Looking for the best paint to protect your car from scuff and scratches?
Perfect, you're in the right place!
In this ProperMechanic.com guide, you'll learn:
- What paint protection is (and what it is not)
- Different types of paint protection you can choose from
- What to look for in the best paint protection
- And much more!
Check out my short list of best paint products to protect your car. Want to learn more about various tips and tricks to get the most out of your paint, continue reading!
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Our Top Pick
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Our Top Pick
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CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant
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View on Amazon |
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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TriNova Paint Sealant Car Wax
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View on Amazon |
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Best High-End
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Best High-End
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SHINE ARMOR Fortify Quick Coat – Ceramic Coating
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View on Amazon |
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Best Budget
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Best Budget
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Meguiar’s M2116 Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant
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View on Amazon |
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VViViD 3M Scotchgard Clear Paint Protection Vinyl Film
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View on Amazon |
Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated As of 5/4/2020
Top Rated Overall: CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant
- Hydrophobic shine
- Hybrid wax
- Easy application
Our top overall pick for protecting your car's paint is this amazing product, the CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant.
This sealant has a 100% satisfaction guarantee that you (probably) won't ever need to use because this sealant offers a crazy shine that not only makes your car look amazing but also keeps it protected.
If you're looking for a simple, easy way to put a protective coat on your car in a matter of a few hours, this is the best option on the market!
Our Top Picks For The Best Paint Protection
Luckily, as the years have passed, an almost endless array of paint protection products have been released onto the market.
These products offer the detail-minded among us a way to fend off the vast number of environmental factors that degrade our vehicle’s paint job and clear coat as the years go by.
That's exactly why we created this guide to help you protect that paint in the best ways possible!
But, with such a significant number of paint protection products on the market today, how does a consumer know what product will supply the level of paint protection that they seek?
Luckily, through research of our own, we have compiled the necessary information to assist you in making an informed buying decision.
What Is Paint Protection?
With time, your vehicle’s paint dulls, weathers, chips, and scratches. It is also subjected to a wide number of environmental factors.
This fact just comes as an unfortunate reality of being a car owner.
However, as the years have passed, significant advancements have been made in the automotive detailing industry and new paint protection products have flooded the store shelves.
Out of this ongoing period of innovation, paint protection products were born. These products create a barrier that allows your car’s paint to shrug off the wear and tear of daily travel, and maintain its new vehicle appearance.
Products of this nature are applied after you have washed and dried your vehicle, therefore locking your immaculate exterior finish in, and keeping grime, tree sap, acid rain and water spots out.
Read More >> Best Wax for a Black Car
What Are The Different Types Of Paint Protection?
There are two main forms of paint protection. The first of these forms is paint sealant. Paint sealant is a chemical compound that is applied to your vehicle’s paint surfaces.
These formulas are simply applied and buffed thoroughly across the entirety of your vehicle’s exterior.
A single application of paint sealer can provide a protective layer to your car’s topcoat of paint for several weeks to several months, depending on the product used.
The other form of paint protection is a paint protection film. This film works in much the same way as paint sealer does, with the major difference being how such a product is applied.
Unlike sealant, no buffing or polishing is required within the protection film treatment process.
Instead, strips of paint protection film are cut to size and placed as needed over much of a vehicle’s exterior.
Check out this article for more about protecting your car's paint.
How Does Paint Protection Work?
Sealant varieties of paint protection rely upon their ability to dry in place, leaving behind a solid outer shell that protects the paint below.
This sealing and solidifying action is made possible due to the polymer/urethane composition of these products.
Paint sealant, when buffed, leaves behind an ultra-thin, smooth to the touch finish.
Paint protection film works by supplying the vehicle’s paint with a secondary line of defense against anything that can be thrown at it.
Sheets of this film are cut to size, to provide a thorough and all-encompassing fit. This film is tacky on one side and sticks in place with minimal effort.
Read More >> How to Remove Scratches
What To Look For In A Paint Protection Product
When choosing the best possible paint protection product, several factors must first be considered. One such factor is the level of ease associated with a product’s application.
