10 Best Car Waxes in 2019
Car wax can be an excellent tool for protecting your car, whether you’re using it to add a nice showroom shine or to keep your paintwork safe from damage on the road. Either way, it’s something that all car enthusiasts should own – but which one is best?
After all, there’s so many to choose from that it’s extremely easy to end up with a cheap, weak layer of wax that barely adds any kind of shine to the metal. Is there a specific type you should pick, or is there a universally-agreed “best car wax” on the market?
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- View the Best Car Waxes , Below.
- 1. Meguiar’s G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax
- 2. Aero Cosmetics Car Wash Wax Kit
- 3. Turtle Wax T-477R ICE Spray Wax
- 4. Meguiar’s G190526 Hybrid Ceramic Wax
- 5. Turtle Wax T-223 Super Hard Shell Paste Wax
- 6. Chemical Guys WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax
- 7. CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant
- 8. P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax
- 9. Collinite 845 Insulator Wax
- 10. Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat Wax
- Car Wax Buyer’s Guide
We’ve put together this list of the best car wax brands we could find, along with some of the reasons they stand out from the rest.
View the Best Car Waxes , Below.
1. Meguiar’s G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This liquid wax is designed to provide as much protection as possible without altering the way your car looks, adding a thin reflective layer that won’t react badly to hood ornaments, colorful designs and non-metal parts.
Its reflective finish makes it an excellent choice for anybody who wants a professional, straight-out-of-the-dealership look, and its protective power allows a single coat to last for long periods of time, even if it’s constantly fighting against dirt and mud on off-road trails.
The specialized design of the wax means that it won't wear off easily, even under heavy sunlight or rain, and it can work on a vast range of different surfaces (both painted and unpainted).
The incredibly advanced composition of this wax makes it ideal for car owners who need as much protection as possible.
Why We Like It
- Easy to apply.
- Water-resistant.
- Can be applied with polishers.
- Safe to apply by hand.
- Incredibly durable.
2. Aero Cosmetics Car Wash Wax Kit
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This kit contains a huge quantity of wax and an equally useful container of 'waterless wash,' keeping your car safe and clean under almost any circumstance. The wax itself can be applied straight after you clean your vehicle, keeping the car's clean finish and deflecting dirt without altering the way it looks or how light bounces off it.
The huge gallon-sized container of wax means that you won’t run out mid-covering, and the spray-based waterless wash can be used to keep it looking shiny without taking hours of manual cleaning work. Since you don’t need any water or special tools, you can keep the entire kit in your car, ready to apply anywhere, anytime.
The sheer strength and versatility of this kit make it stand out from the crowd, and it’ll hold on tight on all kinds of vehicles, even aircraft.
Why We Like It
- Extremely easy to apply.
- No water required.
- Long-lasting.
- Biodegradable.
- Can work on nearly any kind of vehicle.
3. Turtle Wax T-477R ICE Spray Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This universal wax can clean and protect almost any surface, including bare glass and exposed metal, without causing any damage or corrosion to it. The reflective shine and exposure-resistant composition keep your car stylish and secure in all kinds of weather, both while you're on the move and while you're parked up outdoors.
Since it can cover the glass windows, you won't need to treat them as 'weak points' in your car's design, which will definitely appeal to car enthusiasts who want their windows to stay spotless.
The polymer combinations used in the wax give it plenty of bonding power, even when it’s applied directly to plastic detailing and painted metal. Since it’s a spray-based wax, it takes far less time to apply than a manual variety would, saving plenty of time in the long run.
This wax combines style and protection in a way that many others don’t, giving you the best of both worlds in a lightweight spray bottle.
Why We Like It
- Spray bottle.
- Beautifully reflective finish.
- Smooth application.
- Bonds to almost all car surfaces.
- Resistant to sunlight and rain.
4. Meguiar’s G190526 Hybrid Ceramic Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This spray-based wax is easy to apply and quick to dry, making it incredibly useful for quick, short-notice coverage, especially if you’re out on the road and far away from your garage at home.
The low-effort, mess-free spray bottle stops the waxing process from feeling like a chore, and the water-resistant layer it creates means that you won’t need to worry about re-applying the wax every time it rains.
The wax is much more durable than most standard varieties, making it an ideal choice for all kinds of protective coverage on almost any surface – it can even get rid of damage from small rocks and specks of dirt hitting the vehicle while you’re driving.
As a mess-free, easy-to-use spray, this wax is an exceptional tool for quick, hassle-free protective coats on vehicles of any size.
Why We Like It
- Low mess.
- Doesn’t leave any smears.
- Versatile.
- Shiny finish.
- No water needed.
5. Turtle Wax T-223 Super Hard Shell Paste Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This general-purpose wax can stick to a huge variety of surfaces and isn't just limited to use on vehicles. The UV-resistant finish it offers protects the surface underneath it from sunlight damage and fading with age, and will help keep your car's details and colors consistent for up to twelve months per coat, giving you a full year of protection for a very small amount of work.
