Paint protection film on a new car
Put paint protection film on a new car as soon as you can after delivery, ideally in the first few days. The paint is at its best and there is nothing to correct, so the film locks in a perfect finish. The longer a new car drives unprotected, the more it picks up from the road, the dealer lot and the first few washes.
This guide covers what film does for a new car, which package to choose, what a dealer will and will not have done to the paint and how to plan the first weeks.
Why a new car is the best time
Paint on a new car looks flawless, and it is not always flawless underneath. Cars sit on transport trucks, lots and dealer floors before they reach you. Dealer washing, transit and handling can leave fine swirls on the surface, and a quick look at the car in the sun will often show them.
We inspect every new car under good light. If the paint is clean, film goes straight on. If it has light marks from the lot, we correct them first, since film keeps whatever is underneath it.
What film does on a new car
LLumar paint protection film is a clear, self-healing urethane layer. It takes the impacts and abrasion that would otherwise land on the clear coat.
- Rock chips and sand on the hood, bumper and mirrors
- Light scratches from washing and everyday use
- Bug splatter and bird droppings that etch bare clear coat
- Salt and brine through the winter
The film is clear, so the colour and gloss stay exactly as the factory made them. Matte film is available at both shops for factory matte finishes, and for owners who want a satin look on a gloss car.
Protecting resale value
The finish is one of the first things a buyer or an appraiser checks. A repainted panel stands out under a paint meter and in raking light. Film keeps the factory paint intact, so when you trade the car, sell it or turn in a lease, the film can come off and the paint beneath is the original.
Choosing a package for a new car
Think about how you will use the car and where it will live.
- Basic Front covers the front bumper, full hood, mirrors, headlights and fog lights. Usually done within a day.
- Full Front adds the full front fenders, in one to two days. It is the package we recommend most often.
- Full Front Plus adds the A-pillars, the roof edge over the windshield and the rocker panels, in one to two days.
- Full Body covers every painted panel, in two to three days.
If the car is a daily driver on the highway, Full Front is a strong choice. If it is a performance car, an exotic or a car you plan to keep for a long time, Full Body keeps the whole finish as new. Paint colour matters too. Dark, special or hard to match paint is a good reason to cover more.
Film and a ceramic coating
A Gyeon ceramic coating works well with film on a new car. Film covers the panels that take impacts, and the coating covers the rest of the paint, the glass and the wheels. The coating also goes over the film, which makes the whole car easier to wash.
Paint correction is sold together with a ceramic coating, so new paint that has picked up transit swirls is polished before it is sealed. LLumar ceramic tint takes care of the cabin. The bundle of film, coating and tint is called The Beyond Package.
What to do before you bring the car in
Keep the first washes gentle. Avoid automatic brush washes, which can leave fine scratches in new paint. Do not use paper towels on the finish. Tell us if the dealer applied any sealant or paint protection add-on, because it may need to come off before film.
Bring the car in soon after delivery. A quick call to the shop will tell you our schedule, and an estimate request with your year, make and model gets the process moving.
How we install it
Every install is done in house by our full-time staff in a climate-controlled bay. The car is washed, decontaminated and inspected, and patterns are adjusted for your car before they are cut. The film is applied panel by panel with edges wrapped wherever the shape allows.
The film carries a manufacturer backed warranty, and we go over care with you at pickup.
New car film questions
Do I need to wait before putting film on a new car?
Not for the paint. Modern factory paint has cured by the time the car reaches you. If the car was repainted after an accident or at the dealer, tell us so we can check it.
Can the dealer do this for me?
Dealers can offer a protection package, though it varies from one to the next, and some are not film at all. If you want LLumar film installed in house by a dedicated shop, we are happy to do it after delivery.
Will film affect the factory warranty?
Film sits on top of the paint and does not alter it. If you have a specific question about your car maker's terms, check with the dealer or your owner's paperwork.
Is Full Body worth it on a new car?
It depends on how long you will keep it and how it will be parked. For a car you plan to keep, and for any car with paint that is hard to match, many owners choose it.
