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:

Chris Williams is a Senior Product Writer for CAR, also working for Live For The Outdoors. An expert in camping and muscle cars, he spends most of his time up a mountain or laying rubber.

For verdicts, scoops, news and analysis from the team , delivered direct to your inbox, subscribe to the CAR newsletter.

You can enjoy CAR in its traditional print format, or one of the swelling number of digital editions, optimised for Apple iPhones, Android devices, iPads, tablets and desktop computers.