Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC) provide an innovative solution for mitigating the global energy crisis and addressing environmental challenges. In PEMFC, bipolar plates have attracted much attention as key components. Among them, metal bipolar plates have attracted much attention due to their low cost, easy material acquisition, excellent conductivity and ease of mechanical processing. However, metal bipolar plates still face challenges in terms of durability and conductivity. To address these issues, surface modified coatings are commonly used to treat metal bipolar plates. In this work, the research progress on surface modified coatings for metal bipolar plates in recent years was reviewed, which included multiple aspects such as material design, deposition processes and coating properties. On this basis, the influence of different coatings on the surface modification effect of metal bipolar plates was analyzed based on test results such as conductivity, corrosion resistance, film substrate bonding strength and hydrophobicity. Meanwhile, the future research trends of various types of modified coatings were discussed. These research results provided useful guidance and inspiration for improving the performance of metal bipolar plates and further promoting the development of PEMFC surface modification technology.