# "Paint protection" - scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493 "2013-04-12T12:41:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/1 "2013-04-12T12:41:15Z")
Just bought a new car from a reputable dealership. At the end of the process of negotiating the price, etc, they then do what seems to be a standard up-selling technique of trying to sell me “paint protection” for about $900. It is supposedly some chemical they coat the painted surfaces with to make the paint more resistant to stuff that is not friendly to it. Sounded like bullshit to me, and I said no. Was I right? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/2 "2013-04-12T12:54:22Z")
Paint protection products certainly exist ([cite](http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard_Paint_Protection/Film/)) - either as films that are stuck on, or polymer coatings that are sprayed on. Whether they were selling you one that is effective and represents value for money, who can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/3 "2013-04-12T13:32:25Z")
[Was it Trucoat?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5gwc4UizUc) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/4 "2013-04-12T13:58:17Z")
Car dealers used to regularly promote “rust-proofing” and “paint sealing” as add-ons at the time of new car sales. These come-ons don’t seem to be as aggressively marketed currently, since more consumers are aware that they add [little or nothing](http://ask.cars.com/2007/08/paint-sealant.html) to the protections done at the factory level. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/5 "2013-04-12T14:06:08Z")
“So the paint is defective as supplied from the factory,you didn’t tel me that before ,i think i don’t want the car now…” watch them backtrack fast! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/6 "2013-04-12T14:08:43Z")
Very little that dealers upsell is worth anything. None of it is necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/7 "2013-04-12T14:09:17Z")
Thanks, all. Figured as much. Unless it was going to make the paint hard as sapphire, I figured it would break down pretty quickly, and $900 was steep. Haven’t bought a car in quite a while, so I thought the same old “Do you want fries with that?” upselling bumf was a likely indicator of BS. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/8 "2013-04-12T14:14:22Z")
Same goes for the upholstery protection stuff Toyota dealers like to sell you. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/9 "2013-04-12T14:20:33Z")
My new car was in the showroom with the hood being used as the demo for paint protectant. Then they tried to sell me paint protectant and I thought “I already have plenty on the hood.” Months down the road I didn’t notice any difference between the hood and the rest of the bodywork. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/10 "2013-04-12T14:22:54Z")
I look forward to the spam from vendors of automotive paint protection. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/11 "2013-04-12T16:26:23Z")
Even the stuff is worth the money, how many cars did you get rid of because the paint was fading, or lay out the cash for a new paint job? The paint on cars is very durable and long lasting now, and will outlast the rest of your car. This is like buying an extra spare tire just in case the first one wears out from sitting in the trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/12 "2013-04-12T16:50:25Z")
Modern automotive paint is phenomenally durable. The only exceptions are when there are application or formulation problems - there are whole model years on which one or more colors peeled or faded. No paint treatment of any kind will cover this kind of failure - you’ll find that in the fine print under “ha ha ha.” I can’t think of a situation where adding another wipe-on layer of anything would improve durability, fade resistance, etc. or even significantly enhance gloss or crud resistance, other than as briefly as the stuff you use when you wash and detail the car. I have a 2007 Honda that must have been owned by either a dealer or one of the most gullible buyers around - it lacks no option and has every dealer upsell I can detect (glass etching, pinstripes, mud flaps, window screens, etc. and so forth). I bought it 3 years old and paid not one extra dime for the nav system, entertainment system or any upsold element, which probably represented $5-8,000 in original cost. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/13 "2013-04-12T17:16:43Z")
I bought a new car a few years ago and they pushed the paint protection because of acid rain. I said, “See that car out there? I’ve had it for 6 years and there is no evidence of paint damage from acid rain or anything else. I don’t need your paint protection.” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/14 "2013-04-12T17:46:44Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I bought a new car a few years ago and they pushed the paint protection because of acid rain. I said, “See that car out there? I’ve had it for 6 years and there is no evidence of paint damage from acid rain or anything else. I don’t need your paint protection.” It was a half-acid attempt to upsell you! ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/15 "2013-04-12T18:50:39Z")
In 1994 I had a car dealership try to sell me a maintenance package on a new car. The salesman said that it included things like greasing the car every oil change. I asked him “How many grease fittings are on that car?” He said “A lot.” I told him that if he could find one Zerk grease fitting on that car, I’d buy the maintenance package. Let’s just say that I didn’t buy the maintenance package, paint package, interior protect package, rust proofing; or extended warranty. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/16 "2013-04-12T20:42:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Even the stuff is worth the money, how many cars did you get rid of because the paint was fading, or lay out the cash for a new paint job? The paint on cars is very durable and long lasting now, and will outlast the rest of your car. This is like buying an extra spare tire just in case the first one wears out from sitting in the trunk. You clearly don’t live in Arizona. I’d say at least 10% (maybe more) of the cars out here have faded or peeling paint. My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has very, very badly oxidized paint, to the point that the clearcoat is completely gone in many spots. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/17 "2013-04-12T21:09:27Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > You clearly don’t live in Arizona. > I’d say at least 10% (maybe more) of the cars out here have faded or peeling paint. My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has very, very badly oxidized paint, to the point that the clearcoat is completely gone in many spots. Any data on the ones that have a $500 treatment applied, or those that are washed and waxed regularly? Or on specific models or year-models? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/18 "2013-04-12T21:19:00Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > You clearly don’t live in Arizona. > I’d say at least 10% (maybe more) of the cars out here have faded or peeling paint. My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe has very, very badly oxidized paint, to the point that the clearcoat is completely gone in many spots. I can see that happening there. Your cars don’t rust, so you probably get a much longer life from them. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/19 "2013-04-12T21:32:16Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Any data on the ones that have a $500 treatment applied, or those that are washed and waxed regularly? Or on specific models or year-models? Wouldn’t that be nice! Sounds like a job for Consumer Reports. I’ve never seen any studies done on the effectiveness of after-market paint protectors. I suspect they are a scam. I did have it done to my 1986 Mustang (it was called “Shine Factory”), and the paint held up very well, but it was garaged all of the time it wasn’t being driven. I’ve noticed that certain brands / paint colors / years of cars are much worse than others. For example the early 2000s Santa Fe (mine) is really bad, especially the Teal paint color - every one I see is faded exactly the same way (at the top of all the curved surfaces, where the sun hits it perpendicularly). ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-protection-scam/655493/20 "2013-04-12T22:13:18Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Car dealers used to regularly promote “rust-proofing” and “paint sealing” as add-ons at the time of new car sales. Don’t forget window etching. Some dealers tried to claim you wouldn’t qualify for an auto loan unless you bought that. Then there is the fabric protector that was no more effective than a $5 can of scotch guard.