The starting number
Ceramic paint protection here starts from $700, and quality coating work in Australia typically runs between $700 and $2,000 including professional installation. That is a wide band for what sounds like one product, and the reason is simple: you are not really buying a coating. You are buying labour, and the amount of labour depends entirely on the state of your paint when it arrives.
What actually sets the price
The table below is the honest order of importance. The coating chemistry is near the bottom.
| Price driver | Effect on the quote | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Correction stages required | Largest single factor | One stage is a pass; two stages is roughly double the machine hours, plus taping and re-inspection |
| Paint condition on arrival | Large | Swirled, oxidised or previously rotary-buffed paint needs more cutting; straight near-new paint may need almost none |
| Vehicle size | Moderate | A dual cab or large SUV has far more panel area than a hatch, at every stage of the process |
| Coverage chosen | Moderate | Exterior only, versus exterior plus wheels and glass, versus full including interior |
| Coating system and layers | Small to moderate | Multi-layer professional systems cost more in product and add cure time between coats |
| Paint colour and hardness | Small | Dark colours show every defect so finishing standards are higher; hard ceramic clears cut slower |
| Decontamination load | Small | Heavy tar, rail dust or overspray adds hours before polishing can start |
The three coverage levels
Most quotes resolve into one of these, and they are the same three tiers offered on the original site.
- Exterior paint protection only. Painted panels coated. The cheapest way to get the core benefit, and the right choice if your wheels are simple and you do not mind cleaning glass the usual way.
- Complete exterior, including alloy wheels and glass. Adds wheel and glass coating. The extra cost is mostly labour for removing and decontaminating wheels, and it is where most people land.
- Full protection, including the interior. Adds leather, fabric and dash work — see interior protection. Worth it on new cars, light interiors and anything parked outdoors all day.
How to compare two quotes properly
Ask three questions and the difference usually explains itself.
- How many correction stages are included, and what is excluded? A quote with no correction line is a quote to seal your swirls in.
- How long will the car be with you? Real correction plus coating plus cure is one to three days. A same-day job has skipped something.
- Which coating product, and what does the manufacturer warrant? Named products with published durability ratings, such as Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra, can be checked. A quote that just says "9H ceramic" cannot.
What the price does not buy you
No amount of money spent on coating buys stone chip resistance, scratch resistance or hail protection. If that is the goal, redirect the budget to paint protection film on the front end and put a cheaper coating over the rest of the car. Spending $2,000 on a coating and then chipping the bonnet on the Hume in month two is a frustrating way to learn that.
The second thing it does not buy is freedom from washing. A coated car still needs a fortnightly pH-neutral wash, and using a brush car wash on it will undo the paint correction you paid for.
Getting a real number
Photos get you a range. An inspection under proper lighting gets you a price, because that is the only way to see what correction the paint needs. We quote after inspection, across the suburbs on our service areas page. Start on the contact page, or read the general FAQs first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does ceramic coating cost in Australia?
Between $700 and $2,000 for a quality product installed by a trained applicator is the realistic band, and Melbourne sits in line with that. Below $700 you are usually buying a consumer-grade sealant applied without correction. Above $2,000 you are generally paying for multi-stage correction, multi-layer coating systems, or a large vehicle.
Why is one quote half the price of another for the same coating?
Almost always because one includes paint correction and the other does not. Correction is measured in hours of machine work and it is the single largest labour item. Ask each quoter directly how many correction stages are included and how long the car will be with them. If the answer is one day for a swirled black daily, correction is not in there.
Is a ceramic coating worth the money?
It depends what you want from it. If you value easy washing, retained gloss and less etching damage over several years, the maths works, particularly on dark or metallic paint that lives outdoors. If you want protection from stone chips or scratches, it is the wrong purchase and paint protection film is what you are actually looking for.
Does a bigger car cost more to coat?
Yes, roughly in proportion to panel area. A dual cab ute or a seven-seat SUV has substantially more surface to decontaminate, correct and coat than a hatchback, and trays and roof rails add fiddly hand work. Expect a large vehicle to sit toward the upper end of any quoted range for the same level of correction.