Why Does One Ceramic Coating Cost $500 and Another Cost $1,300?

Why Proper Preparation, Paint Correction, and Curing Make the Difference.

What You Are Really Paying for When You Choose a Professional Ceramic Coating

The Ceramic Coating Is Only Part of the Job

The bottle of ceramic coating is not what takes most of the time.



Preparing the vehicle correctly does.

At Legion Detailing, a ceramic coating starts with a thorough wash and decontamination process. This can take around 2 to 3 hours before polishing even begins.

The paint is then inspected under proper lighting and corrected.

Even on a brand new vehicle, we commonly spend around 8 to 12 man hours polishing the paint before applying the coating.

Used vehicles can require 12 to 20 hours depending on their condition.

After correction, we still need to prepare the surface, apply the ceramic coating, inspect every panel, and allow the coating to begin curing.

The coating and inspection process itself can take another 3 to 5 hours.

When you add everything together, there can easily be well over 10 hours of actual work involved in a professional ceramic coating installation.

What Happens With a $500 Ceramic Coating?

A lower priced ceramic coating is not automatically bad.



The question is what is actually included.

If someone is charging $500 for an entire vehicle, there simply is not enough room in that price to spend 10 to 20 hours correcting and preparing the paint.

Something has to be different.

The vehicle may receive a basic wash followed by a quick coating application. Paint correction may be skipped completely. Decontamination may be limited. The installer may also be trying to complete several vehicles in a day.

If that is clearly explained to the customer, there is nothing wrong with offering a basic service.

The problem is when that service is presented as being the same thing as a full professional ceramic coating installation.

They are not the same process.

Ceramic Coating Does Not Remove Scratches

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about ceramic coating.



Ceramic coating does not remove scratches, swirl marks, water spots, or other paint defects.

If you coat over damaged paint, those defects are still underneath the coating when you are finished.

That is why paint correction is included with every ceramic coating package we offer.

On our new car specials, we typically perform a one step correction over the vehicle. If we find an area that needs a heavier cut, we will address that area as part of the process.

What we generally do not include in the new car special is a full two step correction over the entire vehicle.

The goal is to make the paint look as good as possible before we lock that finish in underneath the coating.

Brand New Cars Still Need Paint Correction

A new vehicle does not necessarily mean perfect paint.



Cars are transported, stored outside, washed at dealerships, moved around lots, and handled by multiple people before the owner ever takes delivery.

We regularly see brand new vehicles with swirl marks, water spots, light scratches, adhesive residue, and other small defects.

Some are in very good condition and need only light polishing.

Others need significantly more work.

This is another reason it is difficult to give every vehicle the exact same ceramic coating process.

We inspect the paint and correct what actually needs to be corrected.

What Does Our $1,300 Starting Price Include?

Our standard ceramic coating package starts around $1,300 for a sedan.



Pricing generally increases around $100 as the vehicle gets larger.

That starting price covers the painted surfaces of the vehicle along with the preparation and paint correction required before the coating is applied.

Wheels, windows, and leather are available at an additional cost.

We also offer new car ceramic coating specials starting around $1,000. Those packages include the paint, wheels, and windows. Leather can also be added.

One of the professional coatings we use is GYEON Infinite EVO.

We generally tell customers to expect around 5 to 7 years of performance with proper care. GYEON also offers an Infinite Warranty program for qualifying installations that can extend coverage beyond the initial five year period when its maintenance requirements are followed.

The coating matters, but we still believe the preparation underneath it is just as important.

Why We Do Not Offer Same Day Ceramic Coatings

Our ceramic coating vehicles usually stay with us for around two days.



One reason is simply the amount of work involved.

Another is curing.

After Infinite EVO is applied, we want the vehicle to remain dry for at least the first 12 hours.

GYEON also instructs that its EVO coatings should be protected from water during the first 12 hours after application.

That is a big reason we do not apply the coating and immediately send the vehicle back out into the rain.

The installation is not finished simply because the coating has been wiped onto the paint.

It needs time to cure.

A Poor Prep Job Can Cause the Coating to Fail Early

Ceramic coatings need a properly prepared surface to bond correctly.



If oils, old waxes, contamination, polishing residue, or other products remain on the paint, they can interfere with the coating.

Rushing the preparation can also leave high spots, uneven application, or areas where the coating does not perform properly.

This is one of the reasons some customers believe ceramic coating does not work.

Sometimes the problem is not ceramic coating itself.

The problem is how it was installed.

Proper washing, decontamination, polishing, surface preparation, application, and curing all matter.

Skipping those steps saves time, but it can also shorten the life of the coating.

Is a $500 Ceramic Coating a Scam?

Not necessarily.



There are situations where a customer may simply want an entry level coating with minimal paint correction.

If the shop clearly explains that, there is nothing wrong with offering it.

The problem is comparing that service directly to a ceramic coating package that includes hours of decontamination, paint correction, preparation, coating, curing, and inspection.

The name may be the same.

The service is not.

When comparing prices, ask what is actually included before deciding which quote is more expensive.

Questions to Ask Before Booking a Ceramic Coating

Before choosing a ceramic coating shop, find out how the vehicle will be prepared.



Ask whether paint correction is included.

Ask how long they expect to have the vehicle.

Ask what ceramic coating they are installing and how long it is designed to last.

Ask whether wheels and windows are included or priced separately.

Most importantly, ask what happens between dropping the vehicle off and applying the coating.

If the answer is basically “we wash it and coat it,” you now know why the price may be lower.

Ceramic Coating in Orland Park

Legion Detailing provides professional ceramic coating and paint correction in Orland Park, Illinois.



Our focus is not getting the vehicle coated as quickly as possible.

We want the paint properly cleaned, corrected, prepared, coated, and given enough time to begin curing before it leaves our shop.

That process takes more time, but it is also what you are paying for.

If you are comparing ceramic coating prices around Orland Park, give us a call. We are happy to explain exactly what is included and help you decide what makes sense for your vehicle.

Contact Legion Detailing in Orland Park for a ceramic coating estimate.

Call or text 708 497 9225.