What to do IMMEDIATLY after buying a new car

Purchasing a new car is an exciting time, it's nerve wracking for many because of the financial investment but what do you do after you buy the car? Have you ever purchased a new phone and immediately walked over to the case wall and picked out an $80 case and then another $40 for a screen protector and didn't bat an eye at the fact that you just dropped 10% of the value of your new phone in protective measures. You should absolutely invest that much into keeping your usually second largest investment protected as well.

If you've ever tried to build out your dream car or perhaps one that's more realistic you most certainly have stumbled across a lot of the additional options to protect your vehicle. If you've moved forward in the sales process and went to the dealership to complete the sales process, then you most certainly have been introduced to if not forced into feeling the necessity to buying some paint protection film or ceramic coatings. So, what are they, and do you actually need them?

One of my favorite sayings is that "friends don't let friends go to the dealership". In today's day and age, we can completely avoid the dealerships for everything, even buying the car! I love working with auto brokers as opposed to salespeople personally. The dealership used to employ the best technicians and specialized personnel but that really isn't the case anymore. The dealership is out for the bottom line not your best interest. What are some things you must know about as a consumer?

1. Paint protection film (PPF aka Clear bra) offers the best physical protection from rock chips, scratches, and swirls caused by the car wash. If you've played on the manufacturers website and built out your car you should have seen the option to add door edge guards, or hood protection. The cost you see is associated with the material cost, which is a fair price, what they don't tell you is the labor cost to install. If you have it installed at the dealership it'll cost, you easily 2-3x more than having it done at a professional appearance center like J9's Luxury Auto Detailing. We have one designated person per trade, unlike the dealerships where they pay the least and you will inevitably receive the worst. PPF is essentially a giant screen protector for your car!

   Below is a picture of the inevitable that WILL happen, especially in the rocky terrain of Colorado Springs. Paint chip repair is a very so-so approach to fixing a much larger problem. A true fix to chips like this is a complete repaint on the areas damaged, which very quickly adds up to several thousand dollars. Paint protection film is a 10-year warrantied product that helps reduce or remove the chances of this happening to your prized possession.

2. Ceramic Coating protects your vehicle in a very different way. Things that etch into your clear coat and cause permanent damage are things like bird droppings, bug guts, and water spots. That's what a ceramic coating protects you from. Additionally, it adds a layer of insane gloss and makes your paint slippery, making it harder for dirt to stick to. This hydrophobic layer makes for easy maintenance cleanings and appears cleaner for longer. Again, what you pay for at a dealership is a spray ceramic coating that last tops 9 months, but they'll tell you whatever you want to hear, or they think you need to hear to sell it. Don't fall victim to their games. I've had a customer recently who told me she paid $4k for a lifetime coating from the dealer... 2-years later there wasn't an ounce of coating left on her car. Lifetime coatings are a gimmick, no reputable shop pushes these and most coatings that warranty up to 10 years is around $2500. She could have saved a small fortune.

Above is an example of chemical etching into your clear coat. You guessed it, this is a non-repairable item more often than not. Your paint is very thin, once something acidic like bird droppings etch in, it's now a permanent part of your paint work.

So, what should you do? Well, that will depend mostly on how protected you want to be and if you think 10% is a fair amount to pay to invest in your vehicle! The average cost in 2024 is just shy of $49k. If you protect your cell phone, you absolutely should protect your vehicle. A full ppf wrap on a car is around $5k. Most people just opt for a full front instead and then do a ceramic coating over the whole thing which brings you somewhere between $2,500-3,500.

Professionally, I absolutely would invest in having both to ensure my car is protected for the duration of my owning it. With the average car ownership being around 8 years, a 10-year warrantied clear bra and a 9-year ceramic coating will get you the whole way through and more.