Although a perfect automotive detailing job is not completed in 10 minutes, it is quite helpful to locate a paint protection product that can be applied and buffed to satisfaction in a reasonable time.
This quickly achieves the striking results that you seek and gets you back on the road sooner.
Another factor worthy of consideration when choosing a quality paint sealant is a product’s single application longevity.
There is a quite substantial difference between a sealant that lasts until the next heavy rain shower, and one that provides two months or more of trouble-free service with a single application.
It is also important to find a product that does as advertised without leaving behind any unsightly residue.
After all, the best protective coat imaginable is of little value if it is accompanied by white streaks and chalky compound byproduct.
While many of today’s paint protection products offer little risk of encountering this dilemma, a number of lesser-priced, cheaply sold products cannot offer the same peace of mind.
Read More >> Best Car Detailing Kits
Best Paint Protection Products Reviewed
If you do not know CarGuys detailing products by now, you should.
They have taken the automotive world by storm, and for good reason.
Just as with other offerings in their car care product line, the Hybrid Wax Sealant offers next-level quality.
This sealant/wax hybrid is perfect for completing any detailing job, with its rich and lasting shine.
This sealant also can be used without any fear of being forced to deal with unsightly streaks and smudges.
CarGuys also backs all of their car care products, and the Hybrid Wax Sealant is no exception.
This product offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not happy for any reason, simply reach out to CarGuys for a full refund.
Pros
Cons
TriNova Paint Sealant Car Wax is a paint protection product that offers everything you need in one convenient bottle to polish and seal your vehicle's paint job, protecting it for the long haul.
This sealant goes to battle with road grime, bird droppings, stone chips and the elements, holding its own every time.
Even rocks, salt, rain, leaves, and the sun’s harsh UV rays are no match for TriNova Paint Sealant Car Wax.
This car care product offers the best of both worlds, providing the protective qualities of liquid carnauba, while also imparting a high-gloss shine on par with any hydrophobic polymer on the market.
This TriNova Paint Sealant is also renowned for its single treatment longevity.
Pros
Cons
If you are in search of a paint protection detailer product that can provide your car's paint with a show quality look in half the time, saving effort along the way, then Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat is the product for you.
This 3-1 car wash, coat, and shine/polish is everything you need to bring your car’s exterior finish to life in a big way, cutting your detailing time to a bare minimum.
Shine Armor Fortify Quick Coat is also safe for all painted surfaces, giving you the peace of mind to deep clean and high shine your vehicle like you never thought possible.
Additionally, this ceramic-based sealant can be applied with no fear of streaking or other unsightly surface imperfections.
Pros
Cons
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant offers consumers the latest in hydrophobic polymer technology.
This means your vehicle will not only shine like a new car in a dealership showroom, but it can beat the elements, and retain this level of shine for significantly longer than many other products on the market.
The Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant also works perfectly for eliminating minor surface imperfections such as small scratches and swirl marks.
This Meguiar’s sealant also poses little difficulty during the application process.
Simply apply the sealant, buff until satisfied, and wipe away residual compound. This will save you time, and help you achieve a show quality high gloss shine faster than you ever thought possible.
Pros
Cons
If you have decided to forgo the use of chemicals, and instead opt for the use of paint protection film, then this is the product for you.
The VViViD 3M Scotchgard Clear Paint Protection Film is completely translucent and is virtually unnoticeable when applied.
Furthermore, made by 3M, a lack of adhesion to your vehicle’s painted surfaces certainly should not be an issue.
This 3M Vinyl Film is 8mil thick for superior paint protection, and installation is far easier than one would consider.
Complete and thorough instructions can be found on 3M’s web page detailing every successive step of the installation process.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: The CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant
As if this wasn’t enough, a purchase from CarGuys truly comes with no risk whatsoever, as they back their products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If I had to choose one automotive paint protection to cover all of my car care needs, it would certainly be CarGuys Hybrid Wax Sealant.
Read More >> Best Wax for a Silver Car
