your car's paint job from physical damage and road debris.

They are also a better option for daily drivers who are exposed to a lot of external elements.

While ceramic coatings offer a high level of protection, they do not offer the same level of physical protection as PPF coatings.

The good news is that you don't have to choose between these two options.

Many car lovers choose to combine both ceramic coatings and PPF coatings for the ultimate level of protection.

Applying a ceramic coating to the entire car and then applying a PPF coating to high-impact areas, such as the front bumper, rocker panels, and side mirrors, can provide the best of both worlds.

The Bottom Line

In summary, both ceramic coatings and PPF coatings are excellent options for protecting your car's paint job. Ceramic coatings are the better choice for maintaining the appearance in my opinion and the PPF option can require a good amount of patience or professional help to apply.

But this is my own choice as I do lack on the patience side when it comes to things like this!