Dealer Paint Protection vs A Professional Detailer

What Dealer Paint Protection Usually Is

It varies by dealership, but the common pattern is a sealant or entry level coating applied relatively quickly, often by a third party contractor, in a workshop bay rather than a controlled environment.

The preparation is usually minimal, because the assumption is that the car is new and therefore clean. That assumption skips decontamination and any correction of swirls picked up during the dealership wash.

What A Professional Coating Involves

The same product category can behave very differently depending on process. A professionally applied coating includes:

• Full decontamination, iron, tar and clay, even on a new car
• Inspection under correction lighting for transport residue and dealer swirls
• Machine polishing to correct what is found
• A panel wipe so the coating bonds to bare clear coat
• Application in controlled temperature and humidity
• A controlled cure before the car is handed back
• Documentation for the warranty

The Comparison That Matters

Product

Ask which specific product is being used and whether the installer is accredited for it. Popz is a GTechniq accredited detailer, and the flagship coating carries warranty cover of up to nine years applied to the manufacturer's process.

Process

Ask how many hours the job takes and what preparation is included. This is where the majority of the difference in outcome lives.

Price

Dealer packages are frequently priced at or above professional coating work while including less preparation. Popz quotes Ceramic Standard and Ceramic Gold on the vehicle, with up to $500 off currently applying.

Accountability

With a dealer package the work is often subcontracted, so if something goes wrong the chain of responsibility is unclear. With Popz, Shabz does the work himself and his name is on the result.

Questions To Ask In The Finance Office

1. 1Which specific product is being applied
2. 2Who physically applies it, and are they accredited
3. 3What preparation is included before application
4. 4Where is the car during application, and is it climate controlled
5. 5What exactly does the warranty cover, and what does it require from me
6. 6Can I see the documentation before I agree

If the answers are vague, that is useful information in itself. You can always decline and arrange protection separately in the first couple of weeks.

Is Dealer Protection Ever The Right Call

It can be, if the product and process are clearly specified, the installer is accredited, and the price is genuinely competitive. Some dealerships use good contractors and are transparent about it.

The problem is not that dealer protection is always bad. It is that it is usually sold without enough information to tell.

Get A Straight Comparison

Tell Shabz what the dealership has quoted and what it includes. He will tell you honestly how it compares, including if the dealer package is genuinely good value for your situation.