Paint Protection Film (PPF): Stopping You Car's Aging Process

Forbes

26-03-2025

A 2019 Ford GT Carbon Series with paint protection film protects its valuable carbon fiber panels
What if you could end your car's aging process? Actually freeze its current condition and stop it from getting any older? That may sound impossible, but if you practice a combination of dutiful maintenance and purposeful cosmetic protection you'll be astonished at not only how long your car lasts, but at how signs of its aging process vanish. The mechanical steps to maximizing a car's lifespan are worthy of their own story, but for this story lets focus on a car's appearance, and the single most important material in creating an automotive fountain of youth: paint protection film (PPF).
You may not be familiar with the term paint protection film, which also goes by the acronym PPF. It's been around for decades and the technology behind it has rapidly evolved in recent years. PPF is exactly what the term sounds like – a film that protects your paint from damage. This damage can range from the constant flow of small rocks and debris your car is subjected to every time it's on the road, to the potential long-term sun damage it endures every time it leaves the garage.
This 2012 Porsche 911 Turbo S benefits from paint protection film to keep it looking new
This kind of protection is often sought after by owners of high-end sports and exotic cars, who consider PPF an investment in their car's long-term value. I produced a story focused on paint protection film for exotic cars back in 2019. By installing PPF, exotic cars owners can enjoy driving their six-figure investments without worrying about the signs of age that afflict any car not restricted to the garage or trailed to car shows for static display duty. But this story will focus on the benefits of PPF for mainstream, daily-driven vehicles.
Forward-facing surfaces like the grill and exterior mirrors benefit the most from PPF
If you've ever bought a new car you've likely noticed paint chips and scratches that start accumulating within days of driving it off the dealer lot. And if you've purchased a used car there's no avoiding the network of scars scattered across various body panels, with a particularly dense network of them on forward-facing surfaces like the grill, hood, and exterior mirrors.
PPF protects against everything from high temperatures to high-speed bug impacts
Paint protection film can prevent this type of damage, and its benefits go beyond avoiding chips and scratches. The film also serves as a protective layer against sun damage, especially in warmer, southern climates where bright sunlight can elevate a car's body panel temperatures above 150 degrees on darker colors. The film's smooth surface also makes much it easier to clean your car, with everything from dirt and grime to dead bugs sliding off the PPF much easier than it would the metal underneath it.
Washing your car is ostensibly good...but if you don't do it right it can be quite bad...
Which brings up perhaps the most common source of cosmetic damage a car faces – getting washed. Washing a car properly is yet another topic worthy of a deep dive article, but the short answer is: most of the tiny scratches that dull a car's shine over time happen when the car is being washed. You can avoid scratching your paint while washing it, but it requires a very specific process that most people – and sadly most local car wash businesses – don't practice.
Cre must be taken during PPF installation, but once installed it protects against sloppy car washing
Once again, if you have paint protection film you don't have to worry about less-than-perfect car washing procedures, whether you wash your own car or pay someone else. Because what's really getting washed is the film as the paint rests safely beneath it. It's this combination of protection that can freeze your paint's aging process once PPF is applied. But this begs the obvious question – is it worth applying PPF to a mainstream or older car that's already been subjected to damage for years, or even decades?
Paint protection film is installed on a 2002 BMW 330Ci to protect its paint that's held up well
The answer will depend on two primary factors – what shape is the paint in, and how much do you like the car? If your paint is already damaged, with a vast array of large chips and scratches across much of the body, it's probably not worth the cost of adding PPF. At least not unless you invest in paint repair work before the PPF goes on. But that investment may be justified, depending on the second factor – how important is this car to you, and how long do you intend to own and drive it?
Finding a 22-year-old BMW 3 Series in my favorite color inspired me to protect its paint
I can offer a specific, first-hand example of an investment in PPF that made sense on an older vehicle. I recently purchased a 2002 BMW 330Ci convertible with only 54,000 miles on the odometer. This car wears one of my favorite BMW colors, Steel Blue, and the paint was in relatively good shape despite being over 20 years old. More importantly, I know these cars can last for more than 200,000 miles, because this car replaced a 2001 BMW 325Ci convertible I previously owned with 217,000 miles – and it was still going strong when I sold it.
My 2002 BMW 330Ci Convertible's paint was in relatively good shape after more than 23 years
Between my latest BMW's gorgeous paint, in relatively good condition, and my confidence in how long I plan to keep the car, halting its aging process – even 23 years after it was first sold – made sense. I researched different paint protection films and decided to go with PURE PPF, a film company specializing in colored films, but one that also just introduced a clear film called Pure PPF Crystal that lets my BMW's Steel Blue paint shade shine through. There's also a 'Frost' version that gives paint a matte, or satin finish.
The PURE PPF clear film enhanced the gloss in my BMW's Steel Blue paint
PURE PPF warranties its clear film for 12 years against defects, and says the cost of applying the film to an entire vehicle can range from $2,000 to $7,000, depending on the type of car and what the installer charges. The film can be removed whenever the vehicle owner chooses, and depending on the car's environmental condition it should last 5 to 10 years before needing replaced.
Envious Detailing also performed a paint correction and polished the headlight lenses
When you consider the average cost of a new car is approaching $50,000, an investment of roughly 10 percent of that amount might make sense if you plan to keep the car for at least 5 years. The reduction in exterior damage will also add to the car's value when it's time to sell, but if you're leasing your vehicle you probably shouldn't spend money on paint protection film, which you'll have to pay someone to remove before you turn it in.
My 23-year-old BMW now looks brand new, and should stay that way with PPF protecting it
Envious Detailing in Orange, California has applied paint protection film (PPF) to several of my previous cars, with every installation reflecting exceptional quality. But those cars were all high-end models that saw limited use on special occasions. This is the first time I've applied it to a sub-$20,000 car that serves as my daily driver. Thankfully, both PURE PPF and Envious Detailing don't discriminate on the quality of their product. My 23-year-old BMW received the same careful attention as my brand new premium cars, and the PURE PPF now provides it with those same protective, anti-aging benefits.