Congratulations on your new car! There’s nothing quite like that feeling of driving off the lot in a vehicle that’s shiny, pristine, and completely yours. But here’s the thing — the world outside that dealership is not exactly kind to your car’s fresh paint job. Rocks, bugs, UV rays, road debris — they all pose a threat to your car’s appearance. That’s where Clear Bra comes in.
Clear Bra, also known as Paint Protection Film (PPF), is one of the smartest investments you can make as a new car owner. Let’s dive into why it’s so important to get it installed ASAP and how it’ll save you from future headaches down the road.
What is Clear Bra?
You’ve probably heard of Clear Bra or PPF, but what exactly is it?
Clear Bra is a virtually invisible urethane film applied to the exterior of your car. It’s designed to shield your vehicle from everyday hazards like rock chips, scratches, and even UV damage. Think of it as a clear shield that takes the brunt of damage while your car’s paint stays flawless underneath.
The Magic of Self-Healing PPF
One of the coolest things about Clear Bra is its self-healing properties. That means if you get minor scratches or swirl marks, the film can heal itself at ambient temperatures or with just a little bit of heat. Even the warmth of the sun can activate this feature, making scratches disappear like magic.
It may seem too good to be true, but our favorite demonstration is to take a metal wire brush, scrub it really well on some Clear Bra, and then watch it vanish right before your eyes!
Super Hydrophobic, Super Easy Clean
Unless you're a detailing enthusiast, washing your car is usually kind of a pain. Automatic washes never seem to actually clean your car and can do more harm than good, the hose and bucket method takes forever to really get all the grime off, and paying for a professional wash or detailing can get expensive really quick!
Luckily, Clear Bra is super hydrophobic, meaning it repels water and lets it roll right off. This also means that dirt and grime have a much harder time sticking to Clear Bra when compared to your paint, so cleaning is a breeze! Most of the time, a good rinse with water or a wipe down with a waterless wash or detail spray is more than enough to have your car in tip top shape again.
Peace of Mind with a Lifetime Warranty
Unfortunately, Clear Bra still has a bit of a bad connotation for some people, but let me put any of your worries to rest. Most of us are pretty familiar with the cracked, faded, and yellowed PPF that you'll find on cars from the 2000's, but this is entirely a non-issue with any modern Clear Bra option.
Clear Bra technology and the manufacturing process has advanced significantly since the early days, and all of those failure points have been ironed out. We now offer Clear Bra that comes with a minimum of a 7 year warranty, but our staple film that we use for everyday jobs actually comes with a lifetime warranty against cracking and yellowing.
Protection From Everyday Hazards
You might be thinking, "I’m careful with my car, I won’t need this." But here’s the reality: no matter how cautious you are, everyday driving is full of hazards. And, let’s face it, the longer you wait to protect your car, the higher the chances of it getting damaged.
Rock Chips and Road Debris
Even the best maintained roads are still covered in rocks, gravel, and other debris, and if you've been in Colorado for any amount of time, you know we don't have the best roads.
Although Colorado no longer uses solid deicers during the winter, years of use have left tons of debris on just about every major road. Let's also not forget all the big storms we have that blow dirt and sand everywhere, making our roads some of the toughest to keep our cars in good shape!
If you’re driving behind a truck or SUV, good luck avoiding those flying projectiles! PPF acts as a protective barrier, absorbing the impact and preventing those dreaded rock chips that can lead to rust or expensive paint repairs.
Bug Splatter and Bird Droppings
If you’ve ever parked under a tree or driven through a swarm of bugs, you know how quickly your clean car can turn into a mess.
Bug splatter and bird droppings are more than just annoying; they’re acidic and can permanently damage your paint if left for too long. If not removed quickly, the acid can eat into the clear coat and cause etching, which looks like a dull spot wherever the splatter or droppings were.
Although it's usually repairable with a paint correction, why spend the money at all when you could be protected in the first place? Clear Bra shields your car from these natural chemicals, so even if you can’t get to a car wash right away, your paint stays safe.
Preserving Your New Car’s Resale Value With Clear Bra
Let’s talk dollars and cents for a minute. You may not be thinking about selling your car right now, but when the time comes, the condition of your paint will play a huge role in how much you can get for it.
Clear Bra keeps your car looking as good as the day you bought it. And that fresh look? It translates to higher resale value. Potential buyers will notice if a car’s exterior is full of chips, scratches, or fading, and will typically want to negotiate a lower price as a result. With PPF, you won’t have to worry about these issues because the film protects against them.
Even if you don't have an enthusiast car or a luxury vehicle, a 10+ year old car with great looking paint can easily sell for 20-30% higher than the same vehicle with scratches, chips, and fading paint.
The Long-Term Cost Savings of Clear Bra
Here’s another thing a lot of new car owners don’t realize: PPF can save you a lot of money over time. Sure, installing Clear Bra comes with an upfront cost, but compare that to the potential costs of fixing damaged paint, and it’s easy to see why it’s worth it.
Avoiding Expensive Paint Repairs
A decent paint job to fix scratches or chips can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000. It may seem like you may only need to get the hood repainted if you've gotten significant rock chip damage, but it's nearly impossible to get a perfect paint match to the factory paint. Many times, the surrounding panels will also need to be painted in order to blend the new paint with the old.
