New Car—What Now? PPF, Coating, or Wait?

So, you just got a new car. You love it. You want to keep it looking pristine for as long as possible. Now is the perfect time to decide how to protect it.

Should you go for PPF, Ceramic Coating, or wait?

The truth is, the moment your car hits the road, it’s at risk. Stone chips, road debris, and everyday wear can cause permanent damage. Once a car gets rock chips or scratches, they will be visible through PPF if you decide to install it later. That’s why it’s best to apply PPF as soon as possible—ideally right after delivery.

And Ceramic Coating? It’s a game-changer for maintenance, but it’s not a substitute for protection. Unlike PPF, Ceramic Coating won’t stop rock chips. It simply makes your car easier to clean, repels dirt and water, and enhances the shine.

So, what’s the best solution? Here’s our recommended application process for new cars at ABE.

1. New Car Prep & Polish

Most people assume factory paint is flawless—but it’s not. Even brand-new cars often have swirl marks, imperfections, or an uneven clear coat. Before applying any film, we start with a full paint correction and polish to ensure the surface is perfect. Not only will the paint look perfect prior to sealing, but the install will last much longer.

2. Paint Protection Film (PPF) Installation

Once the paint is in perfect shape, it's time to lock it in with PPF. This defends your paints against rock chips, swirl marks, scratches, chemicals, corrosion, UV damage, and it even self heals micro-scratches.

Now comes the big decision:
Gloss, Matte, or Coloured PPF?

Gloss PPF: Ultra-glossy and nearly invisible, this enhances your factory paint while keeping it fully protected. Choose between Full Front End (bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors) or Full Body for complete peace of mind—especially if you plan to keep the car long-term.

Matte PPF: Want a satin finish? Matte PPF gives a factory-like matte look while providing full-body protection. No need for an expensive factory matte paint job!

Coloured PPF: Love the car, but not the color? Swap it out with Coloured PPF. Get all the benefits of PPF while changing your car’s color to something unique. Unlike vinyl wraps, coloured PPF is thicker (allowing it to look just like paint) and more durable (to protect against rock chips).

3. Ceramic Window Tint Application

Ceramic Window Tint is always a good idea to keep your interior materials; leather, vinyl, etc. from damaging & fading over time. Not only does it block UV rays and reject heat, but it also enhances the overall look of the vehicle. You can choose from a range of very light tints to very dark tints (for more privacy), the look is entirely up to you!

4. Ceramic Coating On Surface

Last but not least, we ceramic coat the vehicle top-to-bottom, inside and out. Our coating creates a hydrophobic layer over the clear coat of the paint, which acts as an extra layer of protection. This layer helps repel dirt, grime, and other contaminants from bonding to the paint. It also makes washing your car much easier as water will bead off the paint much more easily.

While PPF is for protection, Ceramic Coating is for ease of maintenance—together, they’re the ultimate combination.

The ABE Difference

As with everything we do, we strive to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction and quality service. This is why, from start to finish of your project, we help guide you through the process seamlessly and effortlessly.

This includes our concierge service (pick-up, drop-off, etc.), available rental cars on request and of course flat bed delivery for those super special cars you’d rather not have on the road. All of this is available, and we’re more than happy to accommodate. 

Whether you just picked up a brand-new exotic, a high-performance daily, or your dream car, protect it before it’s too late.