Best Car Polish: Smooth and Glossy Is a Good Way To Get Through Life
These products prep your vehicle for a good wax and make the paint shinier and glossier.
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If you are serious about keeping your vehicle's finish in good condition, high-quality polish just might be your best friend. Polishes prepare the painted surface by filling in minor imperfections before you apply wax. While you can use a car polish by hand, they're designed for use with random orbital or dual-action polishers for the best results. Polishes protect your vehicle's paint from road grime, UV rays, and other elements. They make small scratches and other surface damage less noticeable. They can also produce glossy, mirror-like results and smooth out the finish. We researched the best car polishes available in a handy buying guide.
Meguiar's Ultimate Polish
- Produces high-gloss results
- Removes swirl marks
- Deepens paint color
- Unpleasant aroma
- More than one coat may be required
Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish
- Inexpensive
- Can be applied in direct sunlight
- No heavy buffing required
- Strong odor
- May leave some spots behind
Turtle Wax Color Magic Jet Black Wax
- Easy to use
- Corrects faded finishes
- Safe for all vehicles
- Great for black vehicles
- Can be tough to rub off
- Won’t mask deep scratches
Summary List
- Best Overall: Meguiar's Ultimate Polish
- Best Value: Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish
- Honorable Mention: Turtle Wax Color Magic Jet Black Wax
- Best UV protection: Chemical Guys All-In-One Polish
- Most Environmentally Friendly: TopCoat F11 Polish and Sealer
Our Methodology
I took several factors into consideration when compiling our list of the best car polishes. I sought out items from well-known brands with a reputation for producing high-quality car-care products. I also looked at car polishes in a wide range of prices to suit a variety of budgets. In addition, I made sure to choose products that are easy to use. I avoided products that are particularly difficult to buff out or that leave a hazy finish behind. While I didn't have a chance to test each and every one of these products, I made sure to research their effectiveness in order to produce our guide of the best products on the market. For more information on our methodology, go here.
Best Car Polish Reviews & Recommendations
Specs
- Brand: Meguiar’s
- Size: 16 ounces
- Type: Pre-wax glaze
Pros
- Repairs paint
- Provides a high gloss
- Good for dark-colored vehicles
Cons
- Strong odor
- Ventilation recommended
- May require multiple coats
This pre-wax glaze works to repair your paint and breathe new life into it. It will give your dull paint a high-gloss finish that looks wet. If you have a dark-colored vehicle, you’ll especially benefit from the repairing effects of this glaze. With careful application, it will permanently remove defects. This glaze can also deepen the color of your paint with polishing oils.
Unfortunately, this glaze doesn’t smell good. This can make it unpleasant to use, so be sure to apply it in a well-ventilated area. You may also need to apply more than one coat to get the deep mirror-like shine that Meguiar’s promises.
Pros
Repairs paint
Provides a high gloss
Good for dark-colored vehicles
Cons
Strong odor
Ventilation recommended
May require multiple coats
When not worked in properly, the polish tends to leave small spots along the surface. These spots are particularly noticeable on white finishes. If you apply the polish in a garage, you may also start to notice an unpleasant odor as you work. Otherwise, it has many great properties that work well with most cars.
Pros
Affordable
Provides protective coating
No heavy buffing required
Can be applied in sunlight
Versatile application
Cons
Unfortunately, adding an extra layer of the polish won’t make it any shinier. It’s also hard to rub off. In addition, it won’t mask deeper scratches or marks and may make them stand out once it’s fully cured.
Pros
Reputable brand
Designed for black vehicles
Brightens up faded finishes
Removes oxidation
Cons
Can be tough to rub off
Won’t correct deep scratches
However, it doesn’t work well on cars with heavy scratches and swirls. It’s also thick, which makes it a bit challenging to load it on a sponge. It makes the surface sticky, and application can be messy. Moreover, it has no hydrophobic properties, meaning that water doesn’t bead up and roll off the surface.
