Car wax

What's behind our car wax Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 19 models in car wax to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score Is based primarily on gloss; durability; ease of application & removal; cleaning; resistance to scratching, swirls, and hazing; and plastic compatibility.
Gloss improvement
How well a product improves the shine of the painted finish.
Durability
How long a product protects the painted surface.
Ease of removal
How fast and effortless a product is to remove.
Ease of application
How fast and effortless a product is to apply.
Cleaning
How well a product removes embedded dirt and surface oxidation.
Scratching/hazing
How a products use affects the paint surface, with scratches, swirls, or a loss of transparency.
Compatibility with plastic
How well a product can be used without leaving residue on plastic trim pieces.
Price per oz.
The price of an ounce of product.
Ounces per bottle
The amount of product in the container in ounces.

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Recommended car wax

Recommended car wax are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended car wax

Car wax buying guide

To find the car wax that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy car wax in a safe-shopping environment.

Learn more about our Price & Shop program

Ratings & recommended car wax

Car wax (19)

Recommended models are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices among models, weigh performance, features, price, and attributes that matter to you, such as color, size, or style.

Car wax buying guide

With cold weather coming, now could be an excellent time to wax your car and help protect it from the potential hazards of falling leaves and road salt. Before buying a car wax, be aware that premium car wax brands don't necessarily hold up any better than lower-priced alternatives, based on our latest tests. In fact, some moderately priced liquids scored near the top of our Ratings--better than some products costing twice as much.

Still, none of the 19 products tested were good enough to be Rated excellent, with most showing signs ... Read more

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