Wolfsburg, Germany - Volkswagen is offering a special, transparent foil to protect cars from gravel, scratch marks and other damage.

Sections of the car such as the rear view mirror, front skirts, bumpers, door handles and door corners start showing marks after a short period of time.

The foil, called V-Protector, will protect the car's paintwork for years improving its resale value, the car maker said.

The foil can be removed easily and without leaving marks. The "second skin" is currently available for the Golf, Golf Plus, Golf station wagon, Jetta, Touran, Tiguan, Eos, Passat, Passat CC, Touareg and T5 and costs between 199 and 279 euros (292 and 410 dollars) without installation. (dpa)