Pros
Produces mirror-like shine
Protects paintwork
UV ray protection
Masks small imperfections
Cons
Not great for large scratches or swirls
Application can be messy
Pros
Long-lasting shine
Masks minor scratches
Eco-friendly
Can be used on engine parts
Cons
May leave streaks on glass
Not for darker vehicles
Our Verdict
Our pick for the best car polish is Meguiar's Ultimate Polish. It acts as a pre-wax glaze and helps produce a glossy, wet look, particularly on dark vehicles. It also removes minor defects. For a more budget-friendly option, consider Nu Finish Liquid Car Polish.
What to Consider When Buying Car Polish
There are several factors to consider before investing in a car polish. First, decide whether you want just a polish or one with wax and/or sealer properties. Examine the abrasiveness of the formula and whether it's compatible with your vehicle and how easy it is to apply the product to the surface area.
Types of Car Polish
Polish and Wax
This type of polish is a glaze and a car wax combined. These products typically include a mild abrasive to remove minor defects and have fillers to mask imperfections. The wax element will then protect the finish. The downside is that this type of polish will not last as long as some other types. It may work for around a month before you have to reapply it, which can be a hassle.
Polish and Sealer
A polish and sealer is designed to eliminate light scratches, swirl marks, and other surface imperfections. It cleans the finish and also provides a protective coating against the elements, insect debris, road grime. Some people use this type of product in place of wax. It also does a good job of restoring the color and shine of your paint job.
Polish Only
If you're a purist, you might want to stick with pure polish. These products are designed solely to remove minor imperfections on your vehicle's paintwork. They fill in small scratches and swirl marks. They don't contain wax or sealant, so you will need to apply separate products on top of the polish for the best results.
Car Polish Key Features
Abrasiveness
Today's polishing formulas contain abrasives that break down into tiny particles when you buff the product into the paint. The abrasive elements get finer and finer the more you work the polish into the finish. While most polishes are suitable for most vehicles, it's smart to check the level of abrasiveness to make sure it's safe for your needs.
Application
Ultimately, you decide how to apply the polish on your vehicle, but some products are more effective when used with a mechanical buffer versus a microfiber cloth. Paste products, for example, are more challenging to apply by hand. Liquids are much easier to work with, but they are less effective when it comes to filling scratches.
Car Polish Pricing
Some car polishes are fairly affordable and cost less than $20. They have varying degrees of abrasiveness, and it's important to make sure the formula is compatible with your vehicle's finish. Other brands can cost upwards of $40, and many of them include an applicator, which can save you some money. More premium options can cost more than $50. These products are typically professional grade or part of a kit. They're not necessarily better than slightly less expensive options, but they may include more volume, so they will last a little bit longer than those in smaller bottles.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers
Q: What’s the difference between waxing and polishing my car?
A: When your vehicle's finish starts to wear down and show minor imperfections such as marks, lines, and scratches, it's time to polish it. Polish products are designed to fill in and smooth these spots so they're less visible. After you polish the paint, you can top it off with wax, which protects the finish and improves its luster.
Q: How often should I polish my car?
A: Ideally, you should polish your vehicle every six months. This will protect the paint and keep it shiny as long as you wax it as well. If you polish it more often, you can wear down the paint.
Q: Does polish damage car paint?
A: It's critical to be careful when applying a polish to your car's paint because it contains abrasives in its formula. Use polish sparingly because it thins out the paint and can potentially damage the clear coat.
What’s the difference between waxing and polishing my car?
A car polish is needed when the surface of a vehicle starts to show signs of wear—typical imperfections include small scratches, marks, or lines. With a car polish, these little imperfections get filled in, smoothing the surface and making the marks almost invisible. Waxing helps protect the paint and enhances the overall luster of the vehicle.
How do I polish my car by hand?
You’ll need some time and patience to polish a car by hand. To start out, wash your car thoroughly. Then, apply a high-quality car polish to a soft cloth and rub it over the car in a circular motion. Continue this motion until the polish disappears completely. Repeat until every inch of your car has been polished. Finish off with a wax and sealant for a complete detailing.
How often should I polish my car?
In general, it’s important to polish your car twice a year. This will keep the paint shiny and protected (with the proper wax) as the weather changes. You can polish it more frequently, but the more you do it, the faster the paint will wear down.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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