Updated on Oct. 19, 2024
Want to give your car great appearance and protection? Ceramic car wax is faster to apply than traditional paste wax and offers better protection.
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Ceramic car wax is a family of liquid car protection products designed to provide better shine with the longevity of traditional paste-wax coatings. They’re usually faster and easier to apply than traditional wax and don’t need re-coating as often, making them perfect for those who want vehicle shine and protection without investing lots of time.
Ceramic car waxes don’t necessarily contain any real wax. They’re chemical polymers designed to bond with car paint, offering a stronger coating than actual wax. Want to give ceramic car wax a try? Here are eight of the best ceramic waxes on the market.
This liquid ceramic wax from Ethos saves vehicle owners lots of time by combining three products in one bottle: polish, wax and sealant. The traditional car waxing process involves buying and applying each separately.
Reviewers are also particularly impressed with its striking sheen. “I have been detailing for thirty years and have tried a lot of products,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “This one is on my top list … the finished product is amazing. Better reflection than any other liquid wax out there.”
Another three-in-one product, this ceramic car wax spray saves time by providing a waterless wash, waxing and sealant in one convenient step. The waterless wash component removes grease easily, and the spray wax and sealant offer great protection and water beading.
An Amazon reviewer wrote, “Having a black vehicle is a struggle in the midwest with our crazy weather but Shine Armor makes the dirt slide away like butter. The application is so effortless … No swirl marks, no vigorous rubbing like a traditional wax and the result is a mirror like finish.”
This ceramic wax product combines silicone dioxide and titanium dioxide to create a super-protective coating that effectively repels dirt and water. It’s so impressive at shedding dirt and grime that many buyers have tried it on other surfaces besides their cars, with great results.
This liquid ceramic wax product combines polish and wax, and is known for great water resistance. It’s also exceptionally good at repairing minor paint damage.
If your vehicle has minor nicks or scratches, this wax will help fill and hide them, according to consumers like this one on Amazon: “The product greatly reduced tiny scratches and spider webbing that were in the paint. It has a very light fruit scent. A little bit goes a long ways, the company says it only takes approximately 2 ounces to do a whole car.”
This liquid ceramic wax is best known for the glassy smoothness it gives vehicles. It goes on fast and easy without streaking or discoloring the plastic and rubber parts of your car.
This liquid ceramic wax offers exceptional water beading and noticeably improved shine to vehicle paint, even on brand-new cars. It’s fast and easy to apply, and tough enough to resist water, road salt, mud, grease and grime.
One happy Amazon reviewer wrote, “Water beads up faster than wax and rolls off and drys faster than a wax. And it brings out the color in the car and makes it shine. Apply it just like wax. Easy to put on and off.”
When it comes to your car, ceramic wax has a few advantages over traditional wax. Ceramic wax is more durable; it lasts longer and provides a stronger shield against harmful environmental elements such as UV rays, dirt, water spots and heat. Wax is slightly easier to apply and often costs less, but it will need to be applied more often and just sits on the paint of your car versus offering a strong protective barrier.
Many will agree that the application process is the biggest downside to ceramic coating your car. Before applying the wax you have to carefully clean the surface of your car to remove any contaminants and scratches or imperfections in the paint. Then, you have to apply it to your car using the proper tools and make sure to apply it evenly. Because ceramic coating provides such a strong protective layer, it can be hard to remove or correct it without taking aggressive measures. Many will choose to have ceramic wax applied by a professional, which adds to the overall cost of the process.
As mentioned earlier, ceramic wax provides a protective layer to your car’s surface, however, it’s not scratch-proof. A ceramic coating can prevent light scratches and swirl marks, but it won’t protect your car from scratches caused by hard objects.
The frequency with which you should apply ceramic wax to your car depends on the product you use. Before applying, check how long the product will last. The wax can last from several months to a few years. You’ll also want to take into account where you live and the type of conditions your car is in every day. If you live in a harsher climate that sees a lot of heat or uses salt on the roads in the winter, you may need to apply a ceramic coating more often.
Check the surface of your car for water beading or sheeting, that’s a good indicator of a well-maintained ceramic coating. To extend the life of your car’s ceramic coating, it will need proper maintenance including regular washing using the proper technique and necessary cleaning products. Make sure to avoid using abrasive cleaning materials that could damage the coating.
