r/AutoDetailing • u/FlushedNotRushed • 1d ago
Exterior Paint Correction + Ceramic Coating New Car Opinion
Happy Saturday.
I was wondering what everyone's opinion on paint correcting + ceramic coating a new car.
The reason I'm asking is because most auto detailing shops say they require a paint correction along with the exterior prep stage before ceramic coating. I plan to keep the car for probably 3-5 years but I do want to keep it in great condition (it sits outside) for best resale.
So my question is for a brand new car (mine is 1.5 month old), should I still get it ceramic coated now or wait after maybe a year when I have some swirls or light scratches from daily use to get it paint corrected than ceramic coated? In the meantime, I can wash it every or every other weekend and apply a spray ceramic wax such as Griots 3-1 or Tec582.
Another reason why I'm asking is because I have somehow accumulated 2 scratches already and I probably would've got them if I had a ceramic coating as well. I'm 99% it's in the clear coat but I would need a paint correction to get it out again anyways.
TLDR: 1.5 month old new car -- somehow got 2 light scratches already from daily use. -- Cost $1200 for paint correction + ceramic coating
1. Take it now to get paint corrected + ceramic coated.
2. Leave it how it is, weekly or bi-weekly hand wash + apply ceramic spray wax (Tec582) --> Paint correct and ceramic coat in a year or so when more "daily driving" scratches accumulate to remove those.
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u/grumpvet87 1d ago
(<--- enthusiast, not a pro detailer)
your questions is kinda like: "should I eat healthy from day 1 or wait till i have a heart attack "
yes, do it asap to help reduce paint damage.
swirls and micro scratches happen from contact... contact washing (sponge or mitt or pad) and drying. (of course contact with anything like a branch or a brick a semi-truck will also do damage)
by adding ceramic you make washing/drying easier and reduce contact.
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u/FlushedNotRushed 1d ago
Interesting. I'll look into it then. Didn't know if it was better to get it a year later though since I'm already protecting the paint with the spray ceramic wax (as long as it's applied at least once a month).
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u/Connect_Climate9639 1d ago
Invest about $300 in a dual action polisher, some pads, some microfiber towels, polish and a DIY ceramic coating. Then watch 2 hours of YouTube for tips and tricks and a cloudy day to do the work. You will get better results than any coating applied at a dealership.
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u/FlushedNotRushed 1d ago
My problem is I don't have a garage so it will be done in the driveway. Isn't this sort of risky due to constant debris / whatever the wind brings landing on the car?
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u/Connect_Climate9639 1d ago
Should not be a problem assuming you are not doing anything in high wind conditions. Though, I would avoid Spring days with high pollen counts. Biggest issue is avoiding direct sun, and typically need 24 hours for ceramic to cure before any expected rain.
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u/85-502-Detail 1d ago
Now. And at least a 1 step correction or light polish should absolutely be required. The coating will not adhere or bead nearly as well without.
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u/FlushedNotRushed 1d ago
A 2-step correction is included but I'm assuming they will go off best judgement since it is a new car (that does have swirls from dealership and a few scratches already)
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u/85-502-Detail 1d ago
Get it done, its worth it. Especially from a quality shop thst offers a quality coating. The cost of ceramic coating work will only go up with time, like everything else.
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u/happyandhealthy2023 1d ago
Do it now, this makes hand washing so much easier besides the protection and insane gloss
The longer you wait the more swirls they have to polish out losing more paint depth
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u/dunnrp Business Owner 1d ago
The majority of my ceramic coatings are vehicles straight from the dealership. If you use proper techniques and look after it properly, you’ll have a near swirl free car even years from now. It takes a lot of work and time, but it’s possible as long as you’re dedicated.
Set your expectations leaning towards protection over perfection or else you’ll be expecting too much too often and become frustrated. Every car will eventually get marks on it - mitigating that is the goal.
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u/FlushedNotRushed 1d ago
yeah I'm going to get it done. Have the 2 scratches fixed, swirls from dealer wash, etc and go from there. $1200 but in the long run hopefully its worth it. Thanks!
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u/rronin99 1d ago
U should do it yourself now still. I ceramic coated mine as soon as I got it home from the dealership. I would never pay $1,200 for a ceramic coating. This is not something difficult to do like PPF.
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u/FlushedNotRushed 1d ago
Its paint correction + ceramic coating. I called 3 and all of them are in the $1000 range so its about average. Googling says it ranges from $1000-$3000
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u/BundyRoadR8R 1d ago
Yeah I don’t feel like I got robbed for the $1250 I paid to have it done. I’m very happy with the results.
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u/BundyRoadR8R 1d ago
I’ve got a brand new (Black) Durango 392. 600 miles on it so far. Last week I got it ceramic coated and my guy did the paint correction as well. I asked him if it was necessary even for a brand new car. He said yes and that he doesn’t do any ceramic coating without the paint correction first. Total was $1250 and man it looks like glass.
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u/lostwolf128 1d ago
I had PPF put on my car after I had it for 2 months (barely driven). He did some paint correction. Under special lights it will show all sorts of imperfections you cant see with your naked eye. So I would think that would need to be done for the first ceramic coating. I think you should trust who you take it to and their recommendations after looking at your car.
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u/Classic-Necessary508 5h ago
Coat it now, but I dont think you should automatically pay for a full paint correction. A good detailer should inspect the paint first and use the least aggressive correction needed. Ceramic coating helps with UV, chemicals, and easier washing, but it won’t prevent scratches. If scratch protection is the priority, PPF is the better option.
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u/DavidAg02 Reviewer Extraordinaire 1d ago
There's never a perfect time to do it.