PPF Cost: What Goes Into the Price of Paint Protection Film

Paint protection film quotes can vary widely from shop to shop, even for the same car. Most of that difference comes down to how much of the car is covered and how carefully the film is installed. Here’s what goes into the price, so you know what you’re comparing.

We don’t post prices, because they depend on your car. We quote from your year, make, and model, so you know your price before you drop off.

1. How much of the car is covered

This is the biggest factor. Our three packages:

• Rock Guard: the front bumper, full hood, full fenders, mirrors, and headlights. About 3 days in the shop.
• Whole Car Armor: every painted surface plus the headlights. About 5 days.
• Full Stealth: every painted surface in matte film plus the headlights. About 5 days.

Some shops quote a “partial front” that only covers the first part of the hood and fenders. It’s cheaper, but it leaves a visible line partway up the hood, and chips still land behind it. Ours covers full panels. See PPF packages explained for the details.

2. Wrapped edges vs cut-short edges

On a cheaper install, the film stops just short of each panel edge, leaving a thin strip of exposed paint and a visible line. We wrap the edges wherever the panel allows, so the film tucks around the edge and you don’t see a line from a few feet away. It takes longer and uses more film, and it looks much better.

3. Taking parts off

For the cleanest result, lights, emblems, handles, and trim come off wherever the car allows, so the film can tuck in behind them. That’s careful work, and it’s a big part of why a full-car install takes days, not hours.

4. The film itself

Quality film is thick, clear, and self-healing, so light scratches disappear on their own in the sun, and it’s built to last for years. Our clear packages are rated up to 12 years. Matte film for Full Stealth is rated up to 10 years. Lower-grade films can yellow, haze, or lose their self-healing over time.

5. Your car’s shape

Bumpers with lots of vents, sensors, and sharp curves take more time to wrap than a simple, flat hood. A full-size truck has more surface than a sports car, while a sports car often has more complicated curves. Both affect the price.

6. Prep and follow-up

Every package starts with a full exterior wash so the film goes down on clean paint, and includes a check-up 1 to 2 weeks after install to make sure the film settled in. Your car stays under 24/7 video surveillance in our shop, and we cover a one-way Uber or Lyft while it’s with us.

Why some PPF is so cheap

• Partial coverage that leaves a line across the hood
• Edges cut short instead of wrapped
• No disassembly, so film stops around handles and emblems
• Lower-grade film with no real rating
• Installed outdoors or in a driveway, where dust ends up under the film

Adding a coating on top

Some owners add a ceramic coating over the film and the rest of the paint. It makes the film slick and easy to wash and protects the uncovered panels from the sun and bug splatter. We can quote both together.

Want to know what your car would cost? Send us the year, make, and model and how you drive. We’ll recommend the coverage that fits, not the biggest package. If you’re not sure film is worth it for you, start with is paint protection film worth it?