The Short Answer: Yes
Paint correction is worth it for most vehicles, especially if you plan to apply ceramic coating afterward. It permanently removes swirl marks, scratches, water spots, and oxidation that make your paint look dull and aged. The results are immediately visible and dramatic — your paint will look better than it did when the car was new.
What Paint Correction Actually Does
Paint correction uses machine polishing with abrasive compounds to physically level the clear coat surface. Unlike scratch fillers or glazes that temporarily mask defects, paint correction permanently removes them. A trained professional uses paint depth gauges to measure clear coat thickness and ensure safe material removal.
Cost vs Value
Paint correction at AquaLux starts at $600 for a single-stage correction. While this is a significant investment, consider that it permanently improves your paint's appearance, increases your vehicle's resale value, and is essential prep work for ceramic coating. Without correction, ceramic coating would permanently seal existing defects under the coating.
Is It Worth It for Your Vehicle?
Paint correction is worth it if: your paint has visible swirl marks or scratches, you're planning to apply ceramic coating, you want to restore your vehicle's showroom appearance, or you're preparing to sell and want to maximize resale value. The only vehicles where correction may not be worthwhile are those with severely damaged or failing clear coat that would need a repaint instead.