10/07/2026
Here’s a before video showing improperly installed and unleveled low grade ceramic coating. Not all ceramic coatings are created equal… and installation matters. 👀
This vehicle was recently purchased from a dealership with a “ceramic paint protection” package. It didn’t take long for my client to realize something clearly wasn’t right.
The paint was covered in coating high spots, smearing, and an uneven, dull finish from a product that was never properly leveled. Whether this coating was previously applied by the dealer, the former owner, or somewhere else, the end result is a great example of what can happen when a ceramic coating isn’t installed correctly.
When my client brought the issue to the dealer’s attention, he was told, “Oh, that’s no problem. We can just wipe it off.”
That statement alone raises a red flag. A true cured ceramic coating doesn’t simply wipe off.
And that brings up something worth talking about…
Many dealership “paint protection” packages include what’s marketed as a ceramic coating, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re receiving the same type of professional ceramic coating service you would from a dedicated installer. In many cases, the protection being applied is a ceramic-infused spray sealant that can be installed very quickly.
I’ve had clients tell me they paid $1,000, $2,000, and even over $5000 dollars for these protection packages rolled into the purchase of their vehicle.
In this particular case, the product on the vehicle actually behaved more like a true coating that had been improperly installed and left unlevel—which makes me suspect it may have been applied before the dealership ever received the vehicle. Either way, correcting it became a much bigger and more costly process than simply “wiping it off.”
We had to compound and polish the entire exterior to remove the failed coating, along with white paint overspray that was also covering the vehicle. Once we got back down to a clean, properly prepared finish, we could finally correct the paint and protect it the right way.
The vehicle was then coated with Undrdog HCC, professionally installed and properly leveled to give the owner the finish and protection he was expecting in the first place.
Ceramic coating is only as good as the preparation and installation behind it.
Whether you’re considering doing it yourself or purchasing a dealership protection package, ask questions and know exactly what you’re paying for.
We’ll be sharing some pretty dramatic before-and-after shots from this one. 👀
The Detail Shop
Ceramic Coating & Paint Correction Specialist
