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! 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. It 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 prone to damage from road debris, scratches, and environmental factors.
If you’re budget-restricted and reluctant to invest in whole vehicle protection, why not just cover the front end or the most vulnerable areas of your car?
PPF or clear bra lasts for up to 7 years and can be applied to the painted surface of a gloss or a matte paint finish vehicle. It’s more than reasonable only to cover the most vulnerable areas, such as the bumper, the fenders, the hood, side mirrors, or rocker panels.
Common damage that partial PPF will protect your car from
- Light scratches
- Acids
- 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
- The brand of PPF used
- Complexity of vehicle
- Skill of installer
Parts of a vehicle most commonly covered in partial PPF
Types of partial car paint protection
Front car paint protection
- Full hood
- Side mirrors
- Front bumper
- Fenders
- The front edge of the roof
High impact coverage
- 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 a couple of hours and half a day to 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 only to hand wash a PPF-covered vehicle and to avoid using abrasive cloths or brushes on the film. Only top brands in the industry can guarantee the quality of their PPFs. At Tinting Chicago, we work with XPEL, which manufactures one of the strongest, most durable films with ultimate protective properties.
“Self-healing” property of the 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 surface.
Asked Questions See more
A vehicle’s paint isn’t damaged at all when paint protection film is removed, so long as it’s done carefully, using the correct tools. Once a vehicle has been washed down following removal, there will also be no traces of acrylic adhesive left on the original paint.
Applying a ceramic coating to paint protection film won’t damage it in any way and the ceramic coating will still form a hydrophobic layer making washing and drying your vehicle a whole lot quicker.
No, even PPF with ‘self-healing’ properties won’t be able to heal existing scratches, only protect from future damage. To guarantee the best possible finish, it’s advisable to get any damage to your paintwork repaired before you install a clear bra on your paintwork.