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Welcome back to part two of our two-part series addressing common myths surrounding paint protection film for vehicles. In part one, our Alameda team up in the Bay Area attempted to clear up some of the misconceptions they hear most frequently. If you haven’t already checked out that post, you can do so here. In today’s post, our San Diego team will share some of the myths they hear down in SoCal. For accurate information about paint protection film, check out our product and service page online or connect with one of our friendly San Diego staff today.
A common misconception about paint protection films is that they are only necessary if your vehicle is frequently used for off-roading or if you often drive the car in rough conditions. While this makes PPF a near necessity to protect your vehicle from extensive damage, the reality is that a paint protection film benefits any car. In fact, unless your car is kept in a garage and never goes anywhere, your car’s paint is always exposed to potential damage. Driving on California roadways or parking in SoCal parking lots puts your car at risk of getting scratched by swinging car doors, someone walking by, or wayward objects. Acid rain, bird droppings, and normal coastal California pollution can start to corrode your paint job. Needless to say, taking your vehicle off-roading does increase the risk of paint and body damage, the typical driver faces enough hazards to make PPF worth it for every vehicle!
For our urban drivers, it is particularly important that you invest in a paint protection film for your ride for frequent freeway driving. At high speeds, even small debris like beach sand or gravel kicked up by other cars can scratch or chip your car’s paint job. Over just a few short months, your car’s paint can prematurely age before your eyes. PPF provides an invisible shield to protect your vehicle from everyday hazards that can threaten your car’s finish.
This is an outdated paint protection film myth that has foundations in old truth. When PPF became mainstream for the average driver, adhesives used were the same as those that were used on tactical vehicles that didn’t tout aesthetic concerns. This myth has been hard for many PPF installers and manufacturers to overcome because most people have a friend who had a friend or an uncle whose PPF took on an amber hue. And, honestly, some cheap installers still use these sub-par products that provide validation for this misconception. In the early days of paint protection films, PVC-based films were used that were known to peel, crack, and turn yellow when constantly exposed to harmful UV light. This is no longer the case for modern films. Modern PPFs are made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) that has been specifically designed to hold up against the elements. Global® Paint Protection Film is so confident in its film’s stability and durability that they back it with a 10-year warranty. As long as you invest in a high-quality PPF, you should not have to worry about your film showing signs of fading or discoloration for years to come.
We aren’t really sure where this myth came from, but it may be from an “is it worth it at this point?” standpoint. It is absolutely true that the best time to invest in a PPF is shortly after driving it off the lot as this will protect your car’s exterior from potential damage before it has the chance of exposure. However, if this did not happen and you’re just learning of the benefits of PPF, you can have a paint protection film installed at any time. Even if your car already has a few small dings, chips, or scratches, adding paint protection film can help prevent future damage from occurring, keeping your car looking as nice as possible for much longer. Here at Jet Black Tint and Glass in San Diego, we installed full-car PPF on a both a 1973 Chevy Corvette and a 2002 Trans Am last week. Aside from vintage cars, we booked appointments for a 2018 Dodge Ram and a 2019 Tesla Model 3. It is never too late to get the protection your car deserves!
This myth isn’t quite as black and white, but it definitely falls in a grey area. Paint protection film is definitely not a user-friendly product, but one could make the same argument about tamales. PPF installation does require some skill and experience and uses specialty products and tools to execute. Smooth, invisible PPF does require the installer to have high attention to detail and do things properly. That all being said, it is not common for a trained auto aesthetician to mess up your paint protection film installation. We would not recommend a DIY Jon, but if you give it a go, you’ll discover it’s not difficult, it just requires patience and finesse.
Quite the opposite, in fact. This common myth likely has roots in the belief that any aftermarket product applied to the original manufactured paint can reduce resale value. However, this is just not true. There are many products (ASR and PPF, for example), that can actually boost resale value. Car enthusiasts understand the cost of these upgrades and are willing to pay a higher than Blue book value for it. There is some truth to the way over-customizing your vehicle can make it more difficult to sell to the general consumer, but we say that should never hold you back from going for it. Products like PPF and custom car wraps can easily be removed without harming the paint if it will help you sell your car, but there are plenty of car buyers who would be stoked to purchase a car with it already installed.
The crew at San Diego’s Jet Black Tint and Glass has been installing paint protection film on vehicles of all kinds despite common myths. We are happy to share the truth about any of our products and dispel any misunderstandings. To get the ultimate protection for your vehicle, book your PPF installation at our SoCal shop today!