DetailerGildeTreatment
Paint protection film. What it is, what it costs and who does it
Paint protection film is a transparent, self-healing polyurethane film laid over the paint. Unlike a coating, PPF absorbs the impact of stone chips and deep scratches instead of passing it through.
- From
- € 1.600
- Up to
- € 7.000
- Time without your car
- 2 to 3 days
How it works
Paint protection film: what happens step by step
- 01
Inspection and pattern
The paint is assessed first, because film records whatever sits underneath it. Then the computer-cut pattern for your model is prepared, so nothing is cut on the car itself.
- 02
Test fit
Every panel is offered up dry before anything is wet-applied, so edges and curves are known in advance.
- 03
Cleaning and correction
Wash, decontaminate and clay, and correct where needed. Film over damaged paint magnifies the damage rather than hiding it.
- 04
Installation
The film is applied wet and squeegeed from the centre outwards. Every air bubble has to be out before the adhesive grabs.
- 05
Three inspection rounds
After curing, each panel is checked for inclusions, edges and lift. Only then does the car leave.
What it costs
Paint protection film 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.
- Full frontfrom€ 1.600
For drivers who cover motorway miles. That is where almost all stone chip damage happens.
Takes 2 to 3 days - Full carfrom€ 4.500to € 7.000
For a car whose paint has to stay in original condition.
Takes 8 to 12 days - Individual panelsPriced in consultation
Bonnet only, mirrors, loading edge or sills. Priced in consultation, because it depends on which panels and whether the pattern already exists.
Frequently asked
What exactly is paint protection film?
A transparent polyurethane film, roughly 150 to 200 microns thick, laid over the paint. Where a coating is chemical protection, film is physical: it absorbs the impact of a stone instead of passing it through to the clear coat.
Is PPF really self-healing?
For hairline marks in the film itself, yes. Heat lets the top layer flow back, so wash marks disappear in the sun or with warm water. For a deep scratch through the film, or a stone chip that punctures it, no. At that point the film has done its job and that panel needs redoing.
How much does PPF cost in the Netherlands?
A full front, meaning bonnet, front wings, mirror caps and front bumper, starts at €1,600 excluding VAT. A full car runs between €4,500 and €7,000. Individual panels are quoted in consultation. Many Dutch installers publish no prices at all; these are ours.
How long will my car be off the road?
Two to three days for a full front. Eight to twelve days for a full car, because every panel is applied and inspected separately. That is longer than you will hear at some places, and it is the honest figure: film applied in a hurry lifts at the edges.
Can the film be removed later?
Yes, and that is exactly why people fit it: at sale or lease return the film comes off and the original paint is underneath. On one condition though, that the paint was sound before the film went on. Film over damaged paint preserves that damage and it reappears on removal.
PPF or a ceramic coating?
It depends on how you drive. Motorway miles mean stone chips, and only film does anything about those. City driving mostly means dirt, and then a coating is the logical and cheaper answer. The combination is common too: film on the front, coating over the rest.