How we decide which shops to trust - and why you can believe it.
We're an independent guide, not a shop. Every installer we list is measured against the same public standard, scored from public data and real quotes. A shop can earn our Certified badge - but no shop can ever pay for a better grade, a higher rank, or a nicer review.
The promise
Three lines that hold the whole thing together
Money never buys a grade or a ranking
Every shop is scored against the same public standard. A paying shop can never outrank or outscore a better one. The objective list is off-limits to money - permanently.
Certification is earned, then disclosed
A shop earns PPP Certified by passing our checks and signing real consumer guarantees - not by paying. Membership funds the program; it never awards the badge. Every partnership is labeled in plain sight.
Members get exposure - never a better verdict
What a Pro shop pays for: a badge, a labeled feature spot, priority leads, a richer profile. What they can't pay for: a higher grade, a higher rank, or a better review. Value, not verdict.
How it's built
Two layers, kept strictly apart
The wall between these two is what lets us stay trustworthy and still run a shop program. One is free and objective. The other is earned, paid, and always disclosed.
The PPP Standard
Every shop we can source is measured against the same checklist, using public records and real quotes. This sets the order of the directory. No shop pays to be here, and no shop pays to move up.
- →Covers the whole market - members and non-members alike.
- →A shop that meets the bar shows a Verified checkmark.
- →The reason a consumer can trust us at all.
PPP Certified
A shop that clears the Standard and signs our consumer guarantees earns the Certified badge. Membership then unlocks the exposure and tools. It sits on top of the grade and never changes it.
- +A labeled "Certified Partners" spot at the top of a metro.
- +The Certified badge on the profile - a label, not a boost.
- +Priority lead routing, plus a rich profile with photos, pricing, and warranty details.
The mark to look for
The badge a Certified shop earns
Clear the Standard and sign the guarantees, and a shop can display the PPP Certified Partner badge - so you can spot a vetted installer at a glance. It only ever appears once it's been earned.
The PPP Standard
What we actually check
A paint-protection buyer's real risks are hidden fees, fake film, bad prep, and warranty games. So we check the things that protect you from exactly those.
Pricing transparency Heavily weighted
Do they give a clear, itemized, written quote - with no surprise fees? Is the quote the price you actually pay?
Warranty & workmanship Heavily weighted
A written install warranty, honoring the film or coating maker's warranty, and a controlled install environment.
Credentials & training Weighted
Manufacturer certifications (XPEL, SunTek, 3M, Ceramic Pro and the like), plus a real license and insurance - all publicly verifiable.
Honest process Weighted
Do they disclose their prep steps and right-size the recommendation, instead of upselling correction or coverage you don't need?
Track record Weighted
Public review sentiment and complaint history - public data only, never invented, never bought, never edited by us.
Weights are published and evolving. We'd rather show a shop as "not yet verified" than guess. A checkmark appears only after a real review.
The process
How a shop gets verified
Four stages, one human gate. We identify ourselves at every step - this isn't secret-shopping.
Public record sweep
We pull what's already public: manufacturer certification directories, business registration, licensing and insurance, published price menus, and public reviews.
Verified quotes
We gather real, written quotes for a defined vehicle and package - dated and traceable to their source. The same engine behind our pricing data.
Qualifying outreach
We ask each shop the same questions - warranty terms, film brands, prep process, fees. We identify ourselves; it's on the record, not a disguise.
Human review
A person checks the evidence, scores it against the Standard, and approves or rejects. Nothing publishes on autopilot, and shops can correct real errors.
The line, in plain terms
Exactly what money can and can't buy
Being blunt about this is the whole point - it's how we earn the benefit of the doubt.
What money can never buy
- −A grade or a Verified checkmark.
- −A higher spot in the ranked list.
- −A review or a rating (we surface real public reviews; we don't sell or edit them).
- −Removal of a bad mark that hasn't genuinely been resolved.
- −A recommendation in Build My Plan - matches are by fit, not by who pays.
What membership does buy
- +A labeled place in the Certified Partners strip - after earning the badge.
- +The Certified badge, once vetting is passed and guarantees are signed.
- +Priority lead routing within their area and fit.
- +A rich profile: photos, package pricing, warranty details, a quote button.
- +Featured placement that is always clearly disclosed.
Where we are today
Honest about what's live
We're building the verified network one metro at a time, starting with Tampa. Doing this right - real checks, real evidence, a human reviewing each one - takes longer than handing out badges, and we'd rather be slow and right.
No shop shows a Verified checkmark or a Certified badge until we've actually done the work to earn it - the same discipline we use for pricing. If it isn't checked, we don't claim it.
Two ways in
Trust you can check - for owners and shops alike.
Owners: tell us what you drive and we'll point you to a fair range and a vetted shop as our network opens near you. Shops: see how to earn PPP Certified.
FAQ