“The Dealership Said They Ceramic Coated My Vehicle Already?” Here’s Why You Shouldn't Trust That Claim
“The Dealership Said They Ceramic Coated My Vehicle Already?” Here’s Why You Shouldn't Trust That Claim
The "Ceramic Coating" Scam
When buying a new vehicle, many dealerships will pitch an enticing add-on: ceramic coating. They may tell you that it’s already been applied. However, here’s the truth – 99% of the time, it's a scam. What dealerships often sell is not a high-quality, professionally applied ceramic coating, but rather an expensive insurance product that does little more than line their pockets. Very similar to wheel & tire protection, they didn't actually do anything to the car aside from sell a warranty for it.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through why you should NOT trust a dealership's promise of ceramic coating, the dangers of letting them wash or coat your vehicle, and what you should really expect from a proper ceramic coating job.
When a dealership says they’ve already applied a ceramic coating to your new car,
it's often a misleading upsell. What they’re actually selling is usually an insurance product that claims to "protect" your car's paint. The coating itself may not even exist, or if it does, it’s likely a cheaper, low-quality spray form product that doesn’t perform anywhere near what you’d expect from a good local detailer offering a professional level service.
Why You Should Never Let a Dealership Wash Your Car
One of the first mistakes you can make after purchasing a new vehicle is letting the dealership handle the care of your car, especially the washing or detailing. Dealerships often use drive through washes, or abrasive brushes, and improper techniques that can damage your car’s finish. I can’t tell you how many times a customer’s vehicle comes back with tons of swirls simply from a disastrous wash. How can you trust them to “Ceramic Coat” your new car then? A ceramic coating isn’t something that can just be slapped on any surface. It requires extensive preparation, even on a brand new car. including:
Proper paint decontamination: The vehicle’s paint must be free of dirt, grime, and other contaminants to ensure the coating bonds properly. This includes strip wash, clay bar, and panel wipe. Without this step, the coating will not adhere correctly, and you’ll end up with a subpar result.
Polishing: A true ceramic coating requires polishing to remove swirls, scratches, and imperfections in the paint. Polishing also ensures the surface is completely bare, ready for coating to set up. Without this step, the coating will just sit on top of those flaws and lead to premature degradation and leaving your vehicle looking less than perfect. Most new vehicles get loaded onto the truck with some level of factory blemishes. Add in mishandling, test drives, sitting on trucks and dealer lots for weeks or even months (I’ve seen cars in my shop that sat on a dealer lot over a year!).
Common Signs of a Poor Ceramic Coating Job
If you’ve already been sold on the dealership’s ceramic coating, it's important to know what to look for to see if the job was done properly. Here are some common signs that your vehicle’s "ceramic coating" is a total bust:
- Contaminated Paint: If the paint feels rough to the touch or there's visible contamination like rail dust or water spots, it’s a clear sign that proper paint prep wasn’t done before applying the coating.
- Swirls and Scratches: Ceramic coatings are supposed to enhance the paint, not seal in imperfections. If you notice swirling or fine scratches, it likely means the paint wasn’t polished properly before the coating was applied. We understand not every vehicle is in identical condition off the lot. At Shine Division Detailing, we offer a couple different packages to best fit your needs.
- Poor Hydrophobic Behavior: One of the main benefits of a true ceramic coating is its ability to make the paint hydrophobic – meaning water beads off easily. If your car still struggles to shed water or doesn't clean easily, the coating isn’t performing as promised.
- Difficult to Clean: A proper ceramic coating should make it easier to clean your vehicle, with dirt and grime sliding off. If your car is still difficult to clean, you’re likely dealing with a subpar product or an improper application.
Why It’s Better to Do It Right (and Do It Early)
If you’ve been duped into paying for an overpriced ceramic coating at the dealership, don't panic. While it can be difficult to prove that the coating wasn’t applied correctly, there are sometimes options available to get your money back. Many customers have successfully challenged these charges, proving that the dealership didn’t deliver on their promises.
However, even if you can’t get your money back, the good news is that it’s not too late to fix the problem. It’s always better to address a bad ceramic coating sooner than later. A
professional detailer with experience in ceramic coatings can remove the subpar application and start fresh, ensuring your vehicle is properly prepped and coated with a high-quality product.
Conclusion: Don't Settle for Less When It Comes to Paint Protection
Ceramic coatings are an excellent investment for maintaining your vehicle’s paint and keeping it looking new for years to come. But when it comes to applying that coating, don’t trust the dealership to do it right. Their goal is often to make a quick buck, not provide real value. If you’ve been sold a false sense of protection, take action as soon as possible.
Seek out professionals who specialize in ceramic coatings, and make sure your vehicle is properly prepped before any product is applied. By handling it the right way from the start, you'll enjoy a much more satisfying and long-lasting result, without falling victim to dealership scams.
