01
Extreme UV, most of the year
The National Weather Service UV index for Miami runs Very High to Extreme for much of the year. UV is what oxidizes clear coat into chalk. A ceramic layer takes that exposure instead of your paint.
Certified System X Installer · Hollywood FL
Ceramic Coating for Cars, Wraps, PPF & Boats
A permanent-bond ceramic layer over your paint, film or gelcoat — hydrophobic, UV-stable, tested above 9H — installed in Hollywood, FL and serving Fort Lauderdale to Miami.
Packages from $749 with System X warranties from two years to lifetime. Complimentary on every full vinyl wrap we install.
§ 01 · What a Ceramic Coating Is
Another clear coat, chemically bonded to the one you have.
A ceramic coating is a liquid silica-based polymer applied by hand, panel by panel, that cross-links with your vehicle's clear coat as it cures. Once bonded it behaves like a thin, extremely hard, glass-like layer: water beads and sheets off, dirt and pollen do not stick, UV is absorbed by the coating instead of the paint, and bug acids, bird droppings and tree sap sit on top long enough to be washed away instead of etching in.
Is it permanent? Permanent in the same sense your clear coat is permanent. System X, the coating we install, describes it exactly that way: it cannot be washed off like a wax or sealant — it bonds at the molecular level and comes off only when it is polished off or worn away over years. What varies by package is how long the gloss and water behavior are rated to hold.
What it is not: armor. A coating is microns thick. It will not stop rock chips or a key. For that there is paint protection film, and the strongest setup on the road is film on the impact zones with ceramic over everything.
Cadillac Escalade V · System X · our bay
§ 02 · Where Ceramic Coating Goes
Paint, film, gelcoat, leather — same chemistry, four different jobs.
Most of what we coat is vehicles. The rest is the same bond on a different surface.
01
Cars, trucks & SUVs
Factory paint is where ceramic coating started and where it does the most. The coating bonds to the clear coat, seals the surface against oxidation and UV, and makes a Florida-parked car wash like it was detailed yesterday. Most of our ceramic work is daily drivers and new cars whose owners want to keep the paint looking new.
See packages →02
Vinyl wraps & PPF
We are a wrap shop first, so this is home turf. A ceramic layer over vinyl keeps the film cleaner, protects the color from UV, and makes tree sap and bird droppings lift instead of etch. Matte and satin wraps get a matte-specific coating so the finish stays flat. Every full vinyl wrap we install already leaves with a complimentary ceramic top coat.
Ceramic on wraps, in depth →03
Boats & yachts
Gelcoat fails differently from car paint — UV chalks it into a dull, porous surface. Marine ceramic coating goes on after the gelcoat is compounded back, then seals the hull sides, topsides and hardware above the waterline against salt and sun. Marina install available across Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Marine services →04
Interiors
Leather, vinyl and plastics take a flexible interior coating that resists dye transfer from jeans, food and drink stains, and the sticky feel a South Florida cabin develops. Fabric seats and carpet get a textile barrier. It is not a hard gloss layer — it is stain resistance you cannot see.
Interior services →§ 03 · Why It Matters More Here
South Florida is the hardest place in the country to keep paint.
Six reasons, with the numbers behind them.
02
Lovebugs turn acidic in a day
University of Florida entomologists measured lovebug remains at a near-neutral pH that drops to about 4.25 within 24 hours — battery-acid territory for clear coat. Coated paint gives you the day to wash them off before they etch.
03
Salt air, rated 'very high' corrosivity
Coastal South Florida sits in the highest atmospheric-corrosivity class there is. Salt spray is one of the specific tests System X publishes results for. The coating is a barrier; bare clear coat is not.
04
Afternoon rain, hard water, water spots
Daily summer storms followed by sun bake minerals into unprotected paint. A hydrophobic surface sheds most of the water before it can dry in place, and what is left wipes off instead of etching in.
05
Wash less, wash easier
Dirt and pollen do not bond to a coated surface the way they bond to bare paint. Cars stay presentable longer between washes, and the wash itself is a rinse and a mitt instead of a scrub.
06
Gloss you can measure
System X publishes its own numbers on gloss gain over bare paint. What you see in the bay is a wet-look depth that lasts, on dark colors especially — not the two-week shine of a wax.
Sources: NOAA / National Weather Service UV Index bulletins (Miami); University of Florida IFAS on lovebug remains pH; ISO 9223 atmospheric corrosivity classes for strong-salinity coastal zones.
§ 04 · What the Coating Is Tested To
“9H” is a real test. Here is what it actually measures.
Every ceramic brand says 9H. Few say what it means: a pencil-hardness scale, not the mineral scale — so it describes resistance to marring in a wash, not resistance to rocks. We install System X because it publishes the third-party results, run by SGS, and they cover the things that matter a mile from the ocean.
