Ceramic Coatings Buyers Guide For 2023, How do I pick an installer?

Ok, let's get into this, and let's make it as simple as possible, but as real as possible also.

Quick just so you know, my name is Mark Barger, Owner of Visual Pro Detailing in Benton, IL. Small rural detail shop, but we do 150+ Ceramic Coatings per year.

One of my passions is helping people make the best decision for THEM when it comes to car care, not just what makes me money.

So I'm going to throw this blog post out there into the universe, and hopefully it will help some people out.

First of all, a ceramic coating is NOT a good investment for you if you match the following criteria:

• You don't like to hand wash your car, or regularly wash it. A ceramic coating is NOT a license to not care for a vehicle, it is designed to make your regular care of a vehicle easier. To be perfectly directly with you, you would be better off regularly having the vehicle cleaned and waxed rather than ceramic coated if you are not planning on having a regular hand washing routine.
• You plan to use automatic car washes with big brushes and flaps to wash your car regularly. These types of car washes are extremely damaging to the vehicles surfaces and will put scratches and swirl marks in your ceramic coating also with regular use. Again, you would be better off just having the vehicle cleaned and waxed every few months.
• You cannot afford it. A Ceramic coating is an investment in protection and preservation of a vehicle. It is also expensive, even if you do it yourself. A quality professional detailer in 2023 is likely going to be charging $600+ for even an entry level ceramic coating application with very little cleaning and polishing before the coating is applied. There are much more budget friendly ways to take care of your car if you have the time, energy, and motivation (most do not have the time however, which is why these services from professionals are so popular).

Ok, that being said, I'm still looking for a ceramic coating installation, how should I go about buying one?

Things to look for when purchasing a ceramic coating installation from a professional. This is not an "all encompassing" list, it is the most common things as a full time professional detailer that I feel consumers should look for when purchasing a ceramic coating.

1. Do not focus so much on the product. There are a LOT of really good, high quality ceramic coatings in the market now days. There are new ones being released, upgraded, and improved every single year. Detailers are also prone to "chase" coating brands and switch fairly often. Brands that are high quality with proven track records and results are Gtechniq, Gyeon, Opti-Coat, Ceramic Pro, IGL, CarPro, and SPS. There ARE other quality brands out there, but these are the industry standards for a reason.
2. Do focus on the detailer or shop that is going to be installing the coating. My biggest suggestion before setting up a ceramic coating appointment for your vehicle is to actually go to the shop you are considering having install your coating and talk in person with the installer or shop manager. I know this may seem old school, but a hand shake and eye contact goes a long way. Is their shop clean and organized? Are they friendly and knowledgeable? Do they try to "push" you into the sale, or are they willing to answer your questions and give you recommendations?
3. Ask about the after care of the coating. What sort of maintenance does your shop or detailer recommend post application? Do they have a care sheet or videos to walk you through taking care of the vehicle after the coating has been applied? How much do they charge for a standard maintenance package, and how often do they recommend having it done?
4. The price. I know that people who have read this far are eagerly waiting for me to tell them what they price is and should be for a service of this type. This is where I am likely going to have to massively disappoint you. Across the country, the cost of this service varies massively depending on your geographical location, how much competition is in the area, what type of coating they are applying, and how difficult your vehicle is to clean, decontaminate, polish (meaning buff the paint, commonly called paint correction in the industry), prepare, and apply the coatings. I will say that an entry level ceramic coating can start at $600, and a professional grade ceramic coating that includes all exterior surfaces of the vehicle can vary from $1,200 all the way up to $3,000+.
5. Price is not the most important factor. The detailer, how comfortable you are with them, their track record, attitude, and willingness to give you an amazing service is. Often times a smaller detailer or detail shop that is less well known can give you an even better service because they value building a relationship with you, not just getting a one-off sale.

This is not the be all, end all of how, when, and why to purchase a ceramic coating, but should provide some simple guidelines if you are looking to break through the muck and look for someone to install one for you. They provide incredible shine, ease of cleaning, ease of maintenance, and preserve the appearance of your vehicle and I sincerely hope you find a great detailer to apply one for you in the future!

-Mark Barger

Questions?

I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have, but unless you are a local customer looking for a ceramic coating service, I would greatly prefer you e-mailed me at mark@visualprodetailing.com, my small shop is very busy and I often cannot get on the phone out of the blue outside of my clients.

📱Call Us: (618) 983-9706

🖥View us online: www.visualprodetailing.com

📧 Email us: mark@visualprodetailing.com

✅Services Provided: Ceramic Coatings, Paint Correction, Detailing, Window Tinting

✍️Cities and Towns Our Customers are in: Southern Illinois & Far Beyond

🎯We are located at 14465 State Highway 14, Benton IL 62812

View the article we were featured in The Southern Illinoisan:

https://thesouthern.com/news/local/visual-pro-detailing-in-benton-offers-top-level-care-for-vehicles/article_9117dc89-d6d4-5763-8a05-88d9f09b9f30.html