What ceramic coating does
A ceramic coating bonds to your paint and creates a slick, water-shedding surface. Dirt does not stick as easily, washing takes much less effort and the paint keeps a deeper gloss. Water beads and rolls off, which is useful in a climate that goes from salt and slush to summer dust.
It also adds a measure of resistance to fine wash marks and environmental contamination such as bird droppings and tree sap, which are far easier to remove from a coated surface.
What ceramic coating does not do
Ceramic coating is not a shield against rock chips. For that you want paint protection film on the front of the vehicle. The two work well together: film where the stones hit, ceramic over the rest.
Why we pair ceramic with a polish
Paint has to be corrected and prepped before a coating goes on, because the coating seals in whatever is underneath. So our ceramic options are polish-plus-coating packages:
- Stage 1 Polish and 5 Year Ceramic: from $797 (car), $897 SUV, $997 truck. Our recommended pairing.
- Stage 2 Polish and 5 Year Ceramic: from $997 (car), $1,097 SUV, $1,197 truck. That is $200 more than Stage 1 + ceramic, for the extra cutting and polishing.
- Stage 3 Polish and 5 Year Ceramic: from $1,497 (car), $1,597 SUV, $1,697 truck. For heavily oxidized paint that needs the deepest correction, which is the longest job. Most vehicles only need Stage 1 or Stage 2.
Ceramic coating vs sealant vs wax
A wax or sealant is a short-term layer you reapply often. Our Signature Detail includes a 30-day ceramic sealant, and our Stage 1 and Stage 2 polishes (without ceramic) include our House Wax Sealant. A ceramic coating is the long-term option. Read more in our comparison guide.
Get your quote
Open the quote builder, choose your car type, then pick the Stage 1 + ceramic package or add ceramic to a Stage 2 polish.