Figures are the manufacturer's published test results; Wrap Trap has not independently lab-tested the coating. We are a certified System X installer; the testing is theirs.
HardnessAbove 9HPencil-hardness scale (ASTM D3363 / JIS K5400), tested by SGS. This is scratch resistance in a wash, not armor against keys or rocks.
Salt sprayASTM B117Accelerated salt-fog exposure — the test that matters most a mile from the Atlantic.
AdhesionASTM D3359 — zero lossCross-hatch tape test. The coating bonds to the clear coat rather than sitting on it.
FlexibilityASTM D522Mandrel bend — the film flexes with the panel instead of cracking.
WeatheringASTM G154 — no color changeUV / condensation cycling. Relevant in a place with our UV index.
Chemical resistance5% sulfuric acid 24 h · 5% salt 96 hNo visible damage in SGS testing. Bird droppings, bug acids and salt sit on the coating, not the paint.
§ 05 · Packages & Pricing
Three packages. Same coating, more correction and more layers as you go up.
Starting prices for a sedan; SUVs, trucks and paint that needs heavier correction are quoted after we see the vehicle. Each tier is priced just under what South Florida shops publish for shorter coverage — and ours carries a longer System X warranty at every step.
Essential
System X Crystal+™ · 2-year warranty
$749+
Starting price · System X
System X Crystal+ over a full decontamination, registered with CARFAX. The right call for a daily driver that lives outside.
- ✓Full paint decontamination & clay bar
- ✓System X Crystal+™ ceramic coating
- ✓Hydrophobic protection
- ✓UV defense
- ✓2-year System X warranty + CARFAX registration
- ✓Written aftercare
MOST POPULAR
Professional
System X Pro+™ · 6-year warranty
$1,199+
Starting price · System X
Light paint correction first, then System X Pro+ with a six-year warranty. The best value on a car with a few years of swirls in it.
- ✓Full paint decontamination & clay bar
- ✓Paint correction (light swirl removal)
- ✓System X Pro+™ ceramic coating
- ✓Enhanced hydrophobic protection
- ✓UV + chemical resistance
- ✓6-year System X warranty
- ✓Annual inspection included
Ultimate
System X Max G+™ · Lifetime warranty
$2,399+
Starting price · System X
Full paint correction and System X Max G+, warranted for as long as you own the car. For new cars, exotics, and anything you plan to keep.
- ✓Full paint decontamination & clay bar
- ✓Full paint correction (scratches & swirls)
- ✓System X Max G+™ ceramic coating — 9H, wrap- and PPF-rated
- ✓Maximum hydrophobic protection
- ✓UV + chemical resistance, tested above 9H
- ✓Wheels & glass coated
- ✓Lifetime System X warranty (see conditions)
- ✓Annual inspection included
Wraps & PPF
Complimentary top coat on every full vinyl wrap we install. Coating a wrap or PPF installed elsewhere is quoted per vehicle — details here.
Boats & yachts
Priced per foot after we see the gelcoat, because correction is most of the job. Marina install across Broward and Miami-Dade — marine services.
Annual maintenance
A yearly decontamination wash, inspection and booster keeps the coating performing and keeps any manufacturer coverage in good standing. Ask when you book.
§ 05b · The Warranty, Conditions Included
Two years, six years, or lifetime — registered by us, honored by System X.
Wrap Trap is a certified System X installer. That is what lets us register your coating with System X and issue the warranty card at pickup. Every tier carries the manufacturer's own term for its product, and every term has conditions. We print them here because a warranty you have not read is not a warranty.
Terms are System X's and can change; the warranty card you receive governs. Marine coatings carry System X's separate five-year marine program, above the waterline only.
Essential · Crystal+2-year warranty · CARFAX registration
Professional · Pro+6-year warranty
Ultimate · Max G+Lifetime warranty — for as long as you own the vehicle, non-transferable
What it coversOxidation · loss of gloss · UV damage · acid rain · paint chalking
What it does not coverScratches, chips, swirls, scuffs, water spots, failed factory clear coat, collision, hail — that is what film and insurance are for
To keep it validRegister within 30 days · wash regularly, hand or touchless only, never brush washes · annual inspection at the shop (a missed inspection voids coverage)
EligibilityPassenger vehicles; commercial vehicles are not covered by the manufacturer program. Vehicles over three months old are machine-polished before coating, which our Professional and Ultimate tiers include.
§ 06 · The Process · 80% Prep, 20% Coating
What happens to the car.
01
Inspection under lights
We look at the paint the way the coating will: every swirl, water spot and etch mark that would be sealed in. This decides whether the car needs Essential, Professional or Ultimate.
