If you require a quick answer, the best car wax is Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid, which is a pure synthetic formula that provides superior protection and a mirror-like shine. However, if you are on a tight budget and prefer using a carnauba wax, Bilt Hamber’s Double Speed is the best alternative that benefits from an easy on-and-off formulation.
To rate the car waxes within our roundup, we based our recommendations on testing, our experience using multiple formulas, the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the ease of application and removal, protective qualities, finish, type, formulation, durability, additional accessories supplied and value for money.
Best Car Wax Overview
- Best Overall: Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid
- Best All-Rounder: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax
- Best For Shine: Autoglym Ultra High Definition
- Best Spray Wax: Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax
- Best Budget: Dodo Juice Blue Velvet
- Best Long Lasting: Turtle Wax Hard Shell
A common misconception that many people make is that car wax is the same as polish, which simply isn’t true. You can have the best-rated car polish on the market but it won’t provide the protective qualities of a dedicated wax. Therefore, you will want to use a polish to remove any light scratches on the car before applying a protective wax.
Below is a list of the best car waxes that provides a long-lasting showroom finish and superior durability.
The Best Car Waxes
1. Best Overall: Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Car Wax
By far the most popular car wax in the UK is Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax. It’s a pure synthetic polymer formula that’s designed to provide maximum protection, depth of colour and reflectivity in a single step.
To use this wax, it can be applied by machine or hand and it’s safe to use on all glossy paints or clear coats.
- "Thin Film" technology that allows it to wipe off with ease
- Doesn’t leave any stains on non-painted surfaces
- Long lasting protective barrier
- During testing, we were impressed by the mirror-like shine it provided after being buffed off
- Superior water beading
- Supplied with a towel and pad
- Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives
The Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax is one of the best car waxes on the market that ticks all the boxes and won’t disappoint. It isn’t the cheapest but it’s a long-lasting wax that provides superior protection and a mirror-like shine every time. It’s also really easy to apply and leaves no white residue behind, which can be notoriously difficult to remove.
2. Best All-Rounder: Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax
Another popular car wax that comes in a paste form is the Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax. In terms of its formulation, it’s a carnauba wax that’s made in the UK and designed to provide a deep, rich glossy finish and long-lasting durability.
According to the brand, regardless of the colour of your car, the transparent film produced by the wax provides outstanding results. It can also be used on all automotive finishes, which includes metallic and non-metallic finishes.
- Very easy to apply to all types of paint
- Contains a T1 carnauba wax and hydrophobic polymers
- Highly water repellent finish
- Withstands repeated detergent washing
- Supplied with a cloth and pad
- Made in the UK
- During testing, we found that it dries quickly and can become difficult to buff off
The Bilt Hamber Double Speed-Wax is an excellent all-round option that provides great results and value for the money. It’s also made in the UK to the highest of standards and designed to be easy to use on all automotive finishes.
3. Best For Shine: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Wax
The Autoglym Ultra HD Wax is one of the most expensive in our roundup but also one of the best. This is because it’s designed to provide the best possible finish by providing extra detail, depth and durability to the paintwork.
In terms of the wax’s formulation, it includes a refined organic carnauba wax for the perfect showroom shine.
- Soft composition for an easier application
- Supplied with an applicator and finishing cloth
- Mirror-like finish and superior durability
- Paste formulation that contains carnauba
- Made in the UK
- We found it very easy to buff off with a microfibre cloth
- More expensive than the alternatives
Although expensive, the Autoglym Ultra HD kit is a high-quality car wax that provides outstanding results and lasts between 4 to 6 months. If you require a mirror-like shine and an easy application, it’s a worthwhile investment that you won’t regret. It also comes complete with an applicator and microfiber cloth so that you can use it straight away.
4. Best Spray Wax: Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Spray Wax
One of the easiest ways to apply car wax is to use a spray formula and the Meguiar’s Quik Wax is by far the best option. It uses hydrophobic polymer technology to provide its protective qualities and it’s also safe to use on all painted surfaces. It can even be applied in direct sunlight, which is another great bonus of this spray wax.
