OPTI-COAT - anyone use it or advice on what to do next?

Hi
I got opti coat put on my 2013 tacoma in 2014 or 2015, and the detailer did an awesome job, but now someone hit my truck while it was parked so I've got to get the door and front quarter panel fixed. I think the quarter panel will have to be replaced.
I'm wondering if anyone's used the opticoat before and also since it's been a few years, I'm sure I should be thinking about getting it reapplied anyway, or doing something else.
I can't afford a detailer now and it wasn't cheap to have that put on. Any advice on what to use that's like this? I live in New England and don't have a garage so I try to do the "2 bucket washing method" in the winter but I can't do it all the time so I go to the car wash and use the self service bays and try to use buckets if I can, I never use the brush at the car wash.

Any suggestions on opticoat or other products as well as what I have to do to clean it properly before putting anything on it is really appreciated! I know I have to wait some time once I get it fixed, but I'd like to start on the rest of it once it's back from the shop.

 

You for sure want to clay it before applying a coating. And it should be polished. Claying can sometimes cause some marring of the clear coat that is fixed with polishing. In a pinch you could do it without polishing. Just know that any defects will essentially be "sealed" up.

If you're doing it yourself, and wanna do it on the cheap, why not try something like McKee's Paint Coating? It's $35 and gets awesome reviews. The new formula is even better. If you're not going to polish to remove remaining opti, then I might stick to the same product so that it will adhere. Even then I don't know if it will adhere with a previous coating applied. You really should be polishing first.