What is worth protecting on a new car, where the value is, and what you can safely skip.
A new car is the easiest car to protect, and the easiest to regret not protecting. The paint is flawless on the day you drive it home, which is exactly why the decisions you make in the first few weeks count for so much. This is a plain guide to what actually protects a new car, what is worth your money, and what you can safely skip.
Factory paint is thinner than most people expect, and once a stone chip or a car park scratch goes through the clearcoat, it is there for good unless you pay to correct it later. Protecting the paint while it is still perfect means you are locking in the best your car will ever look, rather than trying to claw back a finish that is already marked. That is the single biggest reason we tell owners to think about protection early, not after the first chip appears on the freeway. Starting with fresh paint also keeps the job simpler, because film and coatings go on best over clean, undamaged paint, so there is no correction to pay for first.
Not every panel needs the same treatment, and understanding the difference is where you save money without cutting corners. Paint protection film, a clear urethane layer that absorbs stone chips and light scratches, is best spent on the areas that cop the most damage: the front bumper, bonnet, guards, mirrors and the leading edge of the roof. A full body wrap is worth it for some owners, but a well chosen front package protects the panels most likely to be hit for a fraction of the cost. Ceramic coating does a different job. It will not stop a stone chip, but it bonds to the paint to make the car easier to wash, adds depth and gloss, and helps guard against UV fade and water spotting. Many new car owners pair a front PPF package with a coating over the rest of the body. Window tint is the third piece: quality ceramic tint blocks UV and keeps the cabin cooler, which protects the interior trim and seats from fading in the Melbourne sun.
Dealer paint and fabric protection packages are often marked up heavily for products that do far less than a proper PPF or ceramic job. If a dealer offers a protection pack as an add on, it is worth getting an independent quote before you sign, so you can compare what you are actually paying for against what you are actually getting. You also do not need to protect every panel to feel the benefit. The honest approach is to spend where the risk is highest and leave off what does not earn its place. A front PPF package and a good coating will do more for most everyday drivers than an expensive full wrap they did not really need. If you want a sense of what suits your car, our popular cars pages are a good place to start.
Ideally yes. The paint is flawless when the car is new, so protecting it early locks in that finish. It also means the film or coating goes onto clean paint without needing correction first, which keeps the job simpler and often cheaper.
It depends on the car and how you use it. PPF physically protects against stone chips on the high impact panels, while ceramic makes the whole car easier to clean and adds gloss. Many owners do a front PPF package plus ceramic over the rest, but either on its own is still worthwhile.
Usually not. Dealer packages are often a sealant or spray that does far less than a proper PPF or ceramic job. It is worth comparing an independent quote before paying for a dealer add on.
We look after everyday drivers, not just weekend supercars. Tell Henry, our owner, what you have bought and what you want to protect, and he will put together a cost-effective plan that makes sense for your car, with honest advice and no pressure.
Tell us what you have bought and what you want to protect, and we will send an honest quote.
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