How to Prepare Your Car for a Ceramic Coating (Owner's Checklist)

Most of what determines how a ceramic coating turns out happens before the car ever gets to our shop. Nothing mysterious, just small habits people don't know about. Here's the exact checklist we send clients in the week leading up to their appointment.

The big rule: stop adding stuff to the paint

Every wax, sealant, spray detailer, and tire shine applied to your car is a layer we have to remove before ceramic can bond. That removal is part of the prep — iron decontamination, clay bar, and an isopropyl alcohol wipedown — and it takes longer when there's more to strip. A week of nothing on the paint saves 30-60 minutes of prep time and makes the bond stronger.

Why automatic washes are off-limits

Tunnel washes almost always apply some kind of hot wax or carnauba spray as part of the cycle. Touchless washes usually do the same. Even some gas-station car washes add a polymer sealant in the final stage. All of that has to come off. The week before your install, a rinseless wash at home or no wash at all is the move.

The rest is common sense

Beyond that, the prep list is short. Keep the car out of the weather if you can. Clean out the cabin if you don't want us moving your stuff around. Let us know about any aftermarket paintwork. Repainted panels correct differently than factory panels, and we just need to budget the time.

What happens when you arrive

We do a walkaround together, document existing damage (chips, deeper scratches, any paint we can't fully correct), confirm the tier and any add-ons, and issue a final written estimate. From there the car goes into the bay and you don't need to hear from us again until the install is complete — usually end of day two or morning of day three.