Car Wax Reviews & Buying Guide 2018

Hello, I'm Gregor and I put this site together. At first, you'll find an overview of recommended car waxes, followed by a public poll and a general buying guide on car wax. Further down on this page, we do link to other well-written articles and reviews about car waxes. At last, you'll be able to weight in your own opinion in the comments section.
If you choose to buy an item that I've chosen indepenently and recommended it here, I may earn commissions to support my efforts. For you, the price of the product will not change, I'm just saying this to be completely open with you.
The 9 Best Car Waxes of Our Choice
Brand |
Aero Cosmetics
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CarGuys
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CarGuys
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P21S
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Meguiar's
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Mothers
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Perfect-It
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Meguiar's
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Meguiar's
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Name |
Wet or Waterless
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Liquid Wax
16 oz Kit
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Hybrid Wax Sealant
18 Ounce Kit
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12700W Carnauba Wax
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Meguiar’s Deep Crystal
16 oz
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05500 California Gold
12 oz.
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3M 39526 Show Car
10.5 oz.
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G55032SP Complete Car Care
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Meguiar’s Black Wax –
7 oz
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Image |
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Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces. Aircraft Quality for Your Car, RV, Boat, Motorcycle. The Best Wash Wax. Anywhere, Anytime, Home, Office, School, Garage, Parking Lots.
Recommendation
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CarGuys Liquid Wax - The Ultimate Car Wax Shine with Polymer Paint Sealant Protection! - 16 oz Kit
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CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant - Most Advanced Top Coat Polish and Sealer on the Market - Infused with Liquid Carnauba for a Deep Hydrophobic Shine on All Types of Surfaces - 18 Ounce Kit
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P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax
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Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax – Protective Wax Barrier Locks in Shine and Gloss – A2216, 16 oz
Great Deal
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Mothers 05500 California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax Paste - 12 oz.
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3M 39526 Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax - 10.5 oz.
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Meguiar's G55032SP Complete Car Care Kit
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Meguiar’s Black Wax – Black Car Wax Creates Deep Reflections and Gloss – G6207, 7 oz
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Rating according to our criteria |
98 %
in comparison
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97 %
in comparison
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92 %
in comparison
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92 %
in comparison
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88 %
in comparison
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88 %
in comparison
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87 %
in comparison
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86 %
in comparison
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84 %
in comparison
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Features |
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Offers |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
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on Amazon.com |
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on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Show Offer
on Amazon.com |
Results of the Straw Poll: Popular Car Waxes
Every month, we analyze which products our readers like the most:
Which Car Waxe Would You Buy Online? (August 2018)
32 total votes.
If you also want to vote on the best car wax, click here to view the poll.
Car Wax Buying Guide