With PPF, you avoid those costs because the film is what takes the hit — not your paint.
Avoid Replacing Panels
Sometimes if the damage is extensive enough, you'll need to replace entire panels. The more cost effective route is to find an existing panel from a donor car, but even those are likely to still have damage if they weren't clear bra'd as well!
Unfortunately, if you can't find a donor panel, then the only other option is to purchase a brand new panel, and unless you go the more expensive route through the dealer for an OEM part, most aftermarket options don't come pre-painted. It all just adds up to one big, expensive headache that could be prevented entirely with PPF!
Avoid Paint Corrections
Outside of chips from driving, UV damage causes your clear coat to fade, and improper cleaning techniques can leave your paint swirled and scratched. While these won't typically result in rust, it still leaves your car looking overly aged and can cost thousands of dollars for a professional paint correction.
With Clear Bra, you can avoid paint fade, swirls, and scratches altogether! Clear Bra contains UV inhibitors to protect your paint from harmful UV rays, and provides a thick, physical barrier that protects your paint from scratches and swirls.
Why Install PPF Right After Buying a New Car?
You might be tempted to wait a few months before installing PPF, but trust me — the sooner, the better. The longer your car is exposed to the road without protection, the more likely it is to sustain damage. That's why a lot of dealerships will actually pre-install Clear Bra, but it's usually a very small amount with a hefty up-charge.
Even a short road trip can leave you with chips, scratches, or other unsightly marks. And once your paint is damaged, it will need to be fixed before Clear Bra can be applied, which means extra costs and delays.
We know it's not feasible nor reasonable to trailer a brand new vehicle from the dealership straight to us to install your PPF. If you plan ahead of time though, you can greatly reduce the time between purchase and installation, giving your vehicle the best chance to avoid paint damage.
Clear Bra vs. Ceramic Coating: What’s the Difference?
We get asked this question a lot: Should I get PPF or ceramic coating? The answer really depends on your goals.
Clear Bra (PPF): Provides a physical barrier that protects against chips, scratches, and dings.
Ceramic Coating: Creates a hydrophobic layer that makes your car easier to clean and adds a deep gloss, but it doesn’t offer the same level of physical protection.
There are definitely many features that overlap (hydrophobic, UV protection, scratch resistance/protection), but the key takeaways are PPF is an actual barrier that prevents impact damage, and ceramic coatings mainly protect from chemical damage and light surface scratches.
For the ultimate protection, many of our customers choose to combine both. Clear Bra is installed on on high-impact areas like the front bumper and hood, while ceramic coating is applied over the rest of the car. This combo gives you the best protection for the cost and makes maintenance a breeze.
What Areas of Your Car Should You Cover?
You don’t necessarily need to wrap your entire car in PPF, but if you're looking for the absolute best protection and aren't limited by budget, full coverage can't be beat. For most people however, targeting high-impact areas is the smartest and most cost-effective way to go.
Key Areas to Protect:
Front Bumper & Hood: Your front bumper is the lowest and most front facing part of your vehicle which takes the vast majority of the impacts from road debris. Hoods are often pretty low as well and the front edge is particularly susceptible, to damage.
Side Mirrors: Although pretty high up from the ground, since they stick out so far from the vehicle, they tend to catch a lot of debris, especially bugs.
Fenders: The entire fender isn't usually in much of a danger zone, but the front fender tips often point inwards towards the center of the vehicle. These areas are just as vulnerable as areas of the bumper.
Door Edges & Door Cups: You typically won't end up with rock chips in these areas, but opening your door, or reaching for the door handle with your keys can definitely cause some damage. Repeatedly grabbing the door handle causes scratches in the door cup just from your fingernails over time!
Starting with these areas provides excellent protection without breaking the bank. Our most popular packages cover these areas in varying degrees, so ask us about our Basic or Ultimate PPF packages!
Why Professional Installation Matters
Now, let’s talk about installation. Clear Bra isn’t something you want to DIY. We have the experience and tools to ensure the film is applied perfectly, without bubbles, misalignments, or visible seams. For the majority of jobs, we utilize computer aided plotters that cut out the film to the perfect dimensions of your vehicle's panels. For everything else, our certified installers are trained cut the film without marking your vehicle in any way.
DIY kits might seem tempting because they’re cheaper, but we’ve seen a lot of DIY jobs that end up costing more to fix. Cut paint, trapped debris, miss-cuts and lacking coverage can all lead to further paint damage. Potential installation issues aside, most manufacturers will only honor the warranties if the film is installed by a certified installer.
Conclusion: Protect Your Investment Today
Your new car is a significant investment, and it deserves the best protection available. Having Clear Bra installed gives you peace of mind knowing your car’s paint is shielded from everyday hazards like rocks, bugs, and scratches. It also preserves your car’s resale value and saves you money on future repairs.
So don’t wait until you see the first scratch — get Clear Bra installed now, and enjoy the road ahead without worry!
If you’re ready to protect your new car with Clear Bra, contact us or drop by the shop! We’ll make sure your car stays looking as perfect as the day you drove it off the lot.