Invisible shield: The best paint sealants for cars

Polish and wax differ in function, so too do car waxes and sealants.

Wax is a natural product that works well in tandem with polish because it produces gloss. Paint sealants for cars are synthetic, and while they too are a protectant like wax, they are generally more durable. However, the trade-off is that some don't show up a shiny pre-applied polish quite so much.

That being said, synthetic sealants are evolving into more able products for showing a shine too. The capable boffins who didn't quite make the grade for genomics, virology or neuroscience are locked away in labs, employed by the car care brands. They are making steady progress.

What is a paint sealant?

As we alluded to already, it is a solution you apply to your car's paintwork that covers it in a protective layer. It keeps harmful UV rays, road salt, acidic bird poo and other such harmful things at bay – essentially most everyday substances that can degrade your car’s paintwork.

They come in a bottle to be applied by hand or with a dual-action polisher, or as a convenient, time-saving, but less effective spray.

We have chosen a range of top products. Each is quite different to one another, with various strong suits. That way, there will certainly be something here for you.

The best paint sealants for cars:

Simply apply it with a foam pad like any other coating. It gives really tough resistance to road grit and doesn’t come off with washing. It’s superb.

While the Meguiar’s sealant can’t match the EXOv4 for durability or longevity, it claws points from another area: gloss. It’s called Mirror Glaze for a reason. What it lacks in durability compared to the EXOv4, it makes up for in shine.

It also comes in a 473ml bottle, which means you don’t go through all of it in one go like you do with the little EXOv4 bottles. Once you’ve applied it, it not only shines up your car but generates that wonderful hydrophobic beading too.

Consisting of UHD Preparation and UHD Ceramic Coating, you can expect a lot from this kit. Once you have cleaned and polished your car, you can apply the UHD Preparation, which will remove any wax, sealants, or oils on the paintwork.

Once you have done this and wiped away residue, you can apply the UHD Ceramic Coating. Apply it one panel at a time, or even half a panel. Then buff it off once a film has formed.

In terms of longevity, you can expect about six months, maybe a year if you don’t use your car much but without the same level of protection you get with the sealants above. Like all the others above, apply it to a clean and dry paint surface before buffing lightly. Having done that, you can enjoy effective water beading and added protection.

Turtle Wax’s ceramic shampoo, unsurprisingly, incorporates some ceramic polymers into a shampoo and applies the coating and cleaning in an all-in-one type deal. It’s very convenient and is noticeably better than a standard shampoo. It does leave a protective coating, evident in water beading.

That said, the trade-off of convenience is effectiveness and durability. For that, choose one of the others above.

It creates a hydrophobic layer on the bodywork, making it harder for dust, water, and dirt to cling to it. As such, it doesn’t offer a protective sealant against UV and grit.

We love how easy and fun it is to apply, but it’s the least protective product here.

What to read next:

The best wheel sealants and protectors

The best car cleaning kits for comprehensive car care

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