Best Car Polishes for Long-Lasting Sheen

If you take pride in the way your car looks, you definitely want to invest in a car polish that is really going to make your vehicle pop. This is the best way to preserve the paint job, enhance the finish and ward off all that dirt your car inevitably picks up while on the road. In fact, good car polish may just be the most important factor in making your car look as attractive as possible - and yes, cars can look attractive!

But which is the right car polish for you? There are plenty of things to consider before rushing out and picking a can off the shelf.

Make sure you check our buying guide below to help you make the right decision.

What is car polish?

Not to be confused with car wax, car polish is an abrasive solution that is formulated to remove the finest layers of your car's paintwork to make it appear smooth. After a car has been treated with car polish, it will look shiny and sparkling new. If you want your car to look like it has just come out of the showroom, you may want to consider using some.

What are the benefits of using car polish?

Take it from us, a high-quality brand of car polish will make you feel incredibly proud of the automobile sitting outside your home. Some of the benefits of using polish include:

Fix paint issues

As you are probably already aware, the paintwork on your car will develop some problems as time goes on. However, these can usually be sorted with a simple car polish application. It is designed to create a smooth surface area on your car’s body, making it look brand new.

Remove scratches

You don’t just get tiny dents in your windscreen - you get them in the body of your car as well. By using car polish, you can fill these scratches in. This won’t work if the issues are too large, but car polish is a godsend for all those annoying little imperfections caused by those small stones.

Make the car look glossy

Car polish is like a 3-in-1 solution. It buffs the car, fills in scratches, and smooths the paintwork. As such, it leaves your car looking just like it did on the day you bought it - unless you got it second-hand from a dodgy dealer! If you apply a coat of wax afterward, you’ll maintain that glossy look for even longer.

Cut down on car wash costs

It’s a little-known fact that the more you polish your car, the less you will need to physically wash your car. An effective polish and wax routine prevents dirt from sticking to your vehicle. All you’ll need to do is give your car a quick wipe to remove accumulated dirt.

Things to consider before buying car polish?

There are a number of things you may want to keep in mind to help you find the right car polish for your needs. These include the following:

Formulation

It should be obvious, but not all polishes are suitable for every paint job. For example, a lot of products are just your run-of-the-mill car polish, which requires the wax to be purchased separately. However, you can find other products which combine both polish and wax in one tub, which saves you a great deal of time. That being said, most experts would tell you to buy the separate polish and wax, taking the time to give your car the treatment it truly deserves.

Application

You’ll want to consider how you are going to apply the polish to your car. Some polishes respond better to cloth over a mechanical buffer and vice versa. If you are using liquids, you’ll have an easier time applying them by hand, but they’re not as useful when it comes to filling in scratches. Paste products require more elbow grease or mechanical assistance, but they’ll give you better results.

Abrasiveness

Many car polishes contain added abrasives which help break down thin layers of the paintwork while buffing into the body. These elements get progressively finer as you work them into your car. You should always check that a car polish is safe to use on your car’s finish - you don’t want to do irreparable damage to your vehicle.

Color of your car

You may not think to consider the color of your car when purchasing car polish, but it is vitally important nonetheless. Light-colored cars are more capable of taking very abrasive formulas and polish pads. On the other hand, darker cars fare better with less abrasive products.

Paint type

You should always check which paint has been used on the body of your car to ensure you can polish it safely. For example, metallic or pearlescent paints are more likely to show marks from where you have polished, which means you’ll have to be careful with your polishing technique. Solid color finishes will fare much better with pretty much any polishing product.

Car polish price range

Car polish can cost anywhere from $20 to $50, sometimes even more. Most high-quality products can be bought relatively cheaper, but if you want professional-grade polishes, you should expect to pay a lot more. That being said, you’ll be able to tell the difference?

FAQ

What is the difference between car polish and car wax?

The difference is pretty simple. Car polish is the first product you apply, which buffs, fills, and smooths the paintwork. Wax is the product you put on afterward, to hold the polish in place and stop the build-up of dirt from the road.

How often should I polish my car?

Ideally, you should polish your car every six months. This helps keep the paintwork looking fresh and shiny, although you will want to wax the car as well. If you polish your car too much, you’ll ruin the finish.