The Best Car Waxes Of 2022 For A Brilliant Finish

Why Trust Us

Because even people who go on frequent off-road adventures like their vehicles to look great - and glossy too. To give you what we believe are the very best car waxes on the market, we scoured the internet for top-rated products (liquid, carnauba and spray formulas included), spending a little over 18 hours on research. Aside from relying on our own experiences with different car wax products in the past, we also relied on input from other buyers. So, the car waxes you see as our top picks are the ones that we and thousands of other consumers liked the best.

Who This Is For

This guide is for anyone who wishes to keep their vehicle in tip-top shape for as long as possible. Whether you’re looking for an easy-to-use liquid car wax that will produce the deepest and wettest shine that will be the envy of your neighborhood, or a simple affordable wax paste for lasting UV protection and rich gloss, we’ve got you covered.

How We Picked

We chose car wax products that we believe will satisfy most folks’ needs and budgets. As you can probably tell from our top picks, some products are more expensive but offer phenomenal benefits such as extra-deep shine and excellent water beading abilities. Other products are more value-based, meaning they will get the job done but won’t break the bank.

Features To Look For In A Car Wax

While buying car wax isn’t rocket science, it’s certainly closer to rocket science now than it was 30 years ago as there are hundreds of different products available for purchase. To help simplify the selection process for you, we've outlined some things you may want to consider when shopping for your new car wax.

Delivery Method – Waxes come in paste, liquid and spray form and which one you use will be a matter of how hard you want to work to buff it out. Spray waxes are typically super-easy to buff with liquids being the next easiest and pastes typically being the most labor-intensive.

Natural or Synthetic – Natural waxes like carnauba wax provide a deep, rich shine that’s very satisfying to behold. Synthetic waxes by comparison will provide a harder, higher gloss that some feel looks almost like you wrapped your car in glass. So it comes down to taste. Bear in mind though that natural waxes typically don't last as long as synthetic ones.

Machine or Hand Polish – While many folks will choose one or the other, if you really want your car to have a gold-medal shine you’ll want to do both. It will take longer and require more work to be sure, but the final result will speak for itself.

Longevity - Ideally, you want your car wax to last for as long as possible, or realistically speaking for several months. Unfortunately, most waxes tend to last only a few weeks if the vehicle is parked outside; this is especially true if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions and you need to wash your car rather often. In this case, we recommend looking for the longest-lasting synthetic wax that you can find.

Price – While you’re not going to pay an arm and a leg for any car wax, you’ll probably find out for yourself that there isn’t a huge difference between the results you get with a $20 car wax and the result you get from a $90 car wax. Still, it's good to remember that, for the most part, you do get what you pay for.

Q: What is the best car wax?

A: The best car wax should provide good UV protection, have great water beading capabilities, and produce rich shine with an ideally liquid-like (wet) finish. It should also last at least several weeks, but preferably several months. All that to say - any of the waxes in our list fit the bill. They all produce professional results and won’t make much of a dent in your wallet.

Q: How should you wax your car?

A: This depends entirely on the type of wax you’re using but applying wax - whether spray, liquid or paste - to a dirty car is a sure way to destroy the finish. Think of it like showering - if you're dirty, the last thing you want to do is rub lotion all over your body as you'll just be spreading dirt all over. What you want to do instead is take a shower (wash your car) and then apply the lotion (car wax).

Basically, you want to make sure the surface of your vehicle is completely clean (no water spots!) and detailed before you apply the wax. Ideally, you should wax your car in a shaded, cool area as well.

Q: How many times per year should you wax your car?

A: This comes down to a few different dynamics, so we’re going to break it down using different scenarios. 

If you’re parking your car in an underground parking garage, or your own personal garage, then you’re not exposing it to the elements very often. That’s a good thing. Wind, rain, snow, rapidly-changing temperatures—they all play a part in how long you finish will last. In this instance, you only need to wax your car twice per year to keep that glow.

Street parking is harsh. You wonder if someone’s going to break into it, especially if it’s too flashy, but the real risk is ruining the paint by leaving the car outdoors in the blistering sun. Ever seen a plastic children’s toy out in the yard, and the colors are all faded? That’s because they’ve been sun-bleached. It’s not all that different from how the sun affects your car, either. If you live in the sunshine state and your car is in the driveway or out on the street for the better part of the year, we recommend waxing it four or even five times per year to ensure minimum sun damage to your finish and maximum shine.

Cold climates are rough on your skin; imagine what they’re doing to your paint job. As everything in winter expands and contracts, it also changes shape slightly. Little scuffs on your finish can fill with snow and ice, and from there, it expands and contracts (especially when you’re driving with the wind chill to consider). Slapping on a finish six times per year is best if you’re in New England or Alaska, where you’re seeing more cold than anything else. Even if you park in the garage, your car is still susceptible every time you take it out for a spin.

Q: What is the #1 car wax to remove scratches?

A: A car wax cannot actually remove a scratch that goes through the clear coat. What it can do instead is hide minor or shallow scratches. Some wax products do a better job of hiding/disguising scratches than others. Of the waxes on our list, SHINE ARMOR Fortify Quick Coat Car Wax, Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid, as well as Zymol Carbon Wax are considered to be effective.

Q: Who makes the best car wax?

A: Ask a dozen car enthusiasts which is the best wax and you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. The best thing to do is try several car wax brands as well as types and decide for yourself which works best for you and your car, along with awesome car gadgets.

Q: What’s the difference between wax and polish?

A: Wax is a protector, much like when you wax a floor, while car polish aims to fill in those microfractures and splits on your finish and keep it nice and smooth. The difference between them is pretty simple once you know it—while a car polish helps remove minor defects from the car's surface, a car wax acts as a protective layer, coating the shallow scratches and keeping the surface smooth and shiny. In essence, car polish is for correction while car wax is for protection.

Q: Do you wax or polish first?

A: This is where it can get a wee bit tricky. We know that polish fills in those little scuffs and scrapes that we can’t see with the naked human eye. Wax protects the car from enduring those. So shouldn’t it just make sense to slap on polish first? Well, you’d be right, but you have to approach it properly.

If you apply polish, let it dry, and then immediately apply wax, you’re going to run into a problem. Now, this depends on what brand you use and what their ingredients are, but nine times out of ten, you’re going to run into one issue: the wax doesn’t stick.

It’s better to apply polish, drive around for 2-3 days, and then apply the wax. Reason being is this: your car is going to endure some wear and tear as you go through life. It’s why you’re polishing and waxing. However, applying something smooth to a smooth surface isn’t always a foolproof solution. Sometimes, the wax feels like it’s melting off, and just doesn’t look right. When you drive around for a bit, it’s like you’re using the wind as a sandpaper on your car to allow the wax to stick. Drive around a bit, have your fun, then wash and wax on (no wax off).

Q: What is the best car wax for long term protection?

A: Many car wax products claim to offer long-term protection, however, how long your wax is going to last depends on several different factors, including where you park your car and how extreme the climate is in your area. This being said, in our list, Shine Armor Fortify, Car Guys Hybrid Wax, and Turtle Wax provide the longest protection.

Q: What is the best car wax to use on a black car?

A: There are dozens of car wax products specifically formulated to work on darker colored paintworks, and some of the most popular ones include Zymol Carbon Wax, which is included as our top pick, as well as Meguiar's Black Wax, and Turtle Wax Black Box Kit, just to name a few.

Sources:

1. How to Wax Your Car with Amazing Results: 7-Step Guide - Driving Tests
2. A Guide Into Wax - Detailing Wiki
3. How Often Do I Need to Wax My Car? - Cars.com
4. What Is Carnauba Wax? - ThoughtCo.