Dealership Coating vs Professional Ceramic Coating

What New Car Owners in Florida Need to Know Before Saying Yes

Buying a new vehicle often comes with a ceramic coating offer from the dealership. It’s pitched as an easy way to protect your paint before you ever drive off the lot.

What most owners are not told is that dealer ceramic coatings are fundamentally different from professional ceramic coatings — in durability, chemistry, application process, and long-term results.

This page explains those differences clearly, without hype.

Why Dealer Ceramic Coatings Sound Appealing

Dealership coatings are usually offered:

  • At the point of sale

  • Bundled into financing

  • Framed as “already applied” or “factory protected”

For many buyers, convenience wins.

The problem is convenience does not equal protection.

The Reality of Most Dealer Ceramic Coatings

Most dealer-applied coatings share several characteristics:

  • Applied quickly, often outdoors or in non-controlled environments

  • Little or no paint correction performed beforehand

  • Extremely thin application

  • Limited durability, despite optimistic claims

  • Often not true long-term ceramic coatings at all

In many cases, the product used would be considered a short-term sealant in a professional detailing environment.

Professional Ceramic Coating: What’s Different

A professional ceramic coating is not about speed or convenience — it is about permanence and control.

Professional application typically includes:

  • Thorough surface preparation and decontamination

  • Machine paint correction before coating

  • Controlled indoor application environment

  • Proper curing time

  • Verified coating chemistry and thickness

This difference in process dramatically affects how long the coating lasts and how it performs over time.

Before coating:

  • Surfaces are properly cleaned and decontaminated

  • Paint is refined where necessary to remove defects

  • Sensitive areas are handled with controlled processes

Ceramic coating preserves what’s underneath—it does not hide existing damage.

Dealership “Ceramic” Coating vs Professional Ceramic Coating

Compare a typical dealership add-on with a dedicated ceramic coating install at Miyagi Motorworks.

Typical dealership “ceramic” add-on Professional ceramic coating at Miyagi Motorworks
Category
Dealership “Ceramic” Package
Professional Ceramic Coating at Miyagi Motorworks
Product type
Often a generic spray-on or sealant marketed as “ceramic,” with limited real SiO₂ content.
True professional ceramic coatings from Dr. Beasley’s, with verified chemistry and performance.
Prep and paint correction
Usually a quick wash; little to no machine polishing. Swirls and defects stay locked under the coating.
Full decon and machine polishing to remove or reduce defects before coating, matched to your paint and goals.
Install environment
Often applied on the lot or in a busy service bay, with less control over lighting, dust, and humidity.
Installed in a controlled shop environment focused on lighting, cleanliness, and precise application.
Installer training
Porters or detailers who perform many different tasks, with limited coating-specific training.
Coating-focused installers who work with these products daily and follow strict SOPs for each step.
Time invested
Often 1–2 hours total, including a quick clean and application so the car can move to the next delivery.
Typically a full day or more devoted to correction, prep, coating, and curing for one vehicle.
Warranty and support
Warranty is handled through a third-party paperwork program; coverage can be confusing or hard to use.
Direct support from your installer plus Dr. Beasley’s backing, with clear expectations and maintenance plans.
Real-world durability
Often marketed as “5–10 years,” but in practice behaves more like a short-term sealant without proper prep.
Coatings are selected and installed to deliver real-world 1, 7, or 25-year performance, depending on the package and care.
Price vs value
Added to the finance office paperwork as a high-margin add-on, with limited explanation of what you are receiving.
Transparent packages with clear pricing, photos, and expectations so you know exactly what you are paying for.

Florida vehicles face:

  • Intense UV exposure

  • High heat

  • Humidity

  • Environmental fallout year-round

Short-term coatings and rushed applications break down quickly in these conditions, often failing long before the owner expects.

A professionally applied ceramic coating is built to withstand these variables over time.

Why Florida Makes This Decision More Important

Who Each Option Is Really For

Dealer coating may make sense if:

  • Convenience is the only priority

  • You plan to trade the vehicle quickly

  • Long-term durability is not important

Professional ceramic coating is the better option if:

  • You plan to keep the vehicle

  • You care about preserving paint condition

  • You want consistent protection — not temporary shine

The Bottom Line

Dealer ceramic coatings are marketed as protection, but they are rarely built for long-term ownership.

Professional ceramic coatings cost more because:

  • They take significantly more time

  • They involve proper surface preparation

  • They use true long-term coating chemistry

For new car owners who care about preserving their vehicle from the start, the difference becomes obvious over time.

Request A Ceramic Quote

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If you’re deciding how to protect your new vehicle and want a realistic recommendation based on your ownership goals, you can request a ceramic coating quote below.

No pushy sales. No inspections. Straight answers.