What is the difference between a ceramic coating and a PPF?
This is one of those “most commonly asked questions.” With all the car jargon out there, let alone auto detailing jargon, what really is the difference between a ceramic coating and a paint protection film (PPF)?
The greatest difference comes in their physical forms. A paint protection film is quite literally just that, a film. It is a physical, pliable, thin urethane material that is stretched over the exterior of your car and adhered to the surface. You can touch it and you can feel the edges (if you know where to look). It is an actual tangible product.
A ceramic coating, on the other hand, you cannot see, touch, or feel (except for the slickness factor). There are upsides and downsides to both.
A ceramic coating will give your car an ultra glossy, slick, and shiny feel. It has a glassy appearance, almost as if you are looking at a direct reflection of what's in front of you. It's that day-one, showroom shine that we are all after. Of course, your car is also protected from the elements, like we have mentioned many times on our website—water spotting, etching, droppings, bug guts, oxidation, and paint fading, etc.
A paint protection film, on the other hand, has a bit more protective capabilities. Since a PPF is a physical substrate that is laid over your vehicle, it has a bit more durability and can aid in the protection against things like rock chips, scratches, and swirl marks. However, there are a few things to keep in mind with PPFs: these are much more expensive to apply than a ceramic coating. They can tend to fade and yellow over time, and if not cared for properly, can show their edges and creases where dirt collects. PPFs are not impenetrable, and rocks and foreign objects can still damage the vehicle, but much less so than without a PPF.
Ceramic coatings provide less protection from physical damage like scratches, chips, and swirl marks.
If you have the budget and desire, stack a ceramic coating over the top of your PPF. You’d be damn near invincible... sort of.
