Is ceramic coating cheaper on a new car?

Often, yes. A new car usually needs less paint correction than a second-hand one, because it hasn't built up years of swirls and wash marks. That said, new cars are not always perfect. Paint can pick up marks in transport and at the dealership, so we still inspect and polish as needed. The final price reflects how much work your paint actually needs.

Can I pay for the coating and skip paint correction?

Our exterior packages include 1 to 3 stages of paint correction because the coating needs a clean, smooth surface to bond to and look its best. Coating over swirls seals them in and makes them more obvious in sunlight. If your paint is already in very good condition, we may only need a light enhancement stage, which keeps the work and cost down.

Do you charge extra to come to me?

No. Preema is a mobile service, and there are no call-out fees for coming to your home or workplace across Melbourne. Our vans carry the equipment we need to do the job on site. We also have a workshop in Cheltenham, available by appointment, if that suits you better.

Is the $400 second layer necessary?

It isn't essential. One layer of Gtechniq CSL over properly corrected paint carries the 5 year protection on its own. The second layer is an optional extra for owners who want more coating on the paint, often because the car is parked outside, does long highway trips or works hard. We can talk through whether it suits your car when we quote.

Why won't you give me an exact price over the phone?

Because the biggest variable is the condition of your paint, and that's hard to judge without seeing it. Photos help, but swirls and light scratches often only show under direct light. A quick inspection lets us measure paint depth, check for damage and give you a firm figure, so there are no surprises on the day.

Ceramic coating price Melbourne guide

A professional ceramic coating at Preema starts from $495 for an interior-only package, $1,095 for an exterior coating with paint correction, and $1,295 for interior and exterior together. If you're comparing ceramic coating price Melbourne quotes, those figures sit in the normal range for a properly prepared Gtechniq job, and the final price depends on your car's size and condition.

The bigger question is why quotes for the same car can differ by hundreds of dollars. Most of the answer is preparation, not the bottle of coating. Below we break down where the money goes, what our ceramic coating packages include, and how to tell a fair quote from one that skips steps.

What actually goes into the cost

Applying a coating is the quick part. The work that takes skill and time happens before the coating ever touches the paint, and that is where most of your money goes.

Washing and decontamination

The car is hand washed, then treated to remove bonded contaminants such as iron fallout, tar and tree sap. A clay bar lifts whatever the wash leaves behind so the surface feels glass-smooth. Skip this and the coating bonds to grime instead of clear coat.

Paint correction

This is the largest share of the labour. A coating locks in whatever is underneath it, so swirls, wash marring and light scratches need to be polished out first. A near-new car may only need a single-stage enhancement, while a second-hand car with years of automatic car wash marks can need two or three stages.

Before any polishing, we measure paint depth so we know how much clear coat there is to work with. You can read more about the process on our paint correction page.

The coating products

Professional coatings cost more than retail products and are only sold to trained installers. We use Gtechniq, a UK brand whose professional range is not available off the shelf. Our exterior packages use Gtechniq CSL on paint, Clear Vision Smart Glass on windows and mirrors, and Wheel Armour on all four rims, with 5 year protection.

Time and experience

Machine polishing is a skill. Too little and the swirls stay, too much and you thin the clear coat more than you need to. Experienced installers read the paint as they go and adjust pads and polishes panel by panel, which takes longer than a one-size approach but gives a cleaner, safer result.

Ceramic coating price Melbourne breakdown by package

Here is what each Preema package covers. Every price is a starting point, and we confirm the final figure before any work begins.

Interior only, from $495: Gtechniq protection for leather, vinyl, plastics and fabric.
Diamond exterior, from $1,095: 1 to 3 stage paint correction, Gtechniq CSL on paint, Clear Vision Smart Glass on windows and mirrors, and Wheel Armour on all four wheels.
Signature interior and exterior, from $1,295: everything in the Diamond exterior package plus the interior coating.
Optional second layer of Gtechniq CSL: $400.

Every coating comes with free Australian-made aftercare products, so you have the right shampoo and care products from day one. We're mobile, so there's no call-out fee for coming to your home or workplace.

Why vehicle size and condition change the quote

A large four-wheel drive or people mover has far more panel area than a small hatch. More surface means more time washing, decontaminating, polishing and coating, and more product used.

Condition matters even more. Two cars of the same model can need very different amounts of correction. A garaged car that has only ever been hand washed might need one light polishing stage. One that has lived under a gum tree and been through automatic washes for years may need heavier cutting and refining to get a clean result.

These are the signs that usually mean more correction time:

Swirl marks that show up under sunlight or petrol station lights
Dull, hazy paint on the roof and bonnet
Bird dropping etching or water spots that won't wash off
Light scratches around door handles and the boot lip

This is why we give you a firm price after seeing the car, rather than a guess over the phone.

What cheap coating quotes often leave out

A low quote is not automatically a bad one, but it is worth asking what is missing. The coating can carry the same name on the bottle and still deliver a very different result depending on the work done around it.

No paint correction, or a quick one-step polish described as correction
A consumer spray product sold as a ceramic coating
Paint only, with no protection for glass, wheels or the interior
No paint depth readings before machine polishing
No aftercare advice or products, so the coating wears faster

If a quote seems well below the others, ask for a list of exactly what is included. A coating applied over swirls will seal those swirls in and make them shinier, which is the opposite of what most people are paying for.

It also pays to check who is doing the work. A business with a long track record and genuine reviews has more to lose from a rushed job than someone selling coatings on the side.

How to compare quotes fairly

Put each quote side by side and check the same points. It's the quickest way to check you are comparing like with like.

Which coating brand and product goes on the paint, glass and wheels
How many stages of paint correction are included for your car
Whether the price is fixed after inspection or likely to grow
What protection period the manufacturer states for the product
What aftercare products and instructions you receive
Whether the installer comes to you or you need to drop the car off

A good installer will happily answer all of these. If the answers are vague, that tells you something too.

How coating compares with wax and sealants on cost

A wax or spray sealant costs less up front, but it needs reapplying regularly. A traditional wax might last a matter of weeks to a couple of months, and a synthetic sealant a few months, so the cost and effort repeat all year.

A ceramic coating costs more on day one but is designed to protect for years with the right care. Many owners find they spend less on products and less time washing, because dirt rinses off more easily. If you already pay for regular waxing, it's worth adding up what that costs over five years. For a new car, our guide to the best paint protection for new cars compares the main options.

Is the higher package worth paying for?

For most people, the Signature package makes sense when the interior gets heavy use, such as with kids, pets or light coloured leather. If the cabin is mostly empty and easy to keep clean, the Diamond exterior package covers the parts that face the weather.

The second CSL layer is worth considering for cars that live outside or cover a lot of highway kilometres, because it adds more coating to the paint. If you're still deciding whether to coat at all, our guide on whether ceramic coating is worth it walks through the pros and cons. To plan ahead, see how long a ceramic coating lasts and what keeps it performing.

Get an exact price for your car

The fastest way to a real number is a quick look at your car. Send us a few photos or book a free inspection, and we'll tell you how much correction is needed and what the package will cost. We come to you across Melbourne, with no call-out fee. Request your free quote and we'll get back to you.

Ceramic coating price Melbourne: what you pay and why it varies