Question 1

Can I come see the shop before I book a ceramic coating?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Come in and we will look over your paint with you and tell you whether it needs correction before a coating goes on. Request a free quote or call (248) 881-8204 first so we know to expect you.

Question 2

What happens between drop-off and pickup?

Accepted Answer

Your car goes through five stages, and the coating itself is the fourth. Most of the work is in the stages before it.

Question 3

How long will the car be at the shop?

Accepted Answer

Allow up to three days or more when the paint needs correction as well as a coating. The size of the vehicle, the condition of the paint and the coating's cure time all change that, and the car stays inside our shop, which is climate-controlled (heated and cooled), insured, and gated with an alarm.

Question 4

Does a coating help on cars that live on I-75 and I-696?

Accepted Answer

It helps the paint cope with them, though it does not make the car immune. I-75 runs along the west side of Madison Heights and I-696 along its southern border, and freeway miles leave brake dust, tar and road film on the paint, while in winter road salt speeds up rust on cars.

Question 5

Is my car's paint ready for a coating, or does it need correction first?

Accepted Answer

If the paint shows swirls, haze or oxidation, correct it first, because a coating seals the finish exactly as it is, defects included. Many vehicles benefit from correction and not every one needs it, so we check yours and tell you.

Question 6

What do I do once I have the car back?

Accepted Answer

Leave the car unwashed for seven days, then keep to a gentle routine. The schedule below is the whole of it.

Question 7

Can a coating go on a car that already has paint protection film?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a coating can go over the film, and plenty of customers do both: the film is the physical layer that takes rock chips, and the coating adds gloss and easier washing. Our paint protection film page for Madison Heights covers the film side.

Question 8

Who around Madison Heights do you coat cars for?

Accepted Answer

Madison Heights had 28,468 residents at the 2020 census, with Troy to the north, Royal Oak to the west, Hazel Park to the south and Warren to the east. Drivers from each of those, and from the cities further out, bring cars to the same shop. I-75 exit 65, 14 Mile Road, is on the Madison Heights–Troy line. Ceramic coating in Birmingham is the Woodward-to-I-696 route, and ceramic coating in Novi is I-696 east to I-75 exit 65.

Question 9

What else can the shop do for a Madison Heights car?

Accepted Answer

The same shop also does detailing and paint correction, paint protection film, vinyl wrap and window tint, so a coating can be combined with other work on one car.

Question 10

How much does a ceramic coating cost in Madison Heights?

Accepted Answer

The price depends on the coating you pick, the size of the vehicle and how much correction the paint needs first, so we quote from your year, make and model.

Question 11

Which ceramic coatings does Elite Auto Lab use?

Accepted Answer

We use professional-grade coatings from Gtechniq, Gyeon, CarPro and P&S. Our coatings last 2 to 9 years, depending on the product, and they need proper maintenance. More in how long ceramic coating lasts.

Visiting	Elite Auto Lab
Address	436 E 14 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Hours	Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–6:00 PM, Sat 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, closed Sunday
By freeway	I-75 to exit 65, 14 Mile Road, on the Madison Heights–Troy city line
Our shop	Climate-controlled, insured, and gated with an alarm
Google	Rated 4.7 on Google from 65 reviews, as of October 14, 2026
Phone	(248) 881-8204

Stage	What we do	Why it comes in this order
Look-over	We inspect the paint and ask what you want from the coating.	It tells us whether correction has to come first.
Wash and decontaminate	A hand wash, foam and clay bar lift off brake dust, tar and industrial fallout that has bonded to the paint.	The coating seals in whatever is on the paint at that point.
Correction, when needed	Multi-stage compounding and polishing for swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation.	Defects are far easier to remove before the coating than after it.
Coating	It is applied to the prepared paint and left to cure.	This is the step that gives you the 2 to 9 years.
Final walk-around	We go over the car under show lighting and touch up anything left.	Last chance to catch a spot before you take it home.

When	What to do
First 7 days	No washing at all.
After that	Wash with a pH-neutral shampoo. Avoid harsh chemicals and automatic car washes.
Every 3 to 4 months	Use a coating booster spray to keep it performing.
Once a year	Book a maintenance detail, which extends the coating's life.

Visit Our Ceramic Coating Shop in Madison Heights