Guide
PPF vs ceramic coating
Paint protection film is a thick, clear film that takes stone chips and scratches instead of your paint. A ceramic coating is a thin, hard layer that makes paint glossier and easier to clean, but it does not stop chips. If chips are the worry, choose PPF; for easier washing, a coating. Many owners have film on the front and a coating over the rest.
- From 115 Google reviews
- 5.0★
- Combined experience
- 30+ yrs
- Cars through the studio
- 1,000+
- Studio with 6 lit bays
- 800+ m²
In short
- PPF stops stone chips. A ceramic coating does not.
- A coating adds gloss and makes the car easier to wash.
- Many owners have film on the front and a coating over the rest.
- PPF from $2,000 for a front end; coatings from $1,499, with correction included.
Two products, two different jobs
Paint protection film is a urethane film laid over the paint. The films we fit, Defcon Glanz and Defcon Frozen, are about 190 microns of aliphatic TPU with a self-healing top coat. That thickness is what stops a stone: the film takes the hit and the paint underneath stays as it was.
A ceramic coating is a liquid that is applied to clean, corrected paint and cures into a thin, hard, slick layer. It adds gloss and makes water and dirt slide off, so the car is easier to wash and stays cleaner for longer. It is far too thin to absorb the impact of a stone, so it does not stop chips.
So the question is not which is better, but which problem you want solved: chips and scratches, or upkeep and gloss.
Side by side
How the two compare on the things owners ask us about most. Prices are our starting prices, including GST.
| Paint Protection Film | Ceramic Coating | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Clear urethane film, about 190 microns | Liquid that cures into a thin, hard layer |
| Stone chips | Takes the hit instead of the paint | Does not stop them |
| Light scratches | Self-healing top coat closes them with heat | Slicker surface, so fewer wash marks; does not heal them |
| Gloss and easy washing | Smooth top coat; can be coated as well | Its main job |
| Finish | Gloss or satin | Adds gloss; on satin film we use a matte film coating |
| Starting price | From $2,000 for the front end of a car | From $1,499, with wash and paint correction |
| Time in the studio | 2–3 working days for a front end | 2–3 working days |
| Warranty | Ten-year Defcon manufacturer warranty, registered on e-Warranty | Five years for Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light, nine for Crystal Serum Ultra with EXOv5 |
Film figures from Defcon Films Australia. Full prices on our pricing page.
Choose PPF when
Film is the right first step when the paint is at risk of physical damage:
- You drive the freeway or regional roads often, where stones come off the car in front at speed.
- The car is new and you want the factory paint kept as it is.
- You drive a 4WD on gravel or tracks, where grit and scrub mark the lower panels.
- The paint is factory matte or satin, which cannot be polished back if it is marked. Satin film protects it without making it shine.
- You plan to keep the car for years, or want the paint in good order when you sell it.
Choose a coating when
A coating on its own makes sense when chips are not the main worry:
- The car mostly does short city trips and lives in a garage.
- You want deeper gloss and easier washing more than impact protection.
- The paint has swirls and dullness you want corrected; our coating price includes a wash and paint correction.
- The car already has PPF on the front, and you want the rest of the paint protected too.
Most owners end up with both
The usual combination is film where the stones hit, and a coating everywhere else. That means front end PPF (bumper, bonnet, guards, mirrors and headlights) and a ceramic coating on the rest of the paint, with glass and wheel coatings if you want them.
The film can be coated as well. We use Labocosmetica Armorius on film, in gloss for gloss film and matte for satin film, so the film is as easy to wash as the coated paint around it.
The order matters: the paint is washed, decontaminated and corrected first, the film goes on, and the coating goes over everything last. Our new car protection packages put these together, from a coating on its own up to coating, tint and front end PPF.
Both need clean, corrected paint
Film and coatings both lock in whatever is underneath them. Swirls, water marks and old scratches are still there afterwards, just sealed in.
So every ceramic coating we apply includes the wash and paint correction. Before film, the paint is washed and decontaminated, and corrected where it needs it. We tell you before any extra work is done.
Reviews
What our customers say
★★★★★
Honestly can’t thank the whole team at MAS Project enough, they have completely changed the look of my troopy with every single little detail being accounted for. From the day dropping the car off to picking it up we stayed in touch with all updates and ideas giving the feeling of having complete trust it was in good hands. The quality of work they do is absolutely unreal, HIGHLY recommend!
Jayden R. · Toyota LandCruiser Troopy, colour PPF · Google review
★★★★★
I found MAS Project online and also a work mate told me he has done his car there and it was great. I decided to give it a go and went there to get to know more about their product options and outcome. [My first contact person] was nothing but amazing with her customer service, very patient and explain the details of everything, I also had [the owner] who took his time and put some samples in my car to help me with my decision. … So, bottom of story, these guys cared about me, treated me very special, even though they were fully booked. Couldn’t be happier enough and the final product is to die for!
Rhoger B. · Google review
★★★★★
Really nice experience. Professional PPF and window tint for my brand new Tesla. Various options on stunning colors. Cannot describe how surprised when seeing the special and perfect wrapping. Highly recommended to anyone looking for car warping and tint.
Ian L. · PPF and window tint, new Tesla · Google review
Is PPF better than ceramic coating?
They do different jobs. PPF stops stone chips and scratches; a coating makes paint glossier and easier to clean. If you want protection from chips, PPF is the one that does it.
Does a ceramic coating stop stone chips?
No. A coating is far too thin to absorb the impact of a stone. Only film does that.
Can you put a ceramic coating on PPF?
Yes. We coat film with Labocosmetica Armorius, a coating made for film, in gloss or matte to match the film.
Which lasts longer?
Defcon Glanz and Frozen carry a ten-year manufacturer warranty. With proper care, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light lasts for five years and Crystal Serum Ultra with EXOv5 for nine, each with a warranty for the same period.
Do I need both on a new car?
Not always. If the car does freeway kilometres, put film on the front at least. A coating on its own starts from $1,499, and our new car packages combine the two.
What should I do first?
Paint correction, then film, then the coating over everything. That way both seal a clean, corrected finish.
Last reviewed 26 October 2026 by the MAS Project team.
Ask us which one your car needs
Tell us the car and what you are after. We reply with a quote within 24–48 hours.
2/38 Sarich Court, Osborne Park
Mon–Fri 9:30am–5:30pm · Sat 9:30am–3:00pm