What is Paint Protection Film?

Paint Protection Film is the ONLY thing you can do to help reduce the chances of chips, scratches and dings on your new vehicles paint.

two men are applying paint protection film to a yellow rivian R1T with plastic wrap in a garage

History of Paint Protection Film (PPF)

3M was the original inventor of PPF during the Vietnam War. It was originally called Helicopter Tape and was created to protect delicate helicopter blades and parts from debris that was common during normal operations. The film was discrete and low-weight, which was exactly what the government was looking for. The US military was quick to adopt the new product as it helped keep expensive vehicles and machinery running. 3M still creates protective films for military applications today. People quickly found out that the miracle film could be applied to vehicles in order to protect the paint from impacts, chips & scratches and the Paint Protection Film industry was born

Automotive Applications

Technology has advanced a lot since the creation of the film during the Vietnam war. The film now has a "Self Healing" layer top coat, it's more flexible, clear and easier to use. This makes application on more complex body parts with minimal seam possible when compared to films from the early 2000's. These advancements have made modern clear bra (this is another name for PPF) the ultimate protection for your vehicles paint, lenses and untextured film.
Most films are 6-10mils thick and act as a physical barrier between the paint and the outside world. This thickness also absorbs impacts and can help prevent door dings, chips, and scratches. You no longer have to park in the back of the parking lot to mitigate door dings. If you have film applied to your full vehicle, you can rest assured that the paint underneath the film will look like new for your entire ownership period.
The below image shows a vertical slice of PPF broken down into its various layers. These layers, when combined, create the thick clear shield that is exploding in popularity.

image showing all the layers of paint protection film from Autobahn Performance Films

Clear & Matte Paint Protection Film

No matter the factory finish on your vehicle, there are films that will match the OEM paint texture, clarity and gloss. Most premium film brands such as Autobahn, Xpel, Suntek, Llumar and STEK offer both a gloss and matte finish film. A few examples can be found in the images below. The films in the images are from Autobahn (Incognito gloss & Starke matte).

Front end matte PPF, Kia EV6

Front end matte PPF, Kia EV6
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Full car PPF, Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Full car PPF, Porsche 911 Cabriolet
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Front end PPF, Tesla Model 3

Front end PPF, Tesla Model 3
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Front end and doors covered in PPF, MDX Type 5

Front end and doors covered in PPF, MDX Type 5
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Tinted Lens Protection Film

Tail light tint with specialized PPF is a great way to make your car look sleek while protecting the lenses from UV and other environmental damage. Clear or tinted film for lenses is the only way to keep plastic car lights from oxidizing and yellowing. We use clear PPF to seal all of our headlight restoration jobs so they stay like-new after our in-depth restoration process.

Clear PPF on Lights, C8 Corvette

Clear PPF on Lights, C8 Corvette
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No Headlight Tint, Rivian R1S

No Headlight Tint, Rivian R1S
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After 30% STEK Headlight Tint, Rivian R1S

After 30% STEK Headlight Tint, Rivian R1S
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After 30% STEK Tailight Tint, Rivian R1S

After 30% STEK Tailight Tint, Rivian R1S
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Colored Paint Protection Film

Many brands have also released colored films with different patterns and colors. This allows for an immense amount of customization while adding a signifiant amount of protection to the paint. STEK was the first brand to coin " Fashion Films " and they were the first films that we used. They currently have an amazing offering that you can view online. Their list includes, but is not limited to: Carbon Fiber (Clear, Gloss, Matte, Forged), Damascus, Glitter, Camo, and a variety of colored variants.

Carbon PPF, Lotus Bonnet

Carbon PPF, Lotus Bonnet
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Carbon PPF, Lotus Rear Bumper

Carbon PPF, Lotus Rear Bumper
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What Can Paint Protection Film Do For You?

Paint protection film is the best protection we can offer for your vehicles paint work and can prevent unsightly rock chips almost entirely. Due to its flexible nature it is great at absorbing impacts an scratches in your paint and lenses. Car wash swirls in your paint are a thing of the past and with the introduction of ceramic coating infused top-coats, you no longer have to worry about waxing or polishing it. This means that you will spend less time cleaning, and more time driving worry-free. All thanks to the wonders of PPF.

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