New Car Protection: The First 90 Days
A new vehicle gives you the cleanest opportunity to protect the finish before years of washing, road contamination and environmental exposure accumulate. That does not mean the paint is perfect from day one — it still needs to be inspected, prepared and protected properly.
Earlier protection usually means less correction first.
New paint begins accumulating contamination and wash marks as soon as the car enters normal use.
Protecting the vehicle early means we are usually working with a cleaner starting point and fewer accumulated defects before ceramic coating is installed.
Our new-car package is designed for vehicles under three months old. Older vehicles can still be coated — they simply move into our Correct & Coat process, where preparation is based on the paint's existing condition.
The paint has already had a journey before you collect the keys.
Factory paint can arrive with more history than most owners realise.
Manufacturing, transport, storage, dealership handling and washing can all leave contamination or defects before the vehicle reaches its first owner.
That can include iron fallout, transport contamination, light wash marring, isolated sanding marks, water spotting or other imperfections.
Some new cars arrive exceptionally well. Others require more refinement. That is why we assess the actual paint rather than assuming a new car is automatically ready for coating.
It is a practical package window, not an expiry date.
Start with the paint as early as possible.
Early assessment gives us the opportunity to remove transport fallout, dealership wash marks or other light defects before they accumulate further.
Washing starts to matter immediately.
Poor wash technique can introduce light marring quickly, particularly on dark or sensitive clear coats.
Environmental contamination builds.
Road film, insects, bird and bat droppings, mineral deposits, tree fallout and other contamination begin affecting the surface as the vehicle is used normally.
Protection is still completely possible.
The vehicle simply moves out of the dedicated new-car package and into a Correct & Coat service where the preparation is tailored to its current paint condition.
The coating is only as good as the surface underneath it.
New-car protection still begins with decontamination and paint refinement.
Every vehicle is inspected to determine what the paint actually needs before the ceramic system is applied.
Wash and decontaminate
Road film, iron fallout, bonded contamination and transport debris are removed before machine work begins.
Correct what needs correcting
Paint is assessed and refined according to its condition rather than automatically receiving the same polishing process as every other car.
Prime the surface
The refined paint is prepared for the selected Gtechniq coating system before protection is installed.
Complete the vehicle
Paint, exterior trims, wheel faces, glass and suitable interior surfaces are protected as part of the package.
Inspect before handover
The coating is allowed to begin its initial cure before the finish is checked under studio lighting and the vehicle is prepared for collection.
Maintenance starts here
Aftercare guidance, warranty documentation and maintenance information are supplied so the protection can be looked after properly.
Same preparation. Choose the ceramic system.
Both current packages include complete new-car preparation and protection. The key difference is whether you choose Crystal Serum Light or professional-only Crystal Serum Ultra.
Crystal Serum Light
From $1,799 SUV / Wagon from $2,199 · American Truck from $2,599- Full wash and deep decontamination.
- Paint correction and refinement as required.
- Labocosmetica FIERO coating primer.
- Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light.
- Exterior trims protected.
- All four wheel faces coated.
- Glass cleaned and treated.
- Interior fabric and leather protection.
- Aftercare kit.
- 5-year Gtechniq manufacturer guarantee*.
Crystal Serum Ultra
From $2,299 SUV / Wagon from $2,699 · American Truck from $3,099- Full wash and deep decontamination.
- Paint correction and refinement as required.
- Labocosmetica FIERO coating primer.
- Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra.
- Exterior trims protected.
- All four wheel faces coated.
- Glass cleaned and treated.
- Interior fabric and leather protection.
- Aftercare kit.
- 9-year Gtechniq manufacturer guarantee*.
*Guarantee eligibility and coverage are subject to Gtechniq terms, registration, correct maintenance and applicable inspection requirements.
Add more slickness and water behaviour.
EXOv5 is an optional finishing layer over the Crystal Serum base coating.
Its role is to increase surface slickness, hydrophobic behaviour, dirt release and visual gloss while acting as the first sacrificial layer over the underlying ceramic coating.
It is not required for Crystal Serum to function, but it can be added when stronger water behaviour and a slicker finish are priorities.
Current EXOv5 upgrade: $299 Standard · $399 Large / SUV · $499 American Truck.
New-car protection is more than paint.
Gtechniq Ceramic
CSL or CSU is installed after preparation and paint refinement.
Wheel Armour
All four wheel faces receive dedicated wheel protection as part of the package.
Glass treatment
Exterior glass is cleaned and treated as part of the complete vehicle protection package.
Exterior trims
Exterior trim protection is included rather than leaving surrounding materials untreated.
Fabric and leather
Suitable interior fabric and leather surfaces are protected to help preserve the cabin from the beginning of ownership.
Handover and maintenance
Aftercare guidance, warranty documentation and a maintenance kit are supplied at collection.
Judge the product and process — not where it is sold.
The phrase "dealership paint protection" covers a wide range of products and installation standards.
Rather than assuming every dealer-applied product is good or bad, ask what product is being installed, who applies it, what preparation happens first, what surfaces are included and what warranty conditions apply.
At Quantum Detail, the difference is that ceramic coating is carried out as a dedicated detailing process: the paint is inspected, decontaminated, refined and prepared before the protection system is installed.
New-car protection can include both.
Ceramic coating and Paint Protection Film solve different problems.
Ceramic coating is designed for chemical resistance, gloss, surface behaviour and easier maintenance.
PPF is the product used when physical impact protection against stone chips and road debris is the priority.
For some new vehicles, a front-end PPF package combined with ceramic protection across the remaining surfaces provides the most complete protection strategy.
Build the right protection plan.
New car protection FAQs.
When should I ceramic coat a new car?
Earlier protection usually means less accumulated contamination and wash damage to address first. Quantum Detail's dedicated new-car protection packages are currently designed for vehicles under three months old.
Can you ceramic coat a car older than three months?
Yes. Older vehicles can absolutely be coated. They move into our Correct & Coat service, where the preparation is tailored to the current condition of the paint.
Does a new car need paint correction?
Not automatically. New vehicles are inspected first. Light transport marks, dealership wash marring, sanding marks or other defects are corrected where required before coating.
How much is new car ceramic protection?
Quantum Detail's current Essential Crystal Serum Light package starts from $1,799, while the Enthusiast Crystal Serum Ultra package starts from $2,299. Larger vehicles and American trucks are priced separately.
Is EXOv5 included in the new car packages?
EXOv5 is currently offered as an optional upgrade over the Crystal Serum base coating. It adds additional slickness, hydrophobic behaviour and dirt release.
Does ceramic coating protect against stone chips?
No. Ceramic coating does not provide meaningful physical impact protection against stone chips. Paint Protection Film is used where physical impact protection is required.