The best car polish

If you want to give your car that showroom-fresh look, simply cleaning it is not enough. You need to polish it too, using a dedicated automotive product. This removes the ground-in grime from the paintwork, sharpens the paint colour, and also gets rids of scratches. There are hundreds of products on the market, so we’ve put together a guide to help you pick out some of the best.

Is car polish the same as car wax?

The terms are used interchangeably but they in fact polar opposites.

Polish is an abrasive product that works by removing the top layer, or layers, of paint protection on a car in order to get a shine. It doesn't sound great but don't be put off. A good polish is very gentle in the way it works, they have extremely fine abrasives that don't damage your car's precious paint but polish effectively. The abrasive nature of a proper polish makes it useful as a scratch-remover too. But equally, you won't want to use it too often.

Wax meanwhile, is a protectant and therefore fundamentally opposite to polish. It adds a protective layer to your paint but isn't as shiny. Wax is used in this way because it's hardy and doesn't really come off even when wet and has fairly high heat tolerance too. Carnauba for example, the most common car wax, has a melting point of over 80°C.

Polish and wax are quite different but compliment each other wonderfully. Add polish for paint restoration and shine, then add the protective wax layer to shield your work.

Will car polish remove scratches?

Yes, but with a caveat. Car polishes have varying degrees of aggressiveness, that is, some are more abrasive than others. The popular car polishes favoured by causal users are only mildly abrasive and will therefore only deal to minor scratches and swirls in paintwork. And that is all most of us need.

But for more serious paint restoration jobs, you can acquire medium and heavy-duty cutting compounds. These are best used with a polishing machine in order to achieve even coverage and application. In these scenarios you use a heavy compound, followed by a medium compound, followed by a light one; same as you do with sanding jobs.

There are products that can be used for headlight restoration. These are a little different to paint polish - our favourite of these is the kit from Holts.

Which car polish is best?

Enthusiasts take the subject of car polish extremely seriously. Mention it to a group of petrolheads and you’ll receive no end of suggestions and advice. Sometimes, you’ll be steered towards products with breathtaking three-figure price tags, sold in posh packages you normally associate with engagement rings. It’s enough to put you off completely, but don’t worry. Your chums at CAR know of great, affordable car polish products.

We have included a range of products here, from spray-on cheat polish to some more hard-core stuff for nerds.

In any case, we strip away the intimidating mystery of the world of car polish and point you to some of the best products available. There’s also a guide on how best to polish your car at the end.

CAR's favourite polishing products:

Should I use a polishing tool?

The easiest and cheapest way to apply polish is by hand with a microfibre cloth or applicator pad. However, polishing power tools can speed up the process and can give a better application in the right hands (in the wrong hands, run).

If you want to start using a polishing tool, by all means do, and read our guide on them. But we also suggest an oscillating orbital sander with a polishing pad. Reason being is that they polish very well but can be used for other things too. Our favourite is the 125mm Bosch Green Orbit Sander. Bosch Green tools are the best home tools you can get. They aren't expensive like trade-level tools, yet are brilliant quality. If you have an orbital sander already, grab a polishing sponge and away you go.

How to use car polish (by hand)

Eager to get stuck in and polish your car? Hold on! Unless you’re using a dedicated waterless product, you’ll need to clean the car first. And even waterless products are best reserved for cars that have recently been polished; they won’t be able to restore a dull car back to its as-new lustre.

If you’re using polish, you’ll probably be a whizz at cleaning cars. So you’ll know you need first rinse the bodywork with plenty of water, fill up two buckets with water and add a dedicated car shampoo to one of them (no need to use a ‘wash and wax’ product as you’re going to be polishing the car separately).

Using plenty of water and a bespoke car wash mitt, start from the top of the car and clean the upper surfaces first. Before you dip the mitt back into the soapy water, give it a rinse in the bucket of clean water: this will remove any grit that may damage the paintwork. Move down and, when you get to the bottom, maybe consider using a separate sponge. Whatever you do, never clean the wheels with the same sponge you use for the paint. Then rinse well, and dry with a dedicated cloth or chamois, again working from the top downwards.

Now the fun part. Make sure the car is in the shade, or at least not in direct sunlight (try to avoid windy days, too: they cause the paintwork to get dusty again). Ideally you’ll use a dedicated applicator pad, which may be supplied with the car polish. Apply a pea-sized amount of the product and then work in a gentle, circular motion. Once you’ve done this, go over once again in an up-down and left-right motion, just to make sure you’ve fully covered the surface. You don’t need to press too hard.

Read the instructions and see how long you need to leave the product for. Usually, it’s not too long. Using a fresh microfibre cloth, wipe away the polish and buff the surface to a shine. Again, be gentle here, and keep shaking and rotating the cloth so you don’t get any build-up. This will also help remove any fine residue from the paint, for a clean and gleaming surface.

A good tip is to only work on one panel at a time. This means the polish won’t dry to a hard glaze by the time you get round to it again. When you’re not using the applicator pad or buffing cloth, keep them safe and away from dirt: we like to use clean jiffy bags. You might also want to leave the roof until later, as this is the biggest and most awkward area to clean. We also like to leave the lower surfaces of the car until the very end. These are the areas most likely to get dirty and built up with contaminants, so it’s best to clean the rest of the car before spoiling the applicator pad with this residue.

Motoring enthusiasts love polishing cars, as the rewards at the end are, we promise, magnificent, and hugely satisfying. Buy the right product and you’ll enjoy it, too.

Don't forget to add protective wax, sealant, or coating after polishing. This is crucial in protecting your hard work.

What to consider when choosing a car polish

Buy smart: some car polishes can cost over £100

Do you want a quick and easy solution for minimal effort?

Do you have several hours to commit to a more involved product?

Does your car have swirl marks you’d like to remove?

Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he's not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.

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