The challenge
Stone chips are the bane of motorway drivers. At speed, grit and debris flick up and strike the front end, leaving small chips in the paint that, beyond looking unsightly, can let corrosion start. This owner did a long motorway commute from Oxford and knew from experience that the leading edges of a new car get peppered within months. A ceramic coating protects chemically but doesn't stop a flying stone — only a physical barrier does that.
They wanted the strongest available protection for the areas that actually take the hits, without wrapping the whole car.
How we solved it
- Thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated the front end so the film bonded to flawless paint
- Applied clear paint protection film to the high-impact areas — bonnet leading edge, front bumper, wings and other vulnerable spots
- Carefully fitted and conformed the film for a near-invisible finish
- Advised on combining film with a coating elsewhere for the best of both
PPF, ceramic coating, or both?
They protect differently, and the best approach often combines them, as our guide on protecting new car paint explains. Paint protection film is a thick, clear, physical barrier — the only thing that stops stone chips and abrasion — usually applied to impact areas. Ceramic coating is a chemical layer that resists UV, salt and staining and makes cleaning easier, applied over the whole car (and over the film). For a motorway commuter wanting their new car protected, film on the front end plus a coating elsewhere is the gold standard.
Protect a new car?
We offer paint protection film and coatings at your location across Oxford and the UK. Get in touch to discuss the right protection for your car and mileage.
Photos from this paint protection film job in Oxford
