The honest range: professional coatings last 2–7+ years, and where your car lives inside that range depends mostly on exposure and washing habits. California sets the difficulty level.
The California sun is a slow-motion blowtorch. In San Diego, unprotected clear coat oxidizes years ahead of schedule, dashboards crack, and seats fade — and the fine desert dust that settles on everything grinds micro-scratches into paint with every wipe. Heat is the other tax: a car parked outside in summer becomes an oven that ages every surface inside it.
What shortens coating life here
- Some of the strongest UV in North America
- Summer cabin temps over 150°F
- Fine dust that acts like polishing compound
- Monsoon grit and sandblasting winds
- Automatic tunnel washes with abrasive brushes (the #1 coating killer everywhere)
- Harsh alkaline soaps and hard-water spotting left to bake in
What extends it
Garage or shaded parking, two-bucket hand washes with pH-neutral soap, drying with clean microfiber, and an annual professional inspection. That inspection matters more than people think: the shop decontaminates the surface, measures the coating's condition, and tops up thin areas — it's how lifetime-tier warranties like ULTRASHIELD STORM's stay honest (and CARFAX-registered) instead of being marketing numbers.
Common questions
How do I know when the coating is wearing out?+
Does California weather void coating warranties?+
Can a worn coating be recoated?+
Certified ULTRASHIELD installers in San Diego
Trained on SHIELD PPF, STORM ceramic, and SHADOW tint — every install registered with CARFAX.
More answers for San Diego drivers
Pricing reflects typical published US market ranges as of 2026 and varies by vehicle and shop. Laws change — verify current tint statutes with the California DMV. This article is provided by ULTRASHIELD, the manufacturer of SHIELD PPF, STORM ceramic, and SHADOW window films.