Top 5 Best Products For Polishing Your Car? (2020 Review)

Are you looking for the best car polish products for your car? You've come to the right place!

In this ProperMechanic.com guide, you'll learn:

  • What car polish products for detailing are
  • The different types of wax for detailing
  • What to look for in the best car polish products

And much more!

Top 5 Best Products For Polishing Your Car

Keeping your car's paint job in the best shape possible doesn't have to be a chore. 

Waxing your car and keeping its paint protected is one of the best things you can do as a car owner to not only maintain the quality of your vehicle but to also protect it from the elements throughout the year.

So, if you're looking to create an amazing, long-lasting shine on your car, keep reading to learn how to find the best one for you!

Image Product

digital-business-prep-table__image

Meguiar’s G17220 Ultimate Compound
  • Creates excellent clarity
  • Safe for clear coats
  • Cuts through dirt and grime
  • Creates excellent clarity
  • Safe for clear coats
  • Cuts through dirt and grime
View on Amazon

digital-business-prep-table__image

Autoglym Magma Ferrous Fallout Remover
  • Removes fine dirt and specks of debris
  • Works on paint and wheels
  • Designed to create color vibrancy
  • Removes fine dirt and specks of debris
  • Works on paint and wheels
  • Designed to create color vibrancy
View on Amazon

digital-business-prep-table__image

Zymöl Concours Glaze
  • Naturally derived carnauba wax
  • 100% satisfaction guaranteed
  • Super bright shine
  • Naturally derived carnauba wax
  • 100% satisfaction guaranteed
  • Super bright shine
View on Amazon

digital-business-prep-table__image

CarGuys Liquid Wax
  • Easy application
  • Clear, hydrophobic shine
  • 100% satisfaction guaranteed
  • Easy application
  • Clear, hydrophobic shine
  • 100% satisfaction guaranteed
View on Amazon

digital-business-prep-table__image

Nu-Finish NF-76 Liquid Car Polish
  • No buffing required
  • The “once a year car polish”
  • Comes in multiple formulas
  • No buffing required
  • The “once a year car polish”
  • Comes in multiple formulas
View on Amazon

Overall #1 Rated Pick

Updated As of 5/13/2020

  • Creates excellent clarity
  • Safe for clear coats
  • Cuts through dirt and grime

If you're looking for a high-quality shine that will last a long time, this is the polish for you!

Meguiar's is a leader in this industry for a reason: because they make excellent, versatile, and long-lasting products that your car's paint job will love.

This ultimate compound creates an unmatched clarity for your car's finish, and it cuts through dirt and grime like no other!

If you want a quality workhorse of a polish, look no further.

Top 5 Best Car Polishes

Check out our below list for a summary of our results. Keep on reading to learn more about your other options!

What Are Wax Products Used For in Detailing?

Wax is used for protecting your vehicle's paint job from dirt and water. By filling in or even eliminating small scratches and blemishes on your vehicle, wax makes your paint job look shiny and new.

So how do you know which wax to choose when it comes time to wax your vehicle? There are hundreds of different car care products out there, so it's a factor of what is available to you. 

Did you know: Using car polish can extend your car's wax job by up to 3 months.  Some waxes will only last 6-12 weeks, but using a wax can extend that to 6 months!

What Are The Different Types of Wax For Detailing?

Every wax polisher on the market has slightly different ingredients, but for the most part, they all contain carnauba wax and other natural oils with petroleum products potentially mixed in.

There are a few different types of wax, and it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish when applying a product to your paint job.

Some different types of wax include paste wax, hybrid wax and spray-on wax. If the paint is damaged and faded then you will want to start by applying a correction compound, which is a scratch remover and paint enhancer. 

Read More >> What Are The Top 5 Spray Waxes For Your Car?

How Does Waxing Your Vehicle Work?

You can apply wax using either a microfiber towel or by using an electric buffer that has a soft pad or foam applicator attachment that spins.

Start by taking your car to the car wash first. Remember to dry the excess water off of your car before starting the waxing process. 

What Do You Look For In The Best Car Wax?

You really won't know how good a specific product is until you apply it to your vehicle and see the results.

Also, just because the wax comes at a cheap price, doesn't mean it is a cheap product. Wax is a relatively simple substance to produce, so be careful that the product you are buying isn't marked up in price just because.

