Paint Protection Film (PPF) is no longer just a luxury for high-end vehicles. As more car owners prioritize long-term preservation and appearance, PPF car protection has become a popular, practical investment. A transparent and durable layer designed to protect your car’s paint from scratches, rock chips, and other potential damage, PPF is a wise choice for car owners, especially those with high-value vehicles.
Whether you drive daily or have a luxury car, understanding the pros and cons of PPF for vehicles will help you decide if it’s the right choice. This blog will explore what PPF on a car is, how it works, and whether it’s the right choice for your vehicle.
What Is PPF for Cars?
Paint protection film (PPF) is a transparent, durable, and flexible film applied to a vehicle’s outer body. The primary purpose of installing PPF on your car is to protect the paint from minor damage, including scratches.
In addition to protecting against elements like bug splatters, rock chips, debris, etc., it protects your car’s paint from sun damage. Most PPFs have self-healing properties. This means minor scratches will be repaired with heat from the car’s body or sunlight.
PPF is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU) or polyurethane (PU), materials that are resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and impact. Some PPFs are even designed to protect your car’s sunroof or panoramic roof. You can choose from different types of PPF, which vary in thickness, with thicker films offering greater protection against impact.
In recent years, advanced PPF car protection films have evolved to include ceramic-infused top layers that offer enhanced hydrophobic properties and UV resistance, making them more durable and easier to clean than older PPF variants.
Pros of Installing PPF on Your Car
Bravo has installed paint protection films on thousands of vehicles as the top-rated installers in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St Paul. Over 25 years of experience have taught us what matters most.
In our experience, XPEL Ultimate Plus offers the best protection for your vehicle’s smooth exteriors, encapsulating the company’s innovative spirit and cutting-edge technology.
The following are the benefits of installing high-grade PPF on cars:
1. Perfectly Safe on Brand New Paint Jobs
Many car owners feel apprehensive about installing a thermoplastic urethane film on their shiny new car. However, your car’s shine won’t last long if you don’t install protection. Every time you drive, you risk damaging its beautiful paint job from:
- Light scratches or chips from roadside debris, flying gravel rocks, etc.
- Insect splatter, bird droppings, tree sap, etc.
- Discoloration from acid rain or chemical spills
- Paint cracks from extreme heat, fading caused by harmful UV radiation, etc.
However, installing a well-formulated car PPF creates a crystal-clear protective shield around your car’s exterior surfaces. The paint protection film is also 100% transparent and thin, 8 mils, or 0.0008 inches, for an extremely clear finish.
2. You Can Opt for a Range of Finishes
As a car owner, you may not want to compromise on your vehicle’s original finish by installing an additional film. Fortunately, Bravo Protection’s XPEL Ultimate Plus is available in matte and glossy finishes, allowing for customization and texture-matching.
Bravo recommends opting for a glossy finish Clear Bra PPF installation to add depth and shine to the original paint surface.
If you’re not looking for glossy, a matte finish can also be applied, providing a unique texture to your car.
Installing PPF car protection doesn’t mean you have to compromise with the type of finish.
3. Comes with a Hydrophobic Top-Coat
The best PPF for cars comes with a hydrophobic top coating. The coating acts as a wax hood that repels water and liquid chemicals, causing them to bead up and run off instead of damaging your car paint.
4. Self-Healing Properties
Self-healing properties may sound like a bold claim, but XPEL’s Clear Bra film features a top coat that can repair minor scratches and swirls with heat. With a little bit of work, you’re as good as new!
5. Customize Your Coverage
Not all PPFs for cars need to cover the entire vehicle. Many car owners choose partial coverage for high-impact areas like the hood, fenders, and side mirrors.
At Bravo Protection Products, we offer flexible car PPF packages that provide different degrees of coverage for varied budgets.
6. Easy to Install
Installing PPF on your car involves far less hassle than other messier protection methods like ceramic coating or waxing. Bravo uses special software with thousands of updated makes and models, allowing us to laser-cut patterns within 5 minutes. If you have a vintage car that requires a customized job, we can help you protect it, too.
7. Protects Your Factory Paint for Over a Decade
XPEL’s Ultimate Plus carries a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty and an extended lifetime installation guarantee. Unlike low-quality films that become yellow with age or start to peel off and crack. XPEL’s protection films last a long time with proper care and usage.
Cons of Installing PPF on Your Car
While PPF is an attractive option for most car owners, there are some considerations with its application. These are as follows:
1. Upfront Costs are a Bit High
A high-quality paint protection film that offers long-lasting protection may cost slightly more. However, it is advisable to consider the long-term benefits simultaneously.
Durable and long-lasting paint protection film can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in paint chip repairs and repainting jobs.
2. Improper Application Can Affect Your Car’s Look
Applying PPF on car surfaces requires precision, extra attention, and care to ensure a smooth coating without air bubbles, swirls, or wrinkles.
This is where expert professionals with experience in PPF application are essential, as it requires both speed and patience.
3. Require Extra Care and Caution
After applying PPF, you may need to take special precautions and follow additional care instructions. However, these are worthwhile trade-offs because of the time saved on multiple paint jobs and repairs.
Care Tips After Installing PPF on Your Car
The following are some care tips to keep in mind with PPF:
- Make sure not to wash your car for at least 7 days after installing PPF, as this gives the film enough time to properly cure.
- Wash your car with mild soap and water. Do not use strong products with harsh chemicals that may damage the PPF.
- You should use a clean, soft microfiber cloth to dry your car after washing it.
- Do not use products on your clear bra or paint protection film that contain kerosene, naphtha, or dye. The dye can stain the film, while the other two can erode and destroy the thin film.
- If you’re using a pressure washer to clean your car, keep the spray away from the edges of the PPF film to prevent it from pushing up under the edges of the film.
- Remove contaminants like bug splatter, tree sap, and bird droppings immediately.
- Check the PPF regularly for damage. If you can spot recent minor issues, you can get them repaired without replacing the entire film.
Conclusion
Whether you should install PPF on your car depends on many factors, including your priorities and expectations.
It offers your car unmatched protection against scratches, minor damage, and wear and tear. It also gives your car a polished, showroom-like look for years, maintaining the same appearance as when you first bought it. Despite its benefits, some owners are deterred by the cost, the need for professional installation, and the maintenance required for PPF coating for cars.
However, the durability and aesthetic value you’ll enjoy in the long run from installing PPF on your car will far outweigh these drawbacks. If you’re still unsure whether PPF is right for you after carefully weighing its pros and cons, speaking with experts and professional installers can help you make an informed decision
Choose Bravo Protection for PPF Installations on Your Car
Bravo Protection is one of the leading providers of PPF installations. You have the flexibility to choose from various premium products. For example, our range of Clear Bra installations includes bronze clear bra, silver clear bra, gold clear bra, and platinum clear bra car coverage.
Our standout features and benefits include best-in-class materials, durability, longevity, self-healing properties, exceptional clarity, and more. Schedule a free consultation today to get the best car PPF in Minneapolis and protect your vehicle for years.