Paint correction vs ceramic coating: what's the difference?

Paint correction and ceramic coating get talked about as if they're the same thing. They're not. One corrects your paint; the other protects it. Understanding the difference saves you money and gets you the right result.

Paint correction: correcting the paint

Paint correction is machine polishing that removes defects from your clear coat - swirl marks, buffer holograms, wash marring and light scratches. Crucially, it removes them by levelling a tiny amount of clear coat, rather than hiding them under filler that washes away in a week.

The result is genuine clarity and gloss: sharper reflections, deeper colour and that wet-look finish. We grade correction in stages - 1-step, 2-step or multi-step - depending on how bad the defects are.

Ceramic coating: protecting the paint

A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that bonds to your paint and cures into a hard, protective layer. It doesn't remove defects - it protects the surface from UV, oxidation, grime and bird droppings and makes the car hydrophobic so it stays cleaner and washes more easily. A quality coating like Gyeon Mohs Evo lasts years, not weeks.

Why they work best together

Here's the key point: a coating locks in whatever is underneath it. Coat a car full of swirls and you've just sealed those swirls in for three years. That's why we always correct first, then coat - so you're protecting a flawless finish, not a flawed one.

• Just want defects gone? Paint correction on its own is fine.
• Want it to stay that way? Correct, then coat.
• Brand-new car? Our New Car Protection package does a light enhancement and full coating from day one.

Not sure which you need? That's what a free assessment is for - we'll look at your paint and tell you straight.