What a coating won’t do
A coating is very thin. It won’t stop rock chips from a truck on the freeway, and it won’t stop a key scratch or a shopping cart dent. It also isn’t a reason to stop washing. A coated car still gets dirty. It just cleans up much more easily.
Water spots are worth a word too. A coating makes them less likely to etch in, but hard-water spots left to bake in the sun for weeks can still mark the surface. Rinse them off when you see them.
1, 3 or 5 years of protection
We install coatings from P&S Detail Products, and we’re P&S certified. Prices below are starting points for a sedan:
- 1-year coating, from $499: a good fit for a leased car or one you might trade in soon
- 3-year coating, from $800: the middle option for a daily driver you plan to keep a while
- 5-year coating, from $1,250: the longest protection, for a vehicle you plan to keep for years
Prep first, then coat
A coating locks in whatever is underneath it, including swirl marks. So every coating starts with a careful wash, a clay bar and polishing to remove defects. Most cars get a single polishing step. Paint with heavier swirls may need more, which our paint correction page explains.
We can coat the car at your home or bring it into our detail shop. At home, a garage is best, because the coating needs to cure out of direct sun, wind and dust. An open driveway on a hot July afternoon is not a good spot. If that’s all you have, we’ll schedule an early start or suggest the shop.
Starting prices are for a sedan in good shape. Three-row SUVs, minivans, trucks and paint that needs more polishing cost more. We confirm your price before we start, and a few clear photos are usually enough to quote.
After it cures
Keep the car dry and skip washing for about a week while the coating finishes curing. After that, hand wash with a gentle, pH-neutral soap and stay away from brush car washes. A maintenance plan is the easiest way to keep a coating clean and working for its full life.
Watch the sprinklers in the first few weeks, too. If your driveway gets morning overspray, park a little farther back or adjust the heads so fresh water spots don’t dry on the new coating. After the first month, an occasional quick rinse and a soft towel dry keep the beading strong between washes.
How long your coating lasts depends on care as much as on the years on the label. A car that is washed gently and often will look closer to new at the end of its term than one that sits dusty for weeks.
