Where chips actually land
Front bumper. The lowest, most forward panel on the car — it meets everything the road throws up. Hood leading edge. The first hand's width of hood takes the hits that clear the bumper. Front fenders. The flare behind the front wheels catches debris off your own tires and everyone else's. Mirror caps and headlights. Small, forward-facing and expensive to replace. Rocker panels and door edges. Gravel spray from the front tires, and the daily scuffs of parking.
How the film takes the hit
PPF is a thick urethane film with an elastomeric clear coat. A stone that would have chipped paint strikes the film instead; fine scratches in the film self-heal in about 30 minutes at high temperatures, or faster with warm water poured over the area. When the film eventually wears, it can be removed and replaced — your paint can't.
Choosing coverage
A full front (bumper, full hood, full fenders, mirrors, headlights) covers the true impact zones and is the right answer for most freeway commuters. A full body adds doors, quarters, roof and trunk — the choice for cars that will be kept, driven and shown. Partial coverage is quoted per car. On a sedan, full front starts at $1,999 and full body at $6,499, out the door; other vehicles are quoted per vehicle. Wait at least 24 hours after installation before washing, and remove insects and stains promptly.