199+ Frequently Asked Questions About Ceramic Coating: Now Answered!

Ceramic Coating is about the BEST decision you can make for your new car or truck. Relative to the other long-term protection on the market (PPF) – it is incredibly cheap and provides protection from most ailments your vehicle may face. It allows for a 90% clean with just quick power wash. New is the BEST time to have your Ceramic Coating installed as you will seal in the near perfect condition of your paint (“showroom new”).

Why is Ceramic Coating so expensive is a VERY common question. I have written an entire blog answering this; and it could probably be even longer. Ultimately between the overhead cost, the skilled labor required and the chemical to install – about a 15% margin is left on our Ceramic Coating Packages. If the business you select is doing it cheaper than $1,000 – I would be concerned about how long they will be around. In this Blog: How Much Does Ceramic Coating Cost in 2024 – I break down our EXACT back end costs and transparently show why we charge what we charge.

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Why is Ceramic Coating So Expensive?)

While we no longer offer Ceramic Coating on Motorcycles / Bikes – We used to charge about the price of a sedan, but with more inclusions. Essentially with a car our base package had only paint protected. For bikes we would include coating all chrome, the rims, seat and saddlebags. A reasonable price for a 5 year ceramic on a bike would be $800-$1000, maybe a little more. 

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (How Much Ceramic Coating for Motorcycles?)

Traditionally for RV’s (and Boats); Ceramic Coating is billed by the foot. A Fair price for a long term professional Ceramic Coating application would be between $120 and $175 per linear foot. The variance will all be within the amount of paint correction needed on the gel coat. 

Ceramic Coating will NOT prevent water spots – and it is almost more likely to get water spotting. Without going incredibly far down the rabbit hole – Ceramic Coating is hydrophobic. This means water beads up. The pooled water that doesn’t weigh enough to run off will sit on horizontal surfaces. If your car sits in the sun / heat (for an extended time) after a rainstorm – boom, water evaporates and minerals are left behind (a “hard water spot”). The good news is that with Ceramic Coating it is incredibly easy to remove said water spots; unlike an unprotected vehicle where etching is likely.

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Will Ceramic Coating Prevent Hard Water Spots?)

Ceramic Coating will NOT fix a clear coat – nor should any installer ever try to apply Ceramic Coating to a failing, chipped or otherwise damaged clear coat.

Ceramic Coating WILL stop rust moving from the outside, inward. It should be noted that this is NOT the main way rust moves in the mid west / Wisconsin. Traditionally rust is caused by salt and moisture and will originate from under the vehicle / within hollow body panels (so inside, outward). Ceramic Coating could technically be used on the underside of vehicles, BUT we do not recommend it as it would NOT be cost effective. Your best bet for trying to stop rust would be a designed undercoating like Corrosion-Free.

Yes Ceramic Coating can go through automatic car washes IF they are touch-free. It is not recommended to go through any brush-based automatic car wash; including “soft-touch”. These washes will scratch your Ceramic Coating the same way that they would scratch a clear coat. These small scratches (sometimes called swirl marks) will reduce the luster of your vehicle. This is because the light cannot cleanly reflect off the surface, but instead refracts.

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating and Automatic Car Washes?)

Technically most coatings are still curing when they leave a professional shop – so yes a Ceramic Coating could cure outside. It takes most Ceramic Coatings about a week to fully cure, but the vehicles are driveable after 3 hours and can get wet after 24 hours. So yes, technically they can cure outside, however Coatings by the Bay recommends they remain in a climate controlled area as much as possible in the first week.

Ceramic Coating CAN be applied to glass and your windshield. It has a hydrophobic reaction; the same as on your paint. Ceramic Coating on glass could also be compared to RainX, but it has a much longer lifespan. Coatings by the Bay ALWAYS recommends adding the FULL Exterior upgrade to your paint package. This includes wheels, glass, plastics and more!

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating for Windshield?) (Ceramic Coating to Glass?)

