Install Partial Car Paint Protection Film Quickly and Affordably

Paint protection film (PPF) is a thin polyurethane skin that’s applied to automotive paint to protect it from marks and scratches caused by debris on the road. If you recognize the benefits of installing paint protection film but don’t have the budget to cover your entire car, then partial coverage on the most exposed parts of your car is the next best thing!

PPF or clear bra, as it’s also known, lasts for up to 7 years and can be applied to the painted surface of a gloss or a matte paint finish vehicle. Rather than covering every painted surface of a vehicle with a clear bra, it’s more cost-effective to only cover the most vulnerable areas, such as the bumper, the fenders, the hood, side mirrors, or rocker panels. 

Intrigued to find out more? For a free estimate, contact Tinting Chicago today at  773-455-0467 or 312-212-0493.

Why only partially install PPF?

Paint protection films act as a sacrificial layer for a car’s paint.  This protective layer can be applied to any part of a vehicle to ensure that its paintwork remains as pristine as the day it rolled out of the car showroom. Certain parts of vehicles are more exposed to damage from road debris and environmental factors, these areas are generally on the front of a vehicle.  If you’re budget-restricted and reluctant to invest in whole vehicle protection, then why not just cover the front end or the most vulnerable areas of your car?

Type of damage partial clear bra protects against

• Light scratches from rock chips
• Acid rain
• Bug splatter
• Tree sap
• UV exposure (sun damage)
• Bird droppings

How much does partial PPF cost?

A partial car paint protection film costs between $500 and $2,500.  The exact cost depends on the following variables:

• Parts of the car covered
• Brand of PPF used
• Complexity of vehicle
• Skill of installer

Parts of a vehicle most commonly covered in partial PPF

• Hood
• Bumpers
• Fenders
• Side mirrors
• Door trips
• Wheel arches

Types of partial car paint protection?

Full front car paint protection

This includes the parts of the car you see when you’re looking at the car front on:

• Full hood
• side mirrors
• Front bumper
• Fenders
• Front edge of the roof

High Impact coverage

This includes areas of the vehicle’s surface that are impacted the most by flying debris on the roads:

• Full front
• Rocker panels
• Door edges
• Wheel arches

Selected vulnerable areas

You may want to just select one of two high-impact areas of your car to cover in PPF, such as the bumpers, door trims, or wheel arches.

Installation timeframes for partial paint protection films

One of the benefits of paint protection films is that they’re surprisingly quick to install if the job is undertaken by professionals. It takes 1-2 days to cover a whole car in a clear bra, therefore it takes between a couple of hours and half a day to just cover selected areas of a vehicle.

The lifespan of a partial clear bra

When correctly looked after, high-quality paint protection films last as long as 7 years. Car protection film requires no specific maintenance, but it is advisable to only hand wash a PPF covered vehicle and to avoid using abrasive cloths or brushes on the film.

‘Self-healing’ property of PPF

Clear bras are extremely durable and offer excellent rock chip protection for factory paint, however, flying rock chips and other debris will still create unsightly dents and marks in the top layer of your protective film. 

These days, many high-end protective films include ‘self-healing’ technology which means with the application of hot water or heat from a heat gun, the elastomeric polymers in the film help it remold back into its smooth, flat form.

Frequently Asked Questions