There’s something special about collecting a brand-new car. Whether it’s a Porsche, McLaren, Ferrari, Land Rover or another high-performance vehicle, the first few miles should be about enjoying the car… not worrying about stone chips, road debris or damage to the paint.
But there’s one question many new-car owners don’t consider until it’s too late:
When should you have your new car protected?
For the ultimate level of paint protection, we believe the answer is simple: before you drive it home.
At Assetti Performance, we regularly work with customers who want their new cars protected from day one. Ideally, the journey looks something like this:
Dealership → Enclosed Transporter → Assetti Performance → Customer
Here’s why.
1. The journey starts at the dealership
Once you’ve purchased your new car, it’s tempting to collect it from the dealership and enjoy the drive home.
However, even a brand-new car can be vulnerable to damage before it reaches you.
The moment the car leaves the dealership, it is exposed to everything the road can throw at it such as loose grit, stones, motorway debris, insects, road salt and other contaminants.
And although modern automotive paint is designed to withstand everyday use, it isn’t immune to stone chips and surface damage.
This is particularly important with high-performance cars. Low front bumpers, extended splitters and wide arches can place vulnerable areas closer to the road, while the cost of repairing or repainting a damaged panel can be significant.
So, rather than putting those first few miles on the car unprotected, why not protect it first?
2. From the dealership to an enclosed transporter
This is where planning your collection becomes important.
Instead of driving the car directly from the dealership to the PPF installer, an enclosed vehicle transporter can collect the car and deliver it straight to Assetti Performance.
This means the vehicle can arrive at the workshop with minimal additional road mileage and exposure before protection is installed.
It also means you don’t have to worry about picking up your brand-new car, driving it hundreds of miles and then having to live with any damage that occurs before it reaches the installer.
For a car that you’ve just spent tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds on, it makes sense to keep its journey as controlled as possible.
3. Arriving at Assetti Performance
Once the vehicle arrives at our facility, the focus shifts from transportation to preparation.
Before PPF is installed, the vehicle needs to be carefully inspected and prepared. Even a brand-new car may require attention before film can be applied, as vehicles can pick up contamination during transportation, storage and dealership preparation.
The aim is to create the cleanest possible surface before the film is installed.
This is especially important because Paint Protection Film isn’t simply something you stick over the paint and forget about.
The quality of the preparation and installation plays a huge part in the finished result.
4. Installing Paint Protection Film
With the vehicle prepared, the PPF installation can begin.
Paint Protection Film provides a physical barrier between the vehicle’s paintwork and many of the everyday hazards it encounters on the road.
At Assetti Performance, we use XPEL Paint Protection Film, with coverage tailored to the individual vehicle and the customer’s requirements, such as:
- Front End
Protection for the most vulnerable areas of your vehicle, including the bonnet, front bumper, front wings and mirrors.
- ֭Front End Extended
Includes everything in the Front End package. Plus, additional protection for the A-pillars, roof strip, side skirts and rear impact areas.
- Full Vehicle PPF
Comprehensive coverage of all painted surfaces for the highest level of protection.
- Stealth PPF Full Vehicle
All painted surfaces as above. Transform your gloss car to satin or to retain the factory satin/matte finish.
- Colour PPF
All painted surfaces as above but in any that XPEL offers – enquire for more details.
For customers who want more comprehensive protection, full vehicle PPF can provide protection across virtually the entire painted exterior.
The objective isn’t to change the appearance of the car. It’s to preserve it.
6. Inspection, finishing and handover
Once the installation is complete, the vehicle is carefully inspected to ensure the film has been installed to the required standard.
Edges, joins, contours and coverage are checked, before the car is prepared for collection.
The result?
A brand-new car that has gone from:
Dealership → Enclosed Transport → Professional PPF Installation → Customer
rather than:
Dealership → Hundreds of miles of driving → Stone chips → recurring paint jobs
And that difference can matter.
When should you get PPF installed on a new car?
As early as possible.
Ideally, PPF should be arranged before the vehicle leaves the dealership.
If you’re ordering a new car, it’s worth speaking to your PPF installer before the collection date. This gives you time to organise transportation, book the installation and coordinate everything with the supplying dealership.
That way, your first journey can be to the place where your car will be protected, rather than the first opportunity for the paintwork to be damaged.
Of course, if you’ve already collected your car, it’s not too late. PPF can be installed on vehicles that have already been driven, although the paintwork may need additional preparation depending on its condition.
Protect it before you enjoy it
Buying a new performance car is a significant investment. The last thing you want is to spend the first few weeks worrying about every stone you hear hitting the front bumper.
By arranging protection from the outset, you can enjoy the car knowing that an additional layer of protection is standing between your paintwork and the road.
At Assetti Performance, we can help coordinate the process from collection through to installation, allowing your new vehicle to arrive with us safely, receive its PPF and leave ready for its first proper drive.
Your car should arrive with you looking as good as the day you bought it.
Ready to protect your new car?
If you’re ordering a new performance, luxury or prestige vehicle, speak to Assetti Performance before arranging collection. We can discuss the most suitable PPF coverage for your car, for your budget, and help you plan the journey from dealership to you sitting in the drivers seat – worry free.
Assetti Performance: protecting your car from day one.