DetailerGildeTreatment
Ceramic coating. What it is, what it costs and who does it
A ceramic coating is a liquid silicon dioxide layer that cures into a hard, water-repellent film over your paint. It stops dirt from etching in and keeps the car visibly cleaner for longer. In Dutch it is usually called glascoating.
- From
- € 999
- Up to
- € 1.800
- Time without your car
- 2 to 3 days
- All prices
- excl. VAT
How it works
Ceramic coating: what happens step by step
- 01
Paint inspection
Every panel is assessed under an inspection lamp for swirls, holograms and etching. This decides whether correction is needed first, and how much.
- 02
Deep cleaning and iron removal
This is the step that separates a real quote from a cheap one, and it is the step nobody puts in writing. Fallout, tar and industrial deposits are dissolved chemically rather than rubbed off. Skip it and the coating cures over the contamination instead of over the paint.
- 03
Paint correction
One or more machine polishing stages to remove scratches and swirls. A coating over damaged paint preserves the damage instead of hiding it.
- 04
Degreasing
All polishing oils are stripped with an IPA solution, including the shuts. Without this the coating will not bond.
- 05
Application and curing
Ask any quote how long the car stays after this step. The film has to level at the right flash time and then cure indoors at a stable temperature; a shop that hands the car back the same evening has skipped the part that makes the layer hard.
What it costs
Ceramic coating prices: what it costs at each level
Every level includes the one before it. The difference in price is not margin, it is the number of steps. All amounts exclude VAT.
- New carfrom€ 999to € 1.398
For a car just collected from the dealer, with the paint still intact.
Takes 2 days - With paint correctionfrom€ 1.299
For a used car where swirls and scratches need to come out first.
Takes 2 to 3 days - Multi-layerPriced in consultation
Where the marketing language gets loudest and the differences get real. Priced in consultation, because a hard base layer under a hydrophobic top layer is a different job from two coats of the same product, and both get sold under this name.
Takes 4 to 5 days
Frequently asked
What is the difference between ceramic coating and glascoating?
Nothing. Glascoating is the word that stuck in the Netherlands, ceramic coating is the international term, and both describe a silicon dioxide layer that cures onto the clear coat. If a Dutch quote says glascoating, this is what you are getting.
How much does a ceramic coating cost in the Netherlands?
On a new car with intact paint it starts at €999 excluding VAT for a compact car and €1,199 for a saloon, with €199 extra for a large SUV, MPV or estate. That price already includes two layers. On a used car that needs correction first it starts at €1,299. Most of that difference is polishing labour, not the coating itself.
How long does it take?
Two to three days. The coating itself takes about an hour; the preparation and the curing take the rest. Anyone offering it in half a day is doing something else.
How long does a ceramic coating last?
Three to five years for a single layer under normal use, longer for multi-layer systems. What shortens it is not weather but dirt left sitting: bird droppings and tree sap eat through a top layer too.
Does it protect against stone chips?
No, and be careful with anyone who says it does. A coating is chemical protection measured in microns. It stops dirt from etching in and makes washing easier. Against a stone at motorway speed only paint protection film does anything.
Can I have it done if I do not speak Dutch?
Yes. Tell us in your request and we match you with a specialist who works in English. Most detailers around Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Eindhoven do, simply because a large part of their customers are internationals.