Do I need the full ceramic package?

You probably don't need the full package, depending on what the full package is. There are a wide range of coating products available, to protect virtually every area of your car. Different companies will bundle them together in different ways or offer them as extras. But you probably don't need them ALL in addition to the coating for your paintwork.

The Ceramic Coating

Firstly, let's acknowledge that the basic ceramic coating product can be applied to paintwork, plastic and glass. But just because it can, doesn't mean it will be included. Make sure you know what you are getting.

When we sell a ceramic coating, we will coat both glass and plastic lights as standard. We do not coat windows and wheels as standard, this is because we have special coatings for wheels, and not everyone wants their windows coated. Our customers will probably want their wheels done, but there are options.

We generally have special offers which mean you will get your wheels done at no extra cost anyway, but you can see how things start to get complicated, especially when comparing one company's services to another.

Helios Shield

This is a coating we provide which is thicker and more flexible than a standard coating. We can put this on the nose of your car, and it provides additional protection against small chips caused by bugs and stones. Other companies may offer similar products, and we would highly recommend this product, especially if you do many motorway miles.

Wheel Coatings

We have been recommending wheel coatings for over twenty years, long before ceramic coatings. Brake dust is very hard to clean from wheels, and any coating which can prevent it sticking is a god-send, as it will make cleaning them so much easier. A standard ceramic coating will help, and there are special ceramic coatings which are especially made to resist high temperature from hot brake dust. Some products go on once, others need to be reapplied. There is also the question of if you want the whole wheel done or just the face. We suggest you have a talk over your options, but a wheel coating is definitely something we would recommend.

Some companies that specialize in high-end cars will coat wheel callipers as standard. On some cars, the wheel callipers are a feature and are brightly coloured. In this case, they are worth coating, but for the majority of cars you can't even see them, you certainly aren't going to be putting in the effort to clean them, so there is little point in the extra expense of jacking up your car and removing the wheels to coat them. 

NOT CERAMIC!

The coatings that follow on this list, while they may be offered to you by a company which specializes in ceramic coatings, are not usually ceramic. They may be the same brand as your ceramic coating, but they are probably not ceramic coatings, and so are not anything particularly special or different to coatings that have been around for years. There may be some exceptions to this, some companies may offer products which do contain ceramic, but we cannot vouch for the efficacy of this. 

Some people get the impression that they are having their entire car coated in ceramic, but this is not the case. 

Leather Coating

The problem with leather is that if it becomes worn or gets a snag, it can be expensive to repair. There is also the problem of staining from things like hair gel or the dye in your blue jeans. If you have a leather interior, especially if it is light coloured, we would certainly recommend a leather coating. If you don't have a leather interior, you probably aren't going to need this.

Upholstery protector

Upholstery protectors provide a hydrophobic coating for your seats. How useful is it? In reality, not very, and the hydrophobic effect soon wears off. It does, however, prevent stains, which is far more useful on light coloured upholstery than on a black interior. We would only recommend this for specific reasons. The fabric on your car is usually made of plastics and not very prone to permanent stains. It will still get dirty and still need a clean periodically. If you have very light coloured seats, they can dry unevenly after a clean, and a protector can help with that. It might also be useful if you have animals or small children in the car. There are also products you may consider if your interior has Microsuede, Suedette, fuzzy-leather, or Alcantara.

Interior Plastic

This is probably the point in which we give you our top tip, and say that you should have a think about your last car. Everybody uses their car in a different way, some do short journeys, some do motorway miles. Some people are heavy on the brakes, some people have muddy boots. Cars have specific problems related to how their owners use them. If on your last car you got lots of stone chips, and you had black stains on your wheels, you may want to have Helios Shield and a wheel coating. So now cast your mind back and ask yourself if you had any specific problem on your last car that having your interior plastics would solve. 

You can have it done if you want, but it's not something we even have on our price list. With that said, if you happen to have a vintage Triumph Stag that has just been restored with new dashboard and walnut panels, there is plenty of good reason to protect it, and you could put a ceramic coating on it.

Cabriolet Fabric Protector

We absolutely recommend protecting the fabric on your cabriolet hood, although on a brand-new car it will probably have a protector already on it. So if you have a brand-new car, you will probably not need this.

On a used car, we definitely will need it, and we believe it to be very important.

Can you do better?

We believe so. There are companies that specialize in coatings for fabric and leather who have their own products which may be better. For example, Renovo's products for cabriolet hoods are superior to the spray on protectors from ceramic coating brands. On the other hand, GTechniq's leather protector is one of the best on the market.

What do you need?

If you are offered a good deal on a full package, then you may as well take it, but otherwise, have a think about your last car, have a think about its problems and consider what you actually need. You really don't need it all, and there should be opportunity to save money.

What this question is really about

When people ask if they need the full ceramic package, they are usually trying to avoid paying for more than their car, usage, or ownership plans actually justify. The concern is whether a reduced option means compromising protection in a meaningful way.

When a full package makes sense

• You plan to keep the car long-term
• The car is used daily and exposed to heavy contamination
• You value easier cleaning across the whole vehicle
• You want consistent protection and appearance everywhere

When you may not need the full package

• Short-term ownership or lease vehicles
• Cars that are lightly used or garaged most of the time
• Situations where paint protection is the main priority
• Budgets better spent on preparation rather than coverage

Why paint preparation often matters more than coverage

The quality of preparation and correction has a bigger impact on the final result than how many areas are coated.

• Well-prepared paint looks better and stays better
• A smaller package with proper prep often outperforms a rushed full package
• Protection locks in the condition it is applied over

Common misconceptions

• “Full package means maximum protection” - protection must match use.
• “Skipping areas is risky” - not all areas need the same treatment.
• “More coating equals better value” - value depends on relevance.

How to decide sensibly

• Start with how long you’ll keep the car
• Prioritise areas that are hardest to clean or most exposed
• Ask what benefit each additional coating actually gives you
• Choose preparation quality over maximum coverage

Best-practice takeaway

• You don’t automatically need the full ceramic package
• The right level depends on use, ownership length, and priorities
• Paint preparation matters more than coating everything
• A targeted approach is often the most cost-effective choice

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 16/01/2026 16:16