02
Wash, iron removal, clay
Foam wash, chemical iron removal, then clay bar over every panel. Anything left on the surface becomes part of the coating, so nothing is left on the surface.
03
Paint correction
Machine polishing to remove swirls, haze and oxidation — light on Professional, multi-stage on Ultimate. This is where the gloss comes from; the coating locks it in.
04
Panel wipe and coating
A solvent wipe strips polishing oils so the coating bonds to clear coat, not residue. Then System X goes on by hand, panel by panel, leveled and flashed under inspection lighting.
05
Cure and hand-back
The coating reaches full strength over two to three days. Keep it dry and away from brush washes for the first week. You leave with written aftercare and the maintenance schedule.
§ 07 · Ceramic vs Sealant vs Wax
Most people spend more on wax over five years than one coating costs.
And they spend the weekends doing it.
FeatureCeramic coatingPaint sealantWax
Durability2–5 years, rated3–6 months2–6 weeks
BondChemical, to the clear coatLight bondSits on the surface
UV protectionYesSomeMinimal
Chemical resistanceAcids, salt, bug residueLimitedNone
HydrophobicExtremeModerateMild
MaintenanceWash onlyReapply twice a yearReapply monthly
RemovalPolished offWashes off over timeWashes off
5-year cost$749–$2,399 once$600–$1,200 repeated$1,000–$2,500 repeated
§ 08 · Living With a Coated Car
Less maintenance, not zero.
Six habits that keep the coating doing its job for its full rated life.
✓
Hand wash with pH-neutral soap every 1–2 weeks
Dish soap and all-purpose cleaners strip the hydrophobic top layer over time.
✓
Touchless automatic washes only — never brushes
Brush washes put back the swirls the coating was applied to prevent.
✓
Dry with a microfiber towel; never let it air dry
South Florida's hard water leaves mineral deposits even on a coated surface if it dries in place.
✓
Remove bird droppings, bugs and sap within 24 hours
The coating buys you time; it does not make acids harmless forever.
✓
Booster spray every 3–6 months
Refreshes the water behavior and adds a sacrificial layer on top of the coating.
✓
Annual maintenance inspection
A decontamination wash, inspection and top-up once a year. It is also what keeps the System X warranty valid — a missed inspection voids it.
Customer Reviews
What South Florida Is Saying
Real customers, real transformations.
★★★★★4.9 / 5.0 · Top Rated on Google(100+ reviews)§ 09 · Ceramic Coating Near You
One shop in Hollywood, twenty minutes from most of South Florida.
We coat vehicles from all of Broward and Miami-Dade at 1810 N Dixie Hwy in Hollywood — between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, just off I-95 — and boats at their marina. Pick your city for local details.
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Ceramic Coating FAQ
At Wrap Trap, ceramic coating starts at $749 for our Essential package (System X Crystal+, 2-year warranty), $1,199 for Professional (Pro+, 6-year warranty, light paint correction), and $2,399 for Ultimate (Max G+, lifetime warranty, full correction) with full correction and the thickest coating build. Those are starting prices for a sedan; larger vehicles and paint that needs more correction cost more, and we confirm the exact number in writing after seeing the car. Every full vinyl wrap we install already includes a complimentary ceramic top coat.
Permanent in the same sense your clear coat is permanent. System X, the coating we install, puts it exactly that way: the coating bonds to the paint and cannot be washed off like a wax or sealant — it comes off only when it is polished off or worn away over years. What varies by package is how long the gloss and hydrophobic behavior are rated to hold, from two to five years depending on the tier, maintenance, and how the car lives.
We install System X ceramic coatings, made by Element 119 in Connecticut. It is the same brand you will see tagged on our Instagram ceramic work. We chose it for the published third-party testing — SGS-verified hardness above 9H, salt-spray, adhesion and weathering results — and for the wrap- and PPF-safe formulas, including a matte version for satin films. Wrap Trap is a certified System X installer, which is what lets us register your coating and issue the System X warranty card. That certification is specific to System X; we are an independent shop and do not claim certification for any film brand.
No, and any shop that tells you otherwise is selling you the wrong product. A ceramic coating is microns thick. It resists wash-induced swirls, chemical etching, UV and oxidation — it does not absorb impacts. If rock chips and scratches are the problem, the answer is paint protection film, which is a thick urethane layer, and the best setup is PPF on the front end with a ceramic coating over everything. Our ceramic vs PPF page walks through it.
Yes, and we do it every week — every full vinyl wrap that leaves our shop gets a complimentary ceramic top coat. The coating keeps the film cleaner, adds UV protection that extends the life of the color, and makes contaminants lift instead of etch. Matte and satin wraps get a matte-specific coating so the finish stays flat; a standard gloss coating would change the look. If you had a wrap installed elsewhere, bring it in and we will coat it.
