Cars begin life with immaculate, smooth, and shiny bodywork, but with time, stone chips, scratches, and other marks can damage the paintwork, leaving the once spotless surface looking pockmarked and abused.

One approach to help prevent this decrease, which can make your car appear older than it is while also lowering its market value if you decide to sell or upgrade, is to maintain the paintwork.

But what are your car paint protection options, and which one is right for you? To help you select, we’ve outlined the most common car paint protection options that you can go for, ranging from low-cost DIY solutions to high-end expert treatments.

Paint protection films

Applying a new car paint protection film is not a cheap option, but it is quite successful in preventing your car’s paintwork from being damaged by scratches, stone chips, or UV rays. This process, which requires a professional, involves applying a transparent plastic film to as much of the car as needed, whether it’s only the front or the entire vehicle.

It is not a thorough and complete solution; visible scratches will accumulate on the plastic over time, so you may have to reapply the car paint protection.

You should note that as much as you have to reapply the protection film, it will last longer than any DIY or professional spray-on treatment, and the real paintwork remains clean and scratch-free despite any blemishes on the plastic car protection film layer.

Paint waxes

After washing your car, putting a coating of wax on all of the bodywork provides a modest layer of car paint protection to your vehicle by sealing the topcoat. This is not a substantial change and will not prevent paintwork damage or chips from occurring, but it is a low-cost solution that provides some protection and peace of mind and is simple to accomplish at home.

Applying paint sealant is another alternative; however, some treatments might take some time to cure, necessitating either excellent weather or a garage to park your vehicle in while this occurs. The good thing is that depending on the brand used, some can last for a long time.

As much as you can apply the wax at home, you should note that for the best results, you should have the wax applied by a professional who knows what they are doing.

As a responsible car owner, you might be wondering how often you should apply the wax, right? Well, the consensus among experts is that no new waxing is necessary as long as rainfall naturally drips off the car paint.

But the weather also has a significant role. Your car’s wax coat will last longer if you store it in a garage as opposed to outside or beneath a carport. For added protection, have your vehicle waxed twice: once in the spring and again right before winter.

Invest in car covers.

Chips and scratches aren’t the only threats to car paintwork; everything from the sun’s rays to bird poop and tree sap, not to mention the damage caused by careless passers-by, can cause the bodywork to deteriorate or lose its sheen.

This is especially true when the average age of cars on the road rises, with vehicles intended to survive longer and owners devoting more time and money to their regular maintenance.

A car cover is one way to protect your car from the weather while also extending the life of your paint. This serves as a second layer for your automobile, protecting it from acid in bird poop and tree sap while decreasing the number of other processes required to preserve your car’s bodywork.

Auto covers can also prevent thieves because they are time-consuming to put on and remove.

Park in the shade

It is unlikely that you would be surprised to learn that the sun damages your paint. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays fade and oxidize the color, while infrared heat exacerbates the effects of additional pollutants.

Without protection, the sun can destroy a vehicle’s finish in around five seasons. To avoid this, always park your vehicle in a shaded area, such as a garage, parking structure, or even under a large tree. Keeping your vehicle out of the sun is such a great way to extend the life of its finish.

Keep your car clean

The atmosphere contains microscopic containments such as pollution, dust, and chemicals, which land on the paint and damage the surface. Bird droppings and insect leftovers are equally destructive.

Washing your vehicle frequently, even at a drive-through car wash, is essential for keeping the paint surface clean and free of environmental residues. Spray the major pollutants off the paint with a hose, then wash with a soapy sponge and rinse thoroughly.

Always use “car wash” soap to avoid stripping wax from the paint. Dry with soft cotton towels or invest in microfiber cloths for a streak-free finish.

Some car washes use brushes; others have cloths. While this is the case, you should note that one style is not necessarily superior to the other.

When you are in the car wash, you should note that in some cases, the brushes or cloths can be contaminated with sand, causing them to function like sandpaper and ruin the paint surface.

For this reason, you must ensure that the car wash where you take your car is clean and well-maintained. Who would want to enter a dirty bathroom?

You should also look closely at the brushes. If the nylon strands are brittle or damaged, dirt might have accumulated inside, so you should avoid cleaning your car there.

Parting shot

The most common mistake made by car owners is neglecting to offer routine maintenance to their paint. This is wrong as it gives your car an ugly look.

The right way to go about it is to take good care of your paint using the above-mentioned strategies. Properly maintained automotive paint will be more resilient to outside weather elements. This implies that you can significantly reduce costly repairs.

As mentioned, if you need any work done on your car, ensure that the work is done by experienced paint protection film installers Springfield or any other professionals who know what they are doing.