It depends on which coating
"Ceramic coating" covers everything from a spray that lasts a few months to Ceramic Pro Ultimate ION with a lifetime warranty. The number on the bottle is the product; the number you get is the product plus the prep plus how the car is washed.
Ceramic Pro packages, in order
- Sport: a season of protection, a good entry for a lease.
- Bronze and Silver: multi-year, the most common choice for a daily driver.
- Gold: longer term, more layers.
- ION: 7-year warranty.
- Ultimate ION: lifetime warranty.
Warranty terms and what they cover are on our warranty page. Staining from things left on the paint is not a coating defect and is not covered by any manufacturer, ours included.
What shortens it here
- Automatic brush washes. They abrade the coating faster than anything else.
- Harsh chemicals. Wheel acids, degreasers, "ceramic" sprays with solvents.
- Contamination left on. Love bugs and bird droppings should come off within a day, even on a coated car.
- Sprinklers. Reclaimed water leaves mineral spots; wipe them while fresh.
What makes it last
Two-bucket washes with pH-neutral soap, dry with a towel or blower, and an annual maintenance detail that decontaminates and tops the coating. Do that and the multi-year packages routinely go past their term.
