It is easy to think like this, but here are just a few reasons why you may wish to give it further thought … Depending on what car you have, and the type of paint, respraying can be risky. Some cars, such as the higher value marques, retain their value far better with the original factory paint. The longer you own the car, this value usually increases, exponentially. The most valuable classic Ferrari and Aston Martin ‘museum pieces’ mostly still wear their original paint.

If you use your car regularly, on track or long, high-speed touring journeys, which can really blast away at the front of the car, this will be very evident, unless you have protected the car with paint protection film beforehand. Cars with obvious evidence of significant enjoyment (some even call it abuse) are usually worth quite a lot less than those that have headlamp lenses, paint, trim and side mirrors in their original ‘as new’ condition, indicating that the car hasn’t really been honed.

If a car does get repainted, it will probably be off the road for a minimum of four or five days. Often the new paint isn’t the same depth and sometimes the panels don’t colour match absolutely perfectly, causing other issues. The polycarbonate parts such as fog light lenses, headlights, indicator lenses and other trim often look older from irreparable stone chip damage and scratches, whilst the rest of the front facing panels would look newly painted, creating another visual discrepancy. XPEL, the chosen product applied by SecondSkin PPF keeps ALL these areas like new and/or simply prevents further damage, wherever or whenever it is applied during the cars life.

And let’s be honest, are you really going to want to bother repainting the car when all you want to do is sell it because you’ve fallen in love with another – or would you normally take a big hit on the value so that the new owner does all the work instead? You could of course just keep your car looking like it’s really been cared for and it will justifiably command more than many others out there and look markedly more attractive to potential buyers.

Actually, it’s quite easy and very straightforward but complete care instructions are available at www.xpel.com

Sealants such as Opticoat and cQuartz should not hurt the film or interfere with our ULTIMATE paint protection film’s self-healing properties if applied properly.

We do NOT recommend applying sealants such as Opti-Coat or cQuartz to the parts of the car that will be covered with film. The low surface energy of paint sealant products such as these will cause adhesion problems both during installation and over the life of the product. In addition, it is worth noting that there is really no benefit to applying sealant to the paint before the film, since the film will provide far more environmental protection to the paint than a sealant ever could. If you have already applied it to your car, all is not lost. We can cleanse the car appropriately to ensure good adhesion but we will need to know its there before we commence as extra work will be required.

You will need to talk to your body shop and see what they recommend. The time will vary depending on the paint system the body shop used. In any case, the time that they recommend you should wait to wax the paint, is the same time you will need to wait to install our product.

XPEL ULTIMATE Paint Protection Film uses a special polymer in its clear coat that flows even though it is cured. This allows the clear coat to find its natural level again after being disturbed on the surface.

Second Skin PPF is designed to heal surface scratches and common swirl marks that occur during routine washing of the car. If the scratch penetrates through the film’s clear coat, for instance, if someone maliciously attacked the car with a blade or if it caught a sharp-edged steel post, it will not heal.

The time for a scratch to heal depends on the severity of the scratch and the ambient temperature. Minor scratches usually heal in one hour at room temperature (72°F). In warmer climates, healing time will be shorter. The healing process can be accelerated at any time by pouring hot water over the scratched area.

With the technology developed, there is no limit to the number of times the clear coat can heal itself. As long as the PPF is not penetrated, it will heal over and over again.

Depending on how the film is cared for, the clear coat can last indefinitely. Regular washing and waxing will keep the clear coat in top condition for years to come.

The clear coat on XPEL ULTIMATE has a very low surface energy, which makes it extremely difficult for organic compounds to stick to the film. Insects, bird droppings and environmental contaminants (which would normally cause yellowing) such as road oils, exhaust smoke, and pollution can be removed during regular washing.

If ordinary car wash or soap and water will not remove a stain, there are a variety of products available to do the job. In most cases, simple isopropyl rubbing alcohol will remove anything on the surface of the film. In cases of more severe staining, or where something has been left on the film for a long period of time, a sparing amount of lacquer thinner can be used. Bug and tar remover available at any auto parts store is also effective. If you are unsure about the use of any other chemical on the surface of the film, please contact XPEL UK Support on +44 (0)1462 414394 for further assistance.

Unlike most paint protection films on the market, XPEL ULTIMATE Paint Protection film can be waxed and sealed just like your paint. Though XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant is still the preferred product, any automotive wax or sealant can be used.

No. XPEL ULTIMATE Paint Protection Film allows UV to pass through the film and fade the paint underneath at the same rate as the exposed paint. So if you only cover the front of the car, the rest of its paint will remain the same shade of colour.

Yes. But it’s important to note that the coating should only be applied AFTER the paint protection film is installed. The coating will not interfere with the self-healing properties of the ULTIMATE and STEALTH paint protection films.

We recommend using the film cleaner and a soft, paint safe brush to clean the affected area. You may also use acetone or lacquer thinner in moderate use.

Yes. It will not affect the colour of the metal, and will add the protection you need.

Yes. But wait 48 hours after installation and be mindful of the edges not to get too close as it could cause the edge to lift up.

Yes, you may use any wash, wax, detailer, etc. that does not contain high amounts of petroleum distillates such as naphtha or kerosene. Often times, a good detail spray is all you may need.

Our ULTIMATE and STEALTH films are warrantied for 10 years. This warranty covers: yellowing, staining, delaminating, cracking, peeling, bubbling, and more.

To remove the film, please see the attached diagram here. You’ll want to use a steamer or heat gun and pull in a 180-degree motion.

It depends on the coating. Some may deepen the finish while others may add unwanted gloss. It depends on the coating and the install quality of the coating.

We recommend using our XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant.

Cost varies based on size of vehicle, location, labour rates and installer experience. The following are general rates you should expect to find when getting a quote for protection:
• Partial Front End: 45.7cm (18”) – 61cm (24”) up the bonnet and wings, full front bumper, and mirrors. This is typically £875.00 – £1,175.00 (all plus VAT).*
• Full Front End: This is the entire bonnet and wings, full front bumper, and mirrors. This is typically £1,895.00 – £2,195.00 (all plus VAT).*
• Full Vehicle Wraps: This is typically every painted surface for £2,995.00 – £4,995.00 (all plus VAT).*