PPF on a car is paint protection film: a thick, clear or colored urethane film that sticks over your factory paint and takes the rock chips, bug acid and light scratches instead of it. Our clear film is 7.5 mil thick, heals light swirls with heat, and peels off clean when you are done with it.

If you just bought a car you care about, the first stone chip on the hood hurts. PPF is the layer that stops that from happening. We make this film in our own factory in Hangzhou, so this is the plain version of what it is, what it does, and what it will not do.

In this article

• What PPF stands for and what it is made of
• What PPF does (and does not do)
• The types of PPF
• Where PPF goes on a car
• How long PPF lasts
• How PPF is installed
• FAQ

What does PPF stand for, and what is it made of?

PPF stands for paint protection film. Think of it as a screen protector for your car: a flexible sheet that sits between the road and your clear coat. It is sold on rolls and cut to fit each panel.

Most quality PPF today is TPU, short for thermoplastic polyurethane. TPU stretches around curves, springs back after small impacts, and carries a self-healing top surface. Our clear film uses Lubrizol TPU resin with an acrylic adhesive, as listed on the clear gloss PPF product page.

You will also see TPH, a lower cost clear film. We sell both, and we explain how they differ in PPF, TPU and TPH: what each one does.

What does paint protection film do for a car?

PPF takes the small, constant damage that wears paint down. On our clear film page, that list covers:

• Rock chips and sand thrown up on the highway.
• Bug splatter, bird droppings and tree sap, which do not soak into the film.
• Light scratches and wash swirls, which fade out with heat from the sun or warm water.
• UV: 95 to 98% blocked, so paint under the film does not fade.
• Water and dirt, which bead off the hydrophobic top surface.

Here is the honest limit. PPF is a sacrificial layer, not armor. A key scratch that cuts through the film, a dent, or a big hit will still get to the panel, and self-healing only works on light marks in the top surface.

What types of PPF are there?

PPF comes in more looks than most people expect: clear films keep your paint color, and color films change it. Every row below comes from our live catalog.

Clear rolls come as full 1.52 m x 15 m rolls. Color PPF comes in 3 m, 6 m, 9 m and 15 m lengths, so you can buy just enough for a hood or mirrors. Browse all 49 color films in the color paint protection film collection.

Where does PPF go on a car?

You do not have to cover the whole car. Most owners start with the parts that face the road: front bumper, hood, fenders and mirrors. Rocker panels and the area behind the wheels take a beating too.

Edmunds points out that you can protect only the high-impact areas and that film goes on in sections, so a damaged panel can be replaced on its own. Their paint protection film guide is a good read if you are weighing full coverage.

How long does PPF last?

Our clear film page lists an expected service life of up to 8 years. Edmunds says modern film can last up to 15 years in ideal conditions, and most people can expect at least a decade. Garage parking and gentle washing push you toward the top of that range.

The old fear is yellowing. Our clear film scored a b value under 5 after 5,000 hours of accelerated QUV weathering, which your eye reads as still clear. We cover the causes in does PPF yellow.

How is PPF installed?

Clear PPF is a wet install. You spray a slip solution on the panel, float the film into place, then squeegee the water out. Most of our color PPF (33 of 49 films) is sold in both wet apply and dry apply versions, so you can pick the method you are comfortable with.

A hood, bumper or set of mirrors is a fair DIY job if you are patient and work in a clean space. For a full car, our clear film page says a professional installer is the safest route. The film is more forgiving than paint, but trapped dust shows through clear film.

Is PPF the same as a vinyl wrap or a ceramic coating?

No, they are three different products. A vinyl wrap is thinner film made to change color, and it offers little impact protection, while a ceramic coating is a liquid that adds gloss and water beading; as J.D. Power puts it, stones will still chip your paint. PPF is the one that takes the physical hit.

If you are torn between a wrap and film, our vinyl wrap vs PPF comparison walks through the choice.

Frequently asked questions

What does PPF stand for on a car?

PPF stands for paint protection film. It is a clear or colored urethane film, usually TPU, that sticks over the painted panels of a car. The film takes rock chips, bug acid and light scratches so the paint underneath does not.

What is a PPF wrap?

A PPF wrap is paint protection film applied panel by panel, the same way a vinyl wrap goes on. Clear PPF keeps your paint color and adds gloss. Color PPF changes the color and protects the paint in one film.

Is PPF a coating?

No. PPF is a solid film you can peel off, not a liquid that cures on the paint. People sometimes say "PPF coating", but a ceramic coating is a different product that adds gloss and water beading without stopping stone chips.

What does paint protection film do?

It absorbs the small impacts and stains that damage paint: rock chips, sand, bug splatter, bird droppings, tree sap and wash swirls. Our clear film also blocks 95 to 98% of UV and beads water. A light scratch in the top surface fades with heat.

How long does PPF last on a car?

Our clear PPF product page lists an expected service life of up to 8 years. Edmunds says most owners can expect at least a decade of protection from modern film. Sun exposure, washing habits and install quality decide where you land.