Ceramic Coating can be applied to wheels – only if you like brake dust NOT sticking. Assuming you are among the 99.98% of us who hate embedded metal on your rims – it is a GREAT solution for easier upkeep. Coatings by the Bay ALWAYS recommends adding the FULL Exterior upgrade to your paint package. This includes wheels, glass, plastics and more!

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating for Wheels?)

This question was one we found on “Answer the Public: and weren’t quite sure how it was meant so we will answer both ways. If you are looking to know where to apply Ceramic Coating in the sense of a location – we recommend in a shaded garage or professional shop, never direct sunlight. If you are wondering where to apply Ceramic Coating on your car or truck – absolutely everywhere! It can be applied to paint, glass, plastics, leather, textile, chrome and more! In over 1,000 vehicles protected we have yet to see adverse reactions on any portion of a vehicle, but do test spots if you are unsure.

RVs can be ceramic coated. Most professionals will actually utilize a marine formulated Ceramic Coating for your RV because the vast majority are gel coat (versus clear coat). Marine formula is slightly more dense and fills the larger pores on boats and RVs more efficiently. If you do happen to have a clear coat on your RV it will be Ceramic coated using the traditional formula.

Coatings by the Bay does NOT recommend coating a Tesla Cybertruck UNLESS you have gotten it wrapped. Ceramic Coating works by filling the pores on a surface – stainless steel is a non porous metal. Those who did experiments with coating a raw Cybertruck saw that a patina appeared (slight yellowing) and streaking was a common issue. Once you have a wrap; from a local shop or Tesla, we absolutely suggest protecting your wrap with a coating! It will make it easy to clean and maintain.

Ceramic Coatings being safe really comes down to using some very basic PPE while applying. If you have gloves on and some ventilation in the area you are working you should be good to go. If you plan to rip shots with the boys – I do not suggest chugging Ceramic Coating. 

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating is Toxic?)

What brand of Ceramic Coating Toyota uses happened to be the top researched manufacturer specific inquiry (according to Answer the Public), but this answer will apply to BMW, Audi, Lexus, Mercedes, etc. Ultimately every dealership has it at their own discretion to select one of the national dealership scam coatings or outsource to a local detailer. Your Best Solution? The best solution is to seek out a professional – not a salesperson, for your paint protection needs. The coatings fail almost instantly from the dealer – you are strictly purchasing a warranty. We have all been burned by fine print before. 

More on Why You Should Always Tell the Finance Guy “No”.

More on our No Fine Print Promise.

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Ford use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Chevrolet use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Honda use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Nissan use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Hyundai use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Kia use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Jeep use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Subaru use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does GMC use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Tesla use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does RAM use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Mazda use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does BMW use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Volkswagen use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Porsche use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Land Rover use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Mercedes use?) (What brand of Ceramic Coating does Lamborghini use?)

There are many wonderful marine grade Ceramic Coatings for boats. A Ceramic Coating on your boat can help prevent water spotting, oxidation, general cleaning and more. With most boats you will only see a couple seasons of life before needing a new coating. This is due to the intense abuse caused by the friction of the boat against the water. 

Coatings by the Bay does not offer Ceramic Coating for anything but cars and trucks, so we cannot recommend a specific brand. We do however recommend that you see someone who specializes in marine vessels – NOT your local detailer that says “yeah I can do that”. Working with a gel coat is much different than a clear coat. It requires different tools and you will likely be less than ecstatic with the results of the “I can detail anything” guy (or gal). If the person you are researching only has 3 sentences and 2 pictures of a boat on their website; they are likely NOT a good fit.

Yes, in its liquid / “suspended” form – Ceramic Coatings can freeze. Most manufacturers recommend keeping Ceramic Coating between 55 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Once applied to a vehicle you do not have to worry about freezing temperatures doing any damage to your coating!

Most manufacturers set a short window after opening a bottle of Ceramic Coating in which it should be used (30 to 90 days). Once Ceramic Coating is exposed to air; the carrier agents will evaporate and you will be left with a hard crystallized substance. You guessed it – that’s the actual Ceramic Coating!

