why are ceramic Coating services so “expensive”?
What is ceramic coating and why many wants it done for their vehicle?
Ceramic Coating is a liquid polymer applied to the exterior of a car, simply put, is like an special raincoat for the car.
Now you would be asking why would I want a “raincoat” for my car because it just does not make any sense. Well… as human we wear clothes may not be just for aesthetic reason but also it protects us from bad weather, environment condition, …and also someone would definitely call the cop if we would run around naked I guess. Joke aside, ceramic coating, in what we would describe as raincoat for our vehicle because it is use as extra protective layer. Here are some of the benefit of this special “raincoat”:
Clear and glossy which enhance the appearance of the vehicle
Offer UV protection which is the cause of paint fade and oxidation overtime.
While it’s not scratch and swirl proof, it definitely adds another layer of protection on lighter scratches.
One of the best selling point of ceramic coating would be the hydrophobic effect it provides. Keep your car in pristine condition post rain and it is also easier to perform a maintenance wash because of this.
Ceramic Coating can last for years once apply correctly. It may be a bit pricey at first but it is worth it overtime.
With the protective layer add in a little care and your car can retain their value for a better resale price as you reap all the benefit after all those ceramic coating year.
Cerakote 5 years Ceramic Coating
Lets take a look at what gives this service a hefty pricey tag. Here would be the standard process for a ceramic coating.
This step by step may be different per detailers but the core process should be very similar.
First of, we need to clean up the dirt on the exterior. Just a standard exterior foam hand wash process should do it. ($30-$60+)
Then we need to make sure to remove any decontaminant on the paint to prepare for our polishing. This step should general known as clay decontamination. ($100+)
Once the exterior is nice and clean, we can start working on it. Usually new cars would have some factory paint defects or light scratches. It would be a perfect target for 1 step correction job. ($300 - $600+)
If the vehicle is a bit older and has been driven for sometimes. Detailers usually would go for a 2 step correction job and even higher would be 3 step, wet sand correction, etc... ($500 - $1500+)
Once finish any correction job, it is vital to take off any exceed compound by giving it a panel prep, isopropyl alcohol solution or some even give a quick foam rinse.
Now that the paint is clean once again, we can start applying the ceramic coating. Making sure there are no high spot and good condition as in no moisture, good temperature, and no dust. These are important variables that can make a different on the application of good or bad coating.
It is also important to let the coating cure. Refrain from driving for the first 2-4 hours of post coating. The cure process is crucial for the first few hours and continue to cure for the next few days and fully would takes a full week or two or even up to 1 month of cure time.
As of 2025, with the current technology, labor wage and long detail process, the application of ceramic coating itself is not too bad. The preparation to apply it, on the other hand, cost a hefty depend on the condition of the car. Hence it is important to take care of our car with frequent maintenance wash, and stop going to drive through wash!! Click here to learn more about the negative affect of generic drive through car wash. With all that said, the benefit and value of ceramic coating can outweigh the cost for many car owners as it gets more and more popular over the year.