Choose PPF for impact protection
Paint protection film is the route when your main concern is physical damage.
- Stone chips and road debris
- Road rash on exposed areas
- Light scuffs and everyday contact
- Keeping original paint in better condition
Protection Advice Hub
Straight answers on protecting your car
Practical advice on PPF, ceramic coating and new-car protection, based on the decisions we help owners make in the workshop every week.
15+ years’ experience100+ five-star reviewsGYEON Partner StudioNailsea · Bristol
Advice by goal
What are you trying to protect against?
Start with the problem you want to solve. You do not need to know the detailing terminology first.
01 · Physical protection
Stone chips & road wear
For front-end impacts, road rash, light scuffs and the exposed areas that take the abuse first.
Explore PPF advice02 · Easier ownershipGloss & easier cleaning
For owners who want simpler washing, better chemical resistance and a finish that stays sharper between cleans.
Explore ceramic advice03 · Start properlyProtecting a new car
For getting the paint checked, refined where needed and protected before everyday wear starts building up.
Explore new-car adviceNot sure what you need?
PPF vs ceramic coating
They solve different problems. The right choice depends on what you expect the protection to stop.
Choose ceramic for easier upkeep
Ceramic coating is the route when your priority is maintenance and finish.
- Easier, more effective washing
- Gloss and water behaviour
- Chemical and environmental resistance
- Keeping a well-prepared finish sharper
Want both benefits?
See the comparison guidePPF and ceramic coating can work brilliantly together when the car and its use justify it.
Start here
Five flagship protection guides
Clear, workshop-led guides for the questions owners ask before spending money on protection.
0102030405
Ceramic coating vs PPF: which is better?
What each option genuinely protects against, where the confusion comes from and when combining them makes sense.
Read the flagship guide →How much should you spend protecting your car?
A practical way to match the level of protection to the car, its use, your ownership plans and your priorities.
Read the guide →New car protection guide
What to arrange before collection, what to check afterwards and how to avoid rushing into the wrong package.
Read the guide →Is PPF worth it?
Where film makes financial and practical sense — and the situations where we would not push you towards it.
Read the guide →Is ceramic coating worth it?
A straight explanation of its real strengths, its limits and what good preparation contributes to the result.
Read the guide →Real cars · Real experience
The decisions behind the finish
Generic advice only goes so far. These workshop examples show how timing, paint condition and the way a car is used change the right answer.
New-car timing
New BMW: chipped before its PPF appointment
Why a handful of motorway journeys can mark a new front end surprisingly quickly, and what owners can plan before collection.
Read the workshop example →Long-term ownershipAudi Q5: removing 10+ year-old PPF
What ageing film teaches us about timely inspection, safe removal and why leaving protection indefinitely can create extra work.
Read the workshop example →Judgement before profitAlfa Romeo: why we turned away a PPF job
Why new paint should still be inspected properly, and why fitting film over paint we were not happy with would have been the wrong answer.
Read the workshop example →More practical advice
Existing articles and maintenance guides
Useful guides already published by Bear’s Detailing, covering washing, paint defects and looking after existing protection.
Common questions
Quick answers before you go deeper
Does ceramic coating stop stone chips?
No. Ceramic coating helps with cleaning, gloss and chemical resistance, but it is not a physical barrier against road impacts. PPF is designed for chip protection.
How long does PPF last?
It depends on the film, installation, exposure and maintenance. Good film should be inspected as it ages and removed or replaced before it becomes brittle or heavily deteriorated.
Should I PPF a brand-new car?
A new or nearly new car is usually the easiest point to protect original paint. Whether you need front-end or fuller coverage depends on mileage, roads, value and how long you plan to keep it.
Is full-car PPF worth it?
For some higher-value cars and long-term owners, yes. For many cars, carefully chosen high-impact areas provide the better balance. We would base the choice on use, not on the biggest package.
Can you ceramic coat over PPF?
Yes. PPF is installed first, then a suitable coating can be applied over the film and the remaining paintwork to make ongoing care easier.
Will PPF damage the paint?
Correctly installed film can normally be removed safely from sound factory paint. Repainted or poorly bonded panels need extra assessment because removal carries more risk.
Should a new car be polished before protection?
It should be inspected first. New paint is not always defect-free, so light refinement may add value, but unnecessary correction should not be done simply because it is part of a package.
How much should I spend?
Spend enough to solve the problems that matter to you. The car’s condition, use and intended ownership period are more useful guides than a fixed percentage of its value.
Straight advice from the workshop
Still not sure what makes sense for your car?
Tell us what you drive, how you use it and what you are trying to protect it from. We will recommend the sensible route — including when we do not think you need something.
Helpful to include: make, model, year, condition, typical mileage and how long you plan to keep it.