The formula has been designed with ease of use in mind, making it easy to apply and equally easy to remove if you want to replace or refresh the wax coating – it’ll survive constant weather damage without showing any signs of damage, but you can strip it off with some targeted scrubbing and washing.
The way that this wax is designed makes it an excellent tool for keeping a consistent coat on your vehicle, especially since you can easily wash it off by hand and re-apply a fresh layer.
Why We Like It
- Incredibly durable.
- Easy to remove and refresh by hand.
- UV-ray resistant.
- Adds a thin shiny finish.
- Works on a wide variety of surfaces.
6. Chemical Guys WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This carnauba-based wax provides a very clear, wet shine that keeps your car’s surfaces incredibly well-protected while also bringing out a fuller, more luxurious look in whatever paint you’re using it on.
It’s resistant to both types of UV light and offers a reasonable amount of physical protection, as well as being smooth to the touch and compatible with painted surfaces, allowing you to keep your cars’ design safe from harm without changing how it looks on the surface.
The formula is designed to cleanse any paint you apply it to, getting rid of minor stains and discolored spots and bolstering them against any further damage. Since it's completely clear and doesn't tint the material underneath it, you can use it regardless of the design or color scheme you've chosen – even if it's an entirely new coat of paint.
The durability and smoothness of this wax make it ideal for car lovers who want to keep their custom designs and original paint jobs visible and undamaged.
Why We Like It
- Protects paint against discoloration.
- UVA and UVB resistant.
- Adds a high-quality shine.
- Long-lasting.
- Works on a vast variety of materials.
7. CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This spray-based wax is designed to last as long as possible, providing a consistent, reliable coat regardless of the type of surface you’re using it on. Its synthetic formula means that it’s been tailored for maximum efficiency in most situations, turning an hour-long wax job into a quick, ten-minute-or-less spraying session.
The wax itself is mixed in with some sealant, allowing it to add more physical protection against weather damage, no matter whether it’s light snowfall or heavy rainstorms.
The shine it provides once its dry is meant to help boost the base material’s glossiness, so you can turn even the dullest coat of paint into something reflective, being guaranteed with consistent coverage and a balanced sheen on any vehicle.
The versatility and simplicity of this spray make it ideal for a vast range of different situations and surfaces, and it's small enough to carry around in the car if you need a portable solution to your wax problems.
Why We Like It
- Long-lasting.
- Efficient and easy to apply.
- Weather-resistant.
- Easy to buff off.
- Can be applied to any kind of surface.
8. P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This paste wax is able to cover a vast range of surfaces without leaving any stains or powders behind, ensuring that you're getting a pure coat of shininess without any annoying smudges and specks of dirt.
As if that wasn't good enough, it's also incredibly easy to apply and buff, even if you're doing it by hand using a cloth or soft brush – any leftover residue can simply be wiped off, leaving your car's surfaces clear and clean.
It’s also a very quick option – if you’re choosing to buff it off straight away, you only need to leave it for a few minutes. There’s no long waiting times and tricky techniques you need to use: it compresses a long, tricky process into a short, ten-minute job.
The durability and smoothness of this wax make it ideal for car lovers who want to keep their custom designs and original paint jobs visible and undamaged.
Why We Like It
- Easy to use.
- Can be buffed off easily.
- Smooth coverage that prevents dirt from sticking.
- Can do multiple applications per container.
- Safe to use on painted or glazed surfaces.
9. Collinite 845 Insulator Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This durable wax is an excellent tool for quickly covering up weak spots and vulnerable areas on your car's surface, but it can also be a surprisingly effective formula for full coverings and top layers, providing an excellent level of protection for a small amount of work. The shine it creates is pleasantly reflective and is durable enough to protect your car from all kinds of damage, both physical and weather-related.
It’s reasonably long-lasting, able to provide up to a year of protection in ideal conditions, and there are no mixed-in colors to stain your car’s surface. In fact, it can even help protect your car against stains as long as it’s applied, meaning that you won’t need to worry about a new paint job getting ruined.
This wax is able to protect surfaces from a variety of natural damages, making it great for vehicles that are always outdoors in poor weather conditions.
Why We Like It
- Quick to apply.
- Creates a durable protective layer.
- Long-lasting.
- Works on painted surfaces.
- Can be used to cover up specific vulnerable areas.
10. Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat Wax
Read Customer Reviews Here »
This spray wax uses a special three-in-one formula that provides an effective layer of physical protection, aesthetic sheen and clean washing that keeps your car’s surface in great condition for a long, long time.
It’s been carefully designed to prevent all kinds of residue and markings, including smears and scratches – you won’t have to prepare the surface before you use the wax.
