How Much Is Paint Protection Film?
HOW MUCH IS PAINT PROTECTION FILM?
Paint Protection can be quite expensive. It is true that "you get what you pay for" with many things in life, and this applies to Paint Protection Film as well.
The risk of damage caused by an amateur attempting the installation is not worth it, especially when dealing with an expensive car that could end up with knife cuts. The cost to fix such damages can be even higher.
We understand that quality comes with a price, but we also understand how you might feel about the cost of Paint Protection Film, which might seem like a clear piece of plastic or saran wrap on your car.
Since pricing can vary considerably, we want to help you understand the factors that influence the costs of applying PPF to your car. There are four main factors that affect the price of installing paint protection film: "
Car’s Condition
PPF stands for Paint Protection Film, which is a layer designed to protect your vehicle's paint. However, to ensure the best results, the surface of your paint should be free of any imperfections such as swirl marks, rock chips, or defects.
Even if your vehicle is brand new, it may still have minor scratches, holograms, or other flaws that need to be removed before applying PPF. If you try to install PPF on a damaged or imperfect surface, it will not be effective. Therefore, the first step in any PPF installation is the Paint Correction process.
The cost of Paint Correction depends on the condition of your vehicle's paint. If it's in good condition, then a Single-Step Polish will suffice, and the costs can be kept to a minimum, ranging from $300 to $400.
However, if there are deep scratches or swirl marks, it will require a Multi-Step Paint Correction, which will take more time and could cost between $600 to $1,000.
Type of Coverage
The coverage you choose for your car is highly important in determining the price. Most people prefer to cover the most vulnerable areas of the vehicle, such as the front bumper, hood, and mirrors. Partial Front End or Bumper Only coverage is popular for those who want minimal coverage due to infrequent driving or for protecting the paint. However, almost all of our clients prefer Full Front End coverage.
The type of coverage you choose will affect the price depending on the amount of time and labor required to install it. More coverage equals more labor involved, and the price may vary depending on the type of film used. For example, premium film brands with hydrophobic properties like LLumar are slightly more expensive than SunTek Ultra. Stealth or Matte film will be priced significantly higher than clear, glossy ones.
Paint Protection Film (PPF) is the best protection money can buy for your vehicle, providing protection against rock chips, staining, and fading. There are different types of PPF available, such as clear and glossy ones (most popular), matte, or satin finishes, carbon fiber and colored PPF. The most popular brands in the market are XPEL, LLumar, and 3M.
Although it may seem confusing, all PPF will protect your vehicle the same way, with a slight visual difference when compared side by side. It is mostly down to the chemical make-up of the material, the thickness, and the brand behind the product. We have been long-term LLumar installers, but we have decided to use only Llumar. Eastman (Llumar) is one of the most trusted brands in the PPF industry. LLumar Valor is our premium film that we offer to clients looking for the clearest film on the market.
Level of Difficulty of Installing
The cost of Paint Protection Film (PPF) installation is influenced by the level of difficulty. Although PPF is a flat, two-dimensional film, installers need to wrap a three-dimensional panel. Certain cars have panels with complex curves and contours, making PPF installation difficult, time-consuming, intricate and expensive. Additionally, the material used is not cheap, and if there is dirt, hair or silvering (film that is stretched too much), the piece has to be replaced.
Vehicles with complex features and sharp contours such as the BMW M3, Dodge Hellcat, Lamborghinis and Ferraris are more difficult to install PPF on, which means it will take more time to complete. Therefore, the complexity of your car is a major factor when it comes to pricing, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Although PPF installation now uses software and digital patterns, there are specific car makes and models that are not available within the PPF software. This means the installer must have the expertise to create custom patterns to ensure maximum coverage and protection for the car.
Added Coverage
Some of our clients choose to add extra coverage on top of popular options such as Full Front End or Partial Front End. This additional coverage may include the luggage strip, A/B pillars, or the rocker panels. As a result, the cost of PPF installation may increase.
To give you an idea of the costs involved in professional PPF installation, here are some figures for Partial Front End, Full Front End, and Full Coverage. Partial Front End covers the Full Bumper, Partial Hood, Partial Fenders, and Side Mirrors, and ranges between $700 and $1,100. Full Front End covers the Full Bumper, Full Hood, Partial Fenders, and Side Mirrors, and ranges between $1,700 and $2,300. Full Car Coverage ranges between $5,000 and $9,500.
Concluding Remarks
Paint Protection Film is a costly investment that requires a significant upfront payment. While there are cheaper options available, the question of whether it's worth the risk is entirely up to you. Time is our most valuable commodity, and we have more than a decade of experience in installing Paint Protection Film, Ceramic Coatings, and paintwork.
By leveraging our expertise, you can save time and avoid the stress of researching, worrying about a poor job, dealing with unreliable shops, and the potential for headaches. We stand behind the quality of our work, and if something is not right, we will fix it.