You can find good deals on websites like Amazon. You are also going to want to consider ease of application when selecting the perfect wax.

For example, you could choose a paste wax that requires a machine or lots of rubbing with a microfiber towel, or you could buy something like a synthetic polymer spray that is easily applied with a lot less rubbing. 

Read More >> What Are The Best Car Paint Protectors?

Best Wax For Your Vehicle Reviewed

Meguiar's has a lot of different products for detailing your vehicle, and all of them are fantastic.

There are times when you think your paint job could not get any worse.

After buffing out the hood and body panels with a product like Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, you might find that scratches have disappeared, and your car looks like it' is new again.  

After you have corrected the paint job with the Meguiar's correction compound is when you are going to want to apply a finished wax to help give your paint job that super shiny look

Pros

  • Doesn't require elbow grease for application
  • Plenty of different product options
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Mainstream product (found almost anywhere)
  • Some of Meguiar's products work better than others
  • Too many options make for a confusing choice

Autoglym is a high-quality product that you can find for a reasonable price, especially when you purchase online.

Autoglym has a wide range of products that will help, including a fall out remover for removing tough iron-oxide stains on your wheels, a rapid detailer that comes in a spray, super resin polish, bodywork shampoo and conditioner, leather care balm, super-resin polish and more.

Pros

  • Comes in multiple kit options for targeted results
  • Comes in a small container that is cheap for shipping
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Some products are unavailable when searching online
  • Some Autoglym products aren't really necessary
  • Not as easily accessible as other products

Zymöl is a high-quality wax that is of the most premium quality.

You can find Zymöl on websites like Amazon at prices that are substantially higher than your average car wax.

So what makes Zymöl such a high-quality product? 

It must be because it is a naturally derived product. Zymöl also boasts a rock-hard crystal bright shine, so it probably lasts longer than any common wax product found at your local auto parts store.

Pros

  • Easily accessible on websites like Amazon
  • Great products like carbon wax for excellent car polishing
  • High-quality results

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Comes in a small container
  • Must use Zymöl Cleanse before applicating the carbon wax (another product to purchase)

An affordable car wax shine with polymer paint sealant protection.  

With some pretty good reviews on Amazon and a reasonable price, Car Guys is a product that you might want to check out if you are into auto detailing.

With simple product design and one-step application products like spray wax, Car Guys is worth trying out on your vehicle's paint job.

Pros

  • Great price for a car wax product
  • Excellent reviews on Amazon
  • Hybrid or liquid wax options

Cons

  • Only a couple of different product options
  • Is said to damage plastic trim pieces
  • Contains lots of additives

Here is a brand that you can find in places like Walmart that will give you a good protective coat for your vehicle's paint job.

There are currently five different NuFinish products including soft paste, once a year polish, car wash, scratch doctor, and rapid shine.

The NuFinish brand claims that you only have to apply the polish one time per year on your car paint.

Pros

  • You only have to apply once a year
  • Easily accessible in stores and online
  • Helps remove grime and cleans up the paint job

Cons

  • Doesn't contain wax
  • Once a year application might not be necessarily true
  • There are plenty of other better options

While all the products on this list will surely help you achieve an amazing shine on your vehicle, Meguiar's is still our #1 pick.

That's because this compound is so versatile and it works on clear coats as well!

This polish is fantastic at restoring your car's paint job in a snap and it's backed by decades of high performance by Meguiar's.

Plus, it's an excellent value for the money! Check out the lowest price on Amazon right now.

How to Choose? Find Out for Yourself

There is no definitive best car wax. There are so many different products for sprucing up the paint and so many ways to keep your vehicle looking impressive by protecting its paint job.

The best action you can take other than asking the search engine which product is best would be to simply purchase a wax product, and see how well it works on your vehicle. 

You'll know the wax functions well when it eliminates water spots and lasts a long time without having to reapply. 

Although we covered only five different brands of wax in this article, there are still plenty of other brands you should check out including Griot, Luster, and more. So put some elbow grease into your paint job, and discover how shiny your car can look with a little bit of work!

About Your Mechanic

About Ryan Nichols

Ryan here! My pro mechanic career began as a technician for Mercedes-Benz. After two years of that great experience, I went out on my own in both the automotive and construction fields. I've since pulled my share of salvage yard parts and fixed more vehicles than I can count.

Leave a Comment