Yes. Clear PPF takes a ceramic coating well and the two are the strongest combination there is — the film handles impacts, the coating handles chemistry and washing. One honest caveat: some film brands, XPEL among them, tie their own film warranty to using their own branded coating. If your PPF is under a manufacturer warranty, tell us the brand and we will tell you what applying a third-party coating means for it before we touch the car. Our colored PPF already carries a ceramic-coated top layer from the factory.
Yes, with a marine-specific approach. Gelcoat is a different material from car paint — it fails by UV oxidation into a chalky, porous surface — so a boat is compounded and polished back to a true gloss first, then coated. The coating protects the hull sides, topsides, hardware and painted surfaces above the waterline against salt and sun. It is not an antifouling product and does not go below the waterline. Marina installs are available from Hollywood to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Interior ceramic coatings are flexible, invisible stain barriers rather than hard gloss layers. Leather, vinyl and plastics resist dye transfer, spills and the tacky feel a hot cabin develops; fabric seats and carpet get a textile-specific coating that makes spills bead instead of soak. They are not for Alcantara, raw wood trim or touchscreens, and they do not make an interior scratch-proof. We add interior coating to any package or do it on its own.
Plan on one day for the Essential package and two days for Professional or Ultimate, because paint correction is most of the work. The coating itself cures to full strength over the following two to three days, so keep the car dry and out of automatic washes for that first week. We will give you the exact schedule when you book.
If the paint has swirls, haze or water spots, yes — the coating locks in whatever is underneath it, so correcting first is the difference between a coating that looks like glass and one that seals in the scratches. New cars usually need only a light polish. Our Professional and Ultimate packages include correction; Essential is for paint that is already in good shape. We inspect under lights before quoting and tell you which one the car actually needs.
Hand wash with a pH-neutral soap every one to two weeks, dry it with a microfiber towel, and remove bird droppings, bugs and tree sap within a day. Touchless automatic washes are fine; brush washes are not — the brushes put the swirls back in that the coating was meant to prevent. No wax, no polish, no abrasive cleaners. A ceramic booster spray every few months refreshes the water behavior.
Yes, two layers of it. Our own workmanship is guaranteed in writing on every job. On the coating itself, as a certified System X installer we register the car and issue the System X warranty card: two years on Crystal+ (Essential), six years on Pro+ (Professional), and lifetime on Max G+ (Ultimate). The conditions are System X's and we put them in your paperwork: register within 30 days, wash regularly with hand or touchless washes only, and bring the car in for an annual inspection — missing the inspection voids it. It covers oxidation, loss of gloss, UV damage, acid rain and chalking; it does not cover scratches, chips, swirls or water spots, and it applies to passenger vehicles, non-transferable. We would rather you read that list than be surprised by it.
Wax sits on the surface and is gone in weeks. A synthetic sealant bonds lightly and lasts a few months. A professional ceramic coating chemically bonds to the clear coat and is rated in years, resists chemicals and UV that strip wax on contact, and only comes off when polished off. Over five years, one ceramic application costs about what repeated waxing or sealing does — with a better result the entire time.
This is the environment it was built for. Extreme UV most of the year, salt air rated at the highest corrosivity class, daily summer rain that dries into water spots, and lovebug seasons that turn acidic on your paint within a day. A coated car survives all of that with a rinse; an uncoated one shows it within a couple of years. If you park outside anywhere in Broward or Miami-Dade, it pays for itself in the paint you keep.
Yes. It comes off with machine polishing, which is also how it is refreshed — when a coating reaches the end of its rated life, the car is polished and coated again rather than stripped with chemicals. That is the practical meaning of 'permanent': it does not wash off, it is polished off.
The shop is at 1810 N Dixie Hwy in Hollywood, FL, about twenty minutes from Fort Lauderdale and twenty from Miami, and we coat vehicles from all of Broward and Miami-Dade — Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Pembroke Pines, Davie, Hallandale Beach, Aventura, Weston, Plantation, Coral Springs, Boca Raton and the rest. Boats are coated at the marina.
Deeper reads: ceramic coating vs PPF · do you really need ceramic coating in Florida?
Related Services
Ceramic on Wraps & PPF →
How a coating changes the life of a vinyl wrap — and which films need a matte formula.
Paint Protection Film →
The physical impact protection a coating cannot give you. Best under ceramic.
Vinyl Wrap →
Change the color — every full vinyl wrap leaves with a complimentary ceramic top coat.
Marine Services →
Gelcoat correction and ceramic coating for yachts and center consoles, at the marina.
Keep the Paint You Paid For.
Bring the car in for a look under the lights. We tell you which package it actually needs, put the price and the coverage in writing, and coat it right.