Thanks to the custom formula used to create the wax, it's able to apply to almost any surface without issue, regardless of whether they're bare, painted or covered in some kind of primer or protective layer. No matter what you use it on, it'll provide a great shine and plenty of protection from weather damage, as well as letting dirt and mud slide right off your car.
This wax is incredibly efficient, combining three useful compounds into a single spray bottle for quick, easy coverage no matter how large your vehicle is.
Why We Like It
- Three-in-one wax.
- Doesn’t leave any marks behind.
- Acts as a washing agent, getting rid of dirt.
- Safe for nearly any surface.
- Can be used on any kind of vehicle.
Car Wax Buyer’s Guide
There is a range of different wax types, all with their own pros and cons. They all serve the same purpose, but the way they’re applied and the consistently of the wax layer they create will change, along with the standard size of their containers. The amount of shine and protection they provide is down to the individual brands, rather than the types – there’s no “best car wax type” overall, so you’ll need to treat every brand and formula as a separate product.
Paste Wax
The most common is paste wax, which can simply be applied like any other kind of paste – most people use cloths or brushes, but you can also simply use a thick glove if you don’t mind having to wash them afterward. Paste wax is usually one of the least long-lasting types, but it can easily be applied to very specific places, meaning that you can fill in spots you’ve missed or cover up vulnerable areas without having to redo the entire wax layer.
Liquid Wax
Liquid car waxes are easy to apply, since they can be basically be poured out and spread across the surface, and they’ll also usually flatten out to create a perfectly smooth, flat layer once they’re dry.
However, they dry quickly (especially in high heat or direct sunlight), so you’ll have to work quickly if you’re trying to make sure you’ve covered every inch of your car. Since it’s a liquid, it’ll usually come in the largest containers, with some even coming in large multi-liter bottles that you won’t be able to carry with you for long.
Spray Wax
Spray car waxes, as you might expect, are simply sprayed onto the car – this is incredibly quick and easy, but they often come in the smallest cans to make them more portable, so you’ll need to make sure you don’t run out when you’re trying to apply another coat on a larger vehicle.
However, they can be great for situations where you’ll need to quickly apply another coat of wax – this is especially useful when you’re out on the road, since you won’t necessarily be able to stop and do a full wax job on your car, so a spray-based car waxes can solve the problem for you much faster.
Synthetic Wax
Although not really a ‘type’ by itself, synthetic car wax is any kind of wax that’s made with artificial polymers. They’re usually excellent at gripping onto painted surfaces, making them much easier to use on vehicles with a custom paint job or heavy paint layer, but they’ll also provide a slightly duller shine than natural types. Many of them will last up to a full year before needing to be replaced, making them fairly convenient for most types of vehicle.
Natural Carnauba Wax
The opposite of synthetic wax, natural types trade lifespan for quality, being much shinier and robust-looking at the expense of needing to be refreshed more often. They’re often much better at protecting the paint from contaminants, meaning that they’re better suited to shorter periods of heavier protection, rather than long-term coverage.
How do I wax a Car?
The car waxing process is surprisingly simple, but it still takes a little bit of preparation. To start, make sure your car is at least reasonably clean – the less dirt you leave behind, the less there’ll be to get trapped under the wax layer when you apply it. Remember that it’ll be harder to deal with scratches and stains once they’re covered up by a wax layer – you should always take care of them first.
Once your car is ready, make sure you’ve chosen the car wax you want to use. Some will have instructions and guidelines with them, so make sure you’ve read them, and that you understand any special rules or techniques, you’ll need to use for that specific wax. Then, simply start applying it – most people will use a cloth or specialized foam applicator, but other car waxes might come in a spray bottle or with a brush.
Be gentle and apply it carefully in circular motions, then decide whether you want to buff it or leave it to dry normally. Once it’s dry, simply remove the wax using another cloth – some will be better than others, and different car waxes might need more force to remove.
How Often Should you Wax your Car?
Some people recommend waxing a car every three or four months, but you can increase the wait time if you don’t use your car often. The more it’s exposed to poor weather and dirt, the faster you’ll need to re-apply the wax if you want a consistent amount of protection.
How do I Remove Car Wax?
Although it varies between different wax types and brands, most car waxes can be removed by washing the car and spraying on some wax-remover liquids. These still require some scrubbing to work properly, but you should be able to remove the wax with a soft wet cloth – although it might need an extra application of wax remover if it didn’t work the first time.
This can be done regardless of whether the wax is still “fresh” or whether it’s dried out and cracking – it should still be the same process.
Expert Tip
Manufactures might suggest a certain drying time or lifespan, but that won’t always be accurate – it depends on how cold, hot, wet or dry your climate is, and how much dirt or weather the wax has had to fight off.
Did you know?
You can tell if wax is ready to remove by swiping your finger in it – if it smears slightly, then it’s still drying. If there’s no smear, it’s ready to remove.