What is a ceramic coating?

If you’ve spent any amount of time watching car care videos online, you’ve likely heard the words ceramic coating.  If you’ve recently purchased a new vehicle, it’s possible that the dealership may have even tried to sell you a ceramic coating as part of your purchase.  But what exactly is a ceramic coating, and are they even necessary?

In simple terms, a ceramic coating is a long-term form of protection for a vehicle’s painted surface.  Once applied it dramatically enhances paint gloss and shine, makes paint feel smooth to the touch, and creates a protective barrier between a vehicle’s clear coat and the elements preventing against minor scratching and oxidation. 

In our parent’s generation waxes and sealants were used to accomplish this.  The biggest difference is that the protection of a ceramic coating can last for years as opposed to months.  The coatings we currently install at Make It Last Auto Detailing have a life expectancy of 2-3 years.

Long term paint protection is great, but by far our favorite feature of ceramic coatings is that they make a vehicle’s surface extremely hydrophobic, repelling water, dust, and dirt.  That not only makes washing the vehicle by hand very easy, but also keeps a vehicle looking cleaner for longer. 

Are ceramic coatings necessary?

In short, no.  A quality wax/sealant will do just fine at protecting your vehicle’s paint, if you remember to reapply it several times per year.  Also, if you’re not planning to keep your vehicle for more than a couple years it probably makes more economic sense to just get a biannual standard detail. 

However, if you are planning to keep your vehicle for the long run and want to make sure it’s always protected a ceramic coating could be worth considering. 

For more in-depth information about ceramic coatings in Sun Valley, ceramic coating prices, or ceramic coatings for new and used vehicles, check out our dedicated ceramic coating page for all the info.