Tesla PPF, Ceramic Coating & Window Tint in Tacoma, WA

A new Tesla looks perfect for about a week. Then the first trip down I-5 behind a gravel truck leaves a few small white dots on the hood, and you start noticing them every time you walk up to the car.

At Gloss & Glory Auto Protection & Detailing in Tacoma, we protect Teslas with three services that do three different jobs: paint protection film for chips, ceramic coating for gloss and easier washing, and window tint for heat and glare. Below is what each one does on a Tesla, what it costs to start, and where you can skip something.

Paint Protection Film for Your Tesla

Tesla paint has a reputation for being soft and thin, and most owners find out the hard way. Chips show up fast, and on some colours a touch-up never quite blends in.

Paint protection film (PPF) is a clear urethane layer applied over the paint. A stone that would have chipped the paint hits the film instead.

Where Teslas chip first

The front bumper and the nose. It meets the road first, so it takes most of the damage.
The frunk lid. On a Tesla the hood is the frunk, and its leading edge chips early.
Headlights and mirror backs.
Rocker panels and the lower doors. Tyres throw grit and road debris back along the sides, especially on wet roads.
Behind the rear wheels. The rear quarters take spray and pebbles from the rear tyres.

Which package fits your Tesla

Partial Front, from $2,000. Covers the highest impact areas at the front. A sensible choice for a Model 3 or Model Y that mostly does city driving.

Full Front, from $2,500. Covers the full front end, so there is no film edge sitting across the middle of the frunk lid. This is what we would point most Model Y and Model 3 owners towards if they spend real time on the highway. On a larger Model S or Model X the front end is bigger, so the quote reflects that.

Track Package, from $3,000. Adds the rockers and other high wear areas.

Full Body, from $7,000. The most coverage, for owners who want the whole car protected.

These are general starting prices. Your exact quote depends on the model and how much of the car you want covered.

One more option to ask about: matte or satin finish film, if you want to change the look of a gloss car while protecting it at the same time.

Ceramic Coating for Teslas

A ceramic coating bonds to the paint and adds a hard, glossy, water repelling layer. On a Tesla it makes the paint easier to keep clean, helps against water spots, bird droppings and tree sap, and brings out the colour.

It does not stop rock chips. That is the job of PPF.

We use FeynLab coatings, in three packages:

Silver, from $799
Gold, from $1,199
Platinum, from $1,599

Higher packages give longer lasting protection. As with film, Tesla size and model can change the quote, so ask for one for your car.

Coating can go over PPF too, so many owners film the front and coat the whole car.

Window Tint and the Tesla Glass Roof

Model 3 and Model Y owners usually ask about window tint after their first sunny afternoon. The large glass roof lets in a lot of sun, and the cabin warms up fast while the car sits in a parking lot.

Our tint packages start at:

Front Two Windows, from $150. Many Teslas leave the factory with the front windows lighter than the rear, so this is a common first job.
Sides & Rear, from $500.
Add ons: windshield, sun strip and sunroof or glass roof tint.

Tinting the glass roof is the one most Tesla owners care about. It cuts heat and glare from above and helps protect the interior from UV.

We tint to Washington’s legal limits. If you are not sure what is legal on a particular window, ask before you choose a shade.

Choosing a Combination

You do not need everything:

New car, lots of highway miles: Full Front PPF plus ceramic coating on the rest of the car.
Mostly city driving, tighter budget: Partial Front PPF, and add a coating later if you want.
Not worried about chips, want easy washing and gloss: ceramic coating on its own.
Car feels like a greenhouse: start with tint, especially the glass roof.

If your Tesla already has chips or swirl marks, those need attention before anything else. Film and coating both seal in whatever is underneath them.

How the Process Works

Look at the car together. We check the paint, talk about how you drive and agree on what makes sense.
Wash and decontaminate. The paint is washed and clayed so nothing gets trapped under film or coating.
Polish where needed. Swirls show through clear film and under a coating, so the paint is corrected first if it needs it.
Install. Film, coating or tint, applied in the shop.
Final check. We go over the car with you before you drive away.

Aftercare

Hand wash where you can. Automatic washes with brushes are hard on any finish, coated or not.
Use a pH neutral soap and clean microfibre towels.
Do not aim a pressure washer straight at a film edge.
Remove bird droppings and sap soon. A coating buys you time, not immunity.
Fresh tint can look a little hazy or show small water bubbles at first while it dries. Leave the windows up for the time we tell you at pickup.

Why Tacoma Is Hard on Tesla Paint

Wet roads around Tacoma mean grit and spray along the lower panels for much of the year. Winter road treatment adds to it. Highway driving on I-5 and SR-16 brings gravel and chips, and tree sap and pollen arrive every spring.

None of that is unique to Teslas. Softer paint and a lot of glass just make a Tesla show it sooner.

FAQs

Does PPF stop all rock chips on a Tesla?

No. It stops most of the small stone chips that would mark the paint, but a large or sharp impact can still damage the film or the paint under it.

Should I get PPF or ceramic coating on my Tesla?

They do different jobs. PPF protects against chips. Ceramic coating adds gloss and makes washing easier but does not stop chips. Many owners put film on the front and coating on the rest.

How much does Tesla PPF cost in Tacoma?

Partial Front starts at $2,000, Full Front at $2,500, the Track Package at $3,000 and Full Body at $7,000. The final price depends on your model and coverage.

Can you tint the Tesla glass roof?

Yes. Sunroof and glass roof tint is one of our add ons. It is the most popular tint job on a Model 3 or Model Y because of the heat from above.

Is the tint legal in Washington?

We tint to Washington’s legal limits.

Can I coat over the PPF?

Yes. Coating works over film as well as paint.

Get a Quote for Your Tesla

Tell us your model and what you want protected, and we will give you a straight quote. Call (253) 888-1136, or visit us at 223 E 63rd St, Tacoma, WA 98404. We are open every day, 9 AM to 7 PM.

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I FOCUS ON QUALITY OVER QUANTITY, WORKING WITH ONE CUSTOMER AT A TIME FOR THE BEST RESULTS. MY SCHEDULE IS LIMITED, FILL OUT THE FORM TO CHECK AVAILABILITY

-BRANDON (OWNER OF Gloss & Glory Auto Protection)

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday - Sunday | 9 AM - 7 PM