- Ideal for regular use
- Quick and easy to apply
- Wipes clear without leaving residue behind
- Doesn't mark plastic or trim
- Only provides protection for up to 2 to 3 weeks
Although spray waxes don’t provide the best protection, two to three weeks is more than enough for those that wax their cars regularly. It’s also much quicker to apply than other waxes, which makes it easier to wax your car regularly.
Overall, Meguiar’s Quik Wax is the best spray wax that provides adequate protection and takes just minutes to apply.
5. Best Budget: Dodo Juice Blue Velvet Carnauba
Dodo Juice is a brand that’s much loved by detailing enthusiasts and they produce a variety of products. One of their most popular detailing products is their carnauba wax, which can be applied by hand or car polishing machine.
According to the brand, the 30 ml tub of Blue Velvet can provide 3 to 4 layers of coverage on an average-sized car, which considering its low price tag is fairly impressive.
- Easy on and off formula
- Water repellent finish
- High gloss finish
- Can be applied by hand or machine
- Mild solvent formulation
- Only available in a small pot
Overall, the Dodo Juice Blue Velvet is by far the best value car wax in the UK that provides a high gloss finish and impressive beading when it rains. It cannot be beaten on price and it certainly won’t disappoint.
6. Best Long Lasting: Turtle Wax Hard Shell Car Wax
Another relatively affordable car wax that’s produced by a reputable brand is the Turtle Wax Hard Shell Finish. It’s the brand’s new and improved paste wax that’s designed to last up to 12 months and provide maximum shine.
In terms of its formulation, it includes a unique blend of cleaning agents and carnauba, which work together to provide a longer-lasting shine.
- Provides up to 12 months of protection
- Micro-polishing agents that helps to remove light scratches
- Premium carnauba formulation
- High levels of shine
- During testing, we found it to be more difficult to buff off than other waxes
Overall, the Turtle Wax Hard Shell Finish provides a great finish that’s easy to apply and provides long-lasting results. Compared to similar car waxes, it also offers great value when you consider its durability.
How We Tested & Rated
Over the years, we have tried and tested a range of car waxes from some of the biggest detailing brands in the UK. This includes all the different types (liquid, spray and paste formulas) on several different paint types. During our testing, we apply wax after polishing the paintwork and we analyse its ease of application and removal, finish and durability.
Below is a video that we posted on our YouTube channel that shows us testing the Autoglym HD Wax. As you can see in the video, it’s very easy to apply and buff off and it provided a great finish with impressive water beading too.
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest car waxes (for this article), we are continually testing the latest offerings from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new and improved formula, we will attempt to buy it and put it to the test where applicable.
As well as our testing and experience using a variety of car waxes, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the ease of application and removal, protective qualities, finish, type, formulation, durability, additional accessories supplied and value for money.
Conclusion
Adding a layer of car wax to the paintwork is highly recommended as it helps to improve the paint’s finish and provides much-needed protection. Whether you wish to apply wax by hand or by polisher, all of our recommendations are more than ideal. They also provide 3 to 12 months of protection and are also suitable for all automotive paint finishes too.
If you require further information regarding our car wax recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
Car Wax FAQ's
A car wax provides a protective barrier on your car’s paintwork to protect it against the elements (water, UV, road grime and so on). However, the benefits don’t stop with just a protective barrier because the layer of wax also adds shine and makes the surface hydrophobic. This means that water and other debris won’t be able to easily cling onto the paintwork, which means that it’ll remain cleaner for longer.
There is no set timescale that determines how often you should wax your car but every three months is recommended. This’ll ensure your car’s paintwork has a protective layer of wax and that it’ll remain shiny.
The best way to remove wax that you’ve applied to your car’s paintwork is to use microfibre cloths. Ideally, you’ll want to use multiple because they can become covered in wax fairly quickly as you make your way around the car.
Depending on the car wax you apply will determine how long it’ll last. In general, most spray waxes last up to 4 weeks whereas liquid or paste waxes tend to last far longer (3 to 12 months).
