Inspect a new vehicle before choosing protection. Some new cars need only washing and condition-matched decontamination. Others have delivery marks, bonded contamination, or wash marring that may benefit from localized polishing or paint correction. Verify any dealer-applied product, then compare sealant and ceramic-coating options by the exact product, preparation, covered surfaces, written terms, maintenance, and price.
A new vehicle is a good time to create a condition baseline, but age alone does not determine the correct paint-protection service. The useful questions are what is already on the paint, what defects or contamination are actually present, how the vehicle will be used and maintained, and what protection scope fits the owner's priorities.
Some new vehicles arrive with a clean finish that needs little preparation. Others may show light wash marks, adhesive residue, transport-film edges, mineral deposits, isolated scratches, or bonded contamination. Those conditions vary by vehicle, storage, transport, and dealer preparation, so no responsible guide can say every new car has the same defects.
Inspect the paint in direct and angled light. Document any chips, scratches, stains, trim marks, or glass damage before additional work. Ask the dealer what was applied during preparation and keep the product name, invoice, warranty, and care instructions when available. That record helps a detailer choose compatible cleaning and preparation instead of guessing.
The preparation should follow the inspected condition and the selected protection. A typical evaluation can include:
Not every new car needs a clay bar, iron-removal treatment, or machine correction. Polishing removes a small amount of material, so the goal is the least aggressive process that safely supports the agreed appearance and protection—not an automatic correction because the odometer is low.
The seller type does not tell you whether a protection package is good or bad. Dealership and specialist packages can use different products, preparation, coverage, written terms, maintenance requirements, and claim procedures. Compare the documented scope rather than relying on the words “ceramic,” “paint protection,” or “lifetime.”
If a quote does not identify the product or covered surfaces, it is not yet comparable with a quote that does. Our dealer-versus-detail-shop coating guide provides a line-by-line checklist.
Detailing packages and ceramic coating are separate choices. The current detailing menu includes paint sealants, while ceramic coating is quoted from its own vehicle-class matrix after inspection.
| Package | What's Included | Sedan | Mid-Size | Large/Truck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Detail | Foam bath, hand wash, wheels and tires, 2–3 month paint sealant, interior vacuum, and surface wipe-down | $195 | $220 | $240 |
| Full Reset & Protect | Deeper interior cleaning, compatible surface treatments, condition-matched exterior decontamination, and 6-month paint sealant | $350 | $375 | $400 |
| Premium Detail | Everything in Full Reset & Protect plus machine paint correction to improve suitable clear-coat defects before ceramic sealant | $695 | $795 | $895 |
Ceramic coating currently starts at $799 / $899 / $1,099 for the 2-year tier, $1,299 / $1,399 / $1,499 for the 5-year tier, and $1,899 / $2,299 / $2,599 for the 10-year tier across sedan, SUV, and truck or large-SUV classes. The tier label identifies the selected service package; written maintenance terms apply, and no coating makes paint scratch-proof, chip-proof, water-spot-proof, or maintenance-free.
There is no universal first-week deadline. An early inspection can be useful because it documents the delivery condition and any dealer-applied product before months of normal use. Waiting does not automatically make protection impossible, and scheduling immediately does not eliminate the need for inspection or preparation.
Send the year, make, model, paint condition, storage and driving pattern, and any dealer protection records. Delicate Details can then confirm whether a detailing package, paint correction, ceramic coating, or simple maintenance plan fits the vehicle instead of forcing every new car into the same scope.
Send the vehicle and any dealer-protection records. We will inspect the finish and confirm the appropriate scope and current price before scheduling.
Request a Paint-Protection Quote →No. Inspect the paint first. Some new vehicles need only washing and condition-matched decontamination, while others may benefit from localized polishing or broader correction. Paint condition and the owner's appearance goal determine the preparation.
Compare the documented details before deciding. Ask for the exact product, preparation, covered surfaces, installer, written term, maintenance requirements, claim process, and installed price, then compare that scope with a specialist quote.
There is no universal first-week deadline. An early inspection can document the delivery condition and any dealer-applied products, but the protection choice should be based on the inspected finish, intended use, maintenance plan, and budget.
Essential Detail includes a 2–3 month paint sealant, Full Reset & Protect includes a 6-month paint sealant, and ceramic coating is a separate service starting at $799 for a sedan. Paint correction is selected only when inspection shows it is appropriate.
No. A ceramic coating can change water behavior and make some residue easier to remove, but it does not make paint scratch-proof, chip-proof, water-spot-proof, or maintenance-free.