Should you invest in paint protection film (PPF) on your Tesla? PPF is a hot topic in all of my Tesla Facebook groups. As you can imagine, it can be difficult for someone to make an informed decision. I will take a neutral look at this and answer the question: should you invest in paint protection film (PPF) on your Tesla?
What is Paint Protection Film?
Sometimes known as a “clear bra,” paint protection film is a plastic layer that goes on over a car’s paint. This plastic layer protects the paint from elements, bugs, road debris, etc.
There are a few ways to wrap a car in PPF.
- Full Wrap – This is where every external painted surface of the car has the film applied
- Half Wrap – Only the car’s front section has the film applied. The half wrap includes the front bumper, hood, front fenders,
- Clear Bra – Think of the old school days when you saw leather bras on the front of the car. A clear bra is the same concept.
Why Did I Get PPF?
During the ordering process, there was no doubt that I wanted to protect the car with PPF. Perhaps this was a placebo from reading on different forums that “Tesla paint is garbage.” Either way, I researched to see if it was worth it.
The paint on the car is one of those things I never really worried about with any car I had before. I have driven several different makes and models of cars, never once caring about the paint. There was something different with this car, though. I want this car always to look pristine. I thought about doing only the half wrap, but I decided to wrap the car for the cost difference and peace of mind in parking lots.
Dings on doors is my Achilles heel. Once I got my first ding, I stopped caring about the car. The kind of PPF I have on the car is self-healing. If it were to get dinged, it would heal itself in the sun.
Who Did I Choose?
With PPF, there are a few brands out there, one being the gold standard is from a company called Xpel. I called a few local Xpel installers. What followed made my jaw drop. Of the four original ones I called, two never returned my phone call, and one kept me on hold for over 20 minutes. The last one is where it gets interesting. They are based about 1 and 1/2 hours from me. He informed me that the cost for a full wrap would be north of $8000 and that I would have to pay for the installer to come to me. After I told him I did not mind bringing the car to him, he said this was the only way they would do it. I declined that offer.
Going back to Google, I found the local company Firehouse Auto Spa and instantly felt that it was a good choice. I sent a message via their website explaining what I wanted. Almost immediately, I received a phone call from the owner. I let him know what I want, and he told me that he loves his local Tesla family. He quoted me a full wrap plus a 2-year ceramic coating. I was afraid of what this quote was going to be. The last one was over 10% of the cost of the car. He returned with a great quote and said I should let him know once I received the car.
The Outcome
I take delivery, and I call them back. He got me in within two weeks and worked around my schedule as I was traveling for work. I dropped the car off, and his team constantly contacted me. Several times, my car appeared on their social media platforms during the process. Some of those pictures are below.
I pick up the car and am in awe of their work. The perfection and attention to detail were second to none. Since then, I have brought the car back on two different occasions; they fixed the issue with the PPF, no questions asked. I am impressed with Firehouse Auto Spa and everyone there; undoubtedly, they went above and beyond. They earned a customer for life!
Would you have PPF applied to your car? I would love to hear why or why not.