The difference between driving a car with a brilliant shine versus one that simply looks good usually comes down to the wax job. After all, it takes more than just washing your car to keep it looking its best. If you have ever had your car detailed, you probably know that waxing is one of the most important steps in the process. Your car will look its best if you apply a good coat of wax every two to three months, according to Consumer Reports. The effects will be even more dramatic on older cars where the finish coat is beginning to dull. To help you select the car wax product that is best for your particular situation, here are a few things you should consider:
Benefits of Car Wax
In addition to looking better, a good coat of wax will help protect your car against bird droppings, tree sap and other contaminants. It also will provide a shield that helps protect the paint from minor scratches. A good coat of wax will also accomplish the following:
• Fill minute imperfections in the paint • Remove oxidation • Make colors appear more vibrant • Provide protection against UV rays • Help protect the paint from water corrosion
Choosing a Car Wax
The chemical composition of car wax has changed over the years. This is partly because manufacturers have developed more effective formulations and partly due to changes in governmental regulations. While some waxes are easier to apply than others, you should still expect to expend a significant amount of effort in order to achieve the high sheen you desire. Although most waxes are mild and will not harm your car's finish, some of the more abrasive waxes could potentially damage the paint. For instance, swirl marks can be left in the paint if an abrasive wax is applied in a circular motion. The effect will be more prominent on darker finishes. Here are some of the more common types of car waxes:
(1) Paste wax
A Paste wax tends to last longer than other types, plus it can repeatedly be buffed in order to keep the car looking good. Paste waxes tend to be a better choice on older cars with a dull finish. This is because the dull finish usually results from the paint becoming rough over the years, and a good quality wax will help smooth out those rough spots and fill small defects. Paste wax also is better in dusty and extremely hot environments for the same reason. The disadvantage to a paste wax, as compared to a liquid wax, is that the application process is a bit more complicated and requires more effort to apply.
(2) Liquid wax
Liquid wax is the top choice of many car owners simply because it is easier to use. Since it is a liquid, you just pour it on and wipe it down. Obviously, this requires much less effort than paste wax. Liquid wax is probably a better choice on newer cars because it is less abrasive and therefore not as likely to damage the paint. However, it may take longer to dry than paste wax, and many car buffs consider it to be inferior to other types of car wax products.
(3) Spray wax
Spray waxes provide many of the same benefits that paste and liquid car waxes do. The main advantage to a spray wax is in its application—you simply spray it on and let it dry. This is the type of wax that is applied when you go through an automated car wash. Spray waxes for retail use are usually sold in aerosol cans or containers with a hand pump dispenser. One additional advantage to spray waxes is that they are very easy to touch up.
(4) Colored wax
Some manufacturers have developed waxes specifically designed for certain paint colors. The theory is that colored waxes will help fill scratches in the paint and cover defects better. However, a considerable cloud of controversy hovers over these products, and the jury is still out as to whether they work better than other products designed for the same purpose.
(5) Silicone-based wax
Manufacturers and retailers that sell silicone-based waxes claim that the addition of silicone gives a beautiful and durable shine with minimal effort. However, there is a considerable amount of disagreement concerning that claim.Cars Direct recommends that silicone-based waxes be avoided because of potential damage that can occur if you try to touch up your car’s paint. This is because the silicone is extremely hard to remove, and touch-up paint will not adhere to silicone residue left behind during a previous wax application.
Application Tips
Although waxing a car is a pretty straightforward process, there are certain things you should be aware of. The following tips will help you achieve the best wax job possible:
(1) Read the instructions
While this step is tempting to skip due to time constraints, it would be to your advantage to read the manufacturer’s directions concerning the application of their product. After all, no one should know the product better than the manufacturer, and in some cases they have performed tests and collected data they can share with you on how to make their product perform at its peak.
(2) Test the wax
Before you begin a full application, find an inconspicuous spot on your car and test the wax. While most waxes and paint finishes are compatible, you just never know. It is better to test than to later discover a problem with the product you are using.
(3) Clean and dry your car before applying wax
Make sure that your car is clean and dry before you begin waxing. If there is any grit left on the car when the wax is applied, the grit could damage the paint. Just in case you miss any spots, begin at the top of the car and work your way down. This is because the top is usually cleaner than the sides, especially toward the bottom. That way, if any grit is picked up in the waxing process, damage will be kept to a minimum.
(4) Select a good applicator
Popular Mechanics recommends using a clean buffer pad to apply the wax and a microfiber cloth to remove it, using circular motions. If additional buffing is required, you may need to use an electric orbital buffer or an angle grinder with a buffing wheel attachment. Be careful with electric buffers, though, as they hold the potential to damage your car’s paint if used too aggressively.
(5) Apply wax in thin coats
Thin coats of wax shine and protect just as well as thicker ones, plus they are easier to apply and buff out. Thin coats also dry quicker which allows you to complete the job in less time.
Special, Expensive Car Waxes
If you have a very rare car or a classic car that has been restored, you will certainly want to invest in a top-quality wax product. Premium products can easily go for $50 or more per pop, and some even approach the $1,000 mark. One reason for the high price tag is that many of the premium products contain carnauba, a rare ingredient that comes from Brazilian palm trees. Carnauba wax can deepen the shine already present in your car’s paint, plus it will help protect the car’s surface from water damage.
Summary
There are many types and qualities of car waxes on the market. Keep in mind that each type of wax has its own set of pros and cons. Before you make your decision, you owe it to yourself to conduct some additional research in order to find the best wax for you. This will depend, of course, on the age of your car and the condition of its paint job. It also will depend on how much time and effort you want to invest, plus the quality of the shine that you hope to achieve.
Your Opinion Matters!





Car Wax Reviews & Additional Articles
New: Our editorial list of additional articles. We decided to gather informartion all around the internet and present you a list of helpful, external links to interesting reads about the best car waxes and their reviews and guides.
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The Car Waxes of Our Choice At a Glance
You're not convinced by the previous writings about car waxes? Of course you can just choose by visual impression, that's why we present you all our chosen products at a single glance. A click on any image is enough to open an external link to the best offer we could find.
Tips from YouTube about Car Wax
Today - My Top 12 Best Car Waxes Reviewed
Products Reviewed In Video: HD Poxy detailcentral.com.au Angelwax Guardian detailcentral.com.au Meguiars Cleaner ...
Disclaimer: This video is not from us, but we found it relevant enough to show it here.
Comments
Conclusion for this Car Wax Buying Guide in February 2019
Finally, we want to present you our rating criteria for our car wax comparison, so you can better understand and comprehend our recommendations and the rating process itself. Furthermore, we still ask you to keep your eyes open for short term deals in order to make some great bargains with car wax in 2018.
Published by G. Krambs on StrawPoll.com (last update on 2019-02-21 08:04:26).
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