Other than a home purchase, buying a vehicle has always been considered one of the biggest investments people commonly make during their lives.

Unfortunately, that’s becoming increasingly true whether you’re buying new or used. Automotive part shortages have depleted the new vehicle inventories of many major brands, and many dealerships are resorting to buying used cars and trucks and driving prices up in the pre-owned market.

As a result, more consumers hoping to extend the value of their vehicle purchase are investing in one of the many protective coatings available on the automotive market. From oil sprays to ceramic waxes, there are a variety of choices that provide varying degrees and types of protection. However, one product is slowly emerging as the best possible protection whether you’re driving a used Fiesta or a new Ferrari.

“Paint protection film is the best way to keep your car looking as best as possible while preventing wear and tear that could lead to costly repairs,” said Michael McQuaid, owner of Auto Upgrade, an Authorized 3M Paint Protection and Tint Installation service. “It’s no longer just for Porsches and Ferraris. Whether your car costs $2,000 or $200,000, if it’s got painted metal surfaces, it’s going to eventually start to wear out and rust. That repair is going to cost you.”

What separates paint protection film (PPF) from other coatings like ceramic, graphene, or wax? For starters, McQuaid says PPF outperforms all other products because of the actual thickness of the protection.

“Standard vehicle paint consists of a primer, a base coat colour, and then a clear coat on top,” explained McQuaid. “Clear coat is the dealer version of protecting the paint. The combination of all three on the average vehicle is about 120 microns thick. In comparison, a sheet of paper is about 100 microns thick. The product I use is about eight millimeters thick, which translates to about 200 microns. By installing PPF you’ve almost tripled the strength of protection you have on your vehicle.”

PPF provides a physical extra layer between your vehicle’s paint, chrome, lights, and external surfaces and all the elements that can harm or damage your painted surfaces including rocks, dirt, sand, salt, bugs, oils, asphalts, tree sap, and other toxic fluids. The film is virtually invisible and doesn’t wear off like competitive products, providing lasting protection and ensuring the value of your automotive investment.

Installing PPF on a vehicle is definitely an additional expense, whether you purchase a full wrap or one of the smaller “hood and fender” kits offering additional protection to specific high-risk areas. However, McQuaid says it’s an investment that adds significant resale value to any vehicle

“On average, with the dollar amount you spend on PFF you should, in theory, get approximately 70 to 80 percent back based on the preservation of the value of that vehicle whether you’re reselling it, giving it to a family member down the road, or trading it in to a dealership,” said McQuaid.

Prices for installation of PPF vary depending on the style of vehicle and the level of protection being purchased. McQuaid said that Auto Upgrade has invested in the automated technology required to install the PPF to the exacting standards set by manufacturers, meaning each installation comes with a full 10-year warranty.

To learn more, visit Auto Upgrade on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AutoUpgradeSudbury.