Ceramic Coatings are two (or more) parts. Part one being the actual Ceramic Coating, part two being a carrier agent that is made to evaporate rapidly. The carrier agent allows you to evenly spread the Ceramic Coating (by hand or spray gun) over the surface of the vehicle. Clear coat (the most common surface for Ceramic Coating) is porous on a microscopic level. When the Ceramic Coating is spread across the surface it will fill these microscopic pores. The pores being full is what creates that cool water beading effect after rain or while you wash. After a few seconds (to a few minutes) the carrier agent will have evaporated leaving just the Ceramic Coating (and possibly other proprietary chemicals) behind. This is called “flashing”. You then hand level the surface ensuring no high spots (concentrated areas of chemicals).

Paint Correction with Ceramic Coating will have your new or used vehicle looking showroom quality for years to come! Unfortunately the standards at the manufacturer are NOT what they were 30 years ago. Even new vehicles typically require a small amount of paint correction before they receive a Ceramic Coating. Coatings by the Bay includes a polish with every Ceramic Coating just to add a little shine prior to locking in the clear coat for years to come. A Single step of paint correction being added prior to Ceramic Coating adds about 80% improvement to scratches and swirl marks. This is usually enough to BLOW away expectations. A client will never be able to see the same things a professional will see. 

The price of Paint Correction with Ceramic Coating is a very small add-on. Most detail shops or Ceramic Coating studios (Like Coatings by the Bay) will charge between 300-500 to add a single step of correction prior to applying a Ceramic Coating. Your 5 year Ceramic Coating should be around $1500 for a full exterior to be applied; so in total you are looking at just under $2,000 to bring a 2015 Porsche 911 back to looking new!

Please Note: While there are cases Coatings by the Bay will suggest Paint Correction; it should always be presented as an option NOT a requirement. A shop that cares about you and not their ego will respect your choice to move forward with or skip paint correction. Ultimately it’s your vehicle – not theirs. 

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating Without Paint Correction) (Ceramic Coating and Paint Correction?) (Ceramic Coating and Paint Correction Cost?) (Ceramic Coating and Paint Correction Near Me?)

Finding a Ceramic Coating with a Lifetime Warranty will be difficult. The owners of Coatings by the Bay did offer such a program at their old shop in Indiana. The only reason it is not offered at Coatings by the Bay is that an abrupt move at the start of 2024 took us out of Indiana. While all our current clients were incredibly supportive and understanding of the need to move – we still did not feel right leaving those warranties open. We do not want the same to happen in 10 years should life present us with another opportunity / curve ball.

Ceramic Coating can be applied to vehicles with no clear coat; typical example being classic cars with single stage paint. Ceramic Coating being applied to single stage paint is less effective than being applied to clear coat, but ultimately most of these vehicles are trailered to events and then put back in a garage. This leaves very little time for “wear and tear” to be put on your vehicle. The biggest advantage is that it will slow down oxidation while the car is sitting. 

It should be noted that Ceramic Coating should NOT be applied to a failing or damaged clear coat; as a replacement layer. That is not its purpose. The Ceramic Coating WILL prematurely fail in this instance.

Ceramic Coating versus powder coating is another comparison where the protections are designed for very different purposes. Ceramic coating is designed to be a cost effective way to protect the entirety of your vehicle inside and out. Powder coating would not go much beyond the rims of the vehicle. To powder coat an entire car would easily be into the five figure range and could lead to many problems in reassembly. It is a very thick coating so aligning parts after paint would be the largest reassembly issue. 

Other Related Questions Answered Here: (Ceramic Coating vs Powder Coating?) (Ceramic Coating Versus Powder Coating?)

PPF should ALWAYS be applied first. The properties of Ceramic Coating make it difficult for anything to stick to the surface. Paint protection film has an adhesive solution placed between the film and your vehicle. If Ceramic Coating were applied first; the PPF would be likely to prematurely fail.