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A car purchase is a sizable investment and likely one of the biggest expenses you’ll make outside of owning a home. While you can expect routine maintenance and upkeep, there are cost-friendly ways to maximize your car’s lifespan and protect its appearance from the comfort of your home.
“Car wax is a relatively low-cost way to keep your car in tip-top shape,” says Good Housekeeping Institute’s executive technical director Rachel Rothman. "Beyond making your vehicle look better, it can help make your car easier to wash all while providing protection from general wear and tear a vehicle would normally endure, like light scratches and environmental damage from the sun, rain or snow. This protective coating is applied on top of a vehicle, ideally, once it’s been properly cleaned, and isn't a step you should skip."
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our analysts and engineers test everything from family cars in our annual auto awards to car cleaning products and garage openers. To choose the best car waxes, we reviewed top sellers, innovative products and brands we’ve tested and recommended in the past. We worked closely with our auto pros and Home Care and Cleaning Lab to evaluate criteria such as ease of applying, finished appearance and performance, among other factors. According to our experts, these are the best car waxes to purchase in 2022.
Our top picks:
Read on to learn more about the benefits of car wax, how to shop for the right wax for you and how we selected our top picks.
Meguiar's Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Paste Wax
Pros
- Creates rich shine
- Long-lasting results
- Includes sponge applicator
- Contains carnauba wax
Cons
- Time-consuming to apply
When you’re looking for a car wax that’ll add a rich shine to your car, you won’t be disappointed with this paste wax from Meguiar’s. While it will likely take you longer to apply the wax by hand (or a dual-action polisher), the extra time is worth the results.
It’s made from carnauba wax and polymers to fill any scratches or cracks on your vehicle’s exterior coat to protect it from environmental conditions as well as add a shiny gloss. Our pros like that the results are long-lasting and that a foam applicator is included.
Simple Green Concentrate Wash and Wax
Pros
- Cleans and polishes your car
- Contains carnauba wax
- Great value
Cons
- Doesn't include applicator
Our Home Care and Cleaning Lab pros were impressed with this car wash and wax combo, which not only cleans your car by removing dirt, grime and grease but protects and polishes it at the same time — leaving your vehicle shiny and pristine. We like that this special formula saves you time (and money), but also that the cleaner contains real carnauba wax and is gentle enough for most auto surfaces, including windows, according to the brand.
Mothers Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Good value
- Contains carnauba wax
Cons
- Doesn't include applicator
For a car wax that’s a bit easier to work with than a paste but will still enhance and preserve your car’s finish, we recommend this liquid wax. It’s made from carnauba wax to help achieve high shine, and our pros like how easy it is to apply and remove. According to the brand, it's especially effective on fiberglass and gel coats.
Turtle Wax Wax & Dry Spray Wax
Pros
- Cleans and polishes your car
- Good quality
- Simple to use
- Affordable price
Cons
- Not as durable as other waxes
- May not be ideal on darker colored cars
Our experts like how easy and quick it is to apply this hybrid wax that not only protects your vehicle but adds a high-gloss shine. Once you’ve washed your car and cleaned its surface, all you have to do is spray it on and use a microfiber towel to wax it. You can even speed up the process by directly spraying the formula onto wet surfaces once you’ve cleaned your car and then hand dry it. The solution is formulated with drying agents to quickly achieve a glossy exterior, though our experts warn that the result may not be as long-lasting or be as streak-free on darker cars.
Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
Pros
- Made from carnauba wax
- Easy to use bottle applicator
- Protects from UVA and UVB rays
Cons
- Has a strong banana scent
- Dense formula
The carnauba-based formula blended with polymer resins will help shield your car’s paint from the sun’s harmful rays, according to Chemical Guys, as well as clean, shine and protect your vehicle with a smooth coating. We like that this wax can be used on various surfaces, including headlights, windows, metals and more. The handy bottle applicator makes it easy to apply the wax onto a microfiber pad or polisher, though the formula is a bit denser than other liquid waxes.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- High gloss and shine
Cons
- Pricier than other waxes
Though this car wax paste is a bit pricier than others, consumers online rave about its shine and how easy it is to apply. While we haven’t tested it in the Lab, we like that the formula is a carnauba-beeswax blend and that you’ll likely need minimal paste when applying to your car, unlike other waxes which require more formula to cover your car’s surface.
Car Guys Hybrid Wax Sealant
Pros
- Comfortable to grip and use
- Works on multiple surfaces
- Quick solution
Cons
- Ideally used after a traditional car wax
This spray-on car wax comes ready to use and is equipped with an adjustable nozzle and comfortable handle that makes spraying all over your vehicle a breeze. The synthetic formula is multi-purpose and does the work of wax, polish and sealant combined. If you want optimal results our pros recommend using a traditional car wax first and then this hybrid wax sealant, but we love that this will do the trick if you’re looking for some quick shine and protection.
Pros
- Includes applicator pad and microfiber towel
- Easy to apply
- Good value
Cons
- Not as durable as other waxes
Thanks to a built-in applicator that helps prevent you from applying too much formula, this wax is easy to work with. Our pros like that the wax also comes with a machine-washable hand applicator pad for smooth and even application on your car as well as a microfiber towel for wax removal. Just keep in mind that this formula may not last as long as paste wax, though it will still create a wet-gloss look that protects your vehicle’s finish.
How we chose the best car wax
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have years of both auto and cleaning coverage and have tested various car waxes. We compiled this list of car waxes based upon an extensive review of top sellers, innovative products and brands we’ve used and recommended in the past. When selecting our favorite picks, we evaluated each car wax for ease of application, durability, finished look and real-life performance, including how long the wax helped protect the vehicle.
What to look for when shopping for car wax
“The best wax for you really depends upon your preferences and your vehicle," Rothman says. There are, however, a few key features to pay attention to while shopping to ensure your car looks sparkling and shiny.
✔️ Type of wax: Car waxes are available in various forms, but some of the most popular are liquid, spray or paste formulas. “There are benefits to each," Rothman says. "While spray is very easy to apply and buff, it typically isn’t as durable. Liquid car wax or paste formulas are a better choice if you’re looking for long-lasting shine. Paste can be more time-consuming to apply either by hand or buffer, but it’s worth the reward if durability is important to you.”
✔️ Ingredient composition: “While some waxes market themselves as natural, this is a vague term with no real definition in the industry,” says Rothman. Typically, natural waxes refer to carnauba wax, which derives from the carnauba palm tree native to Brazil, but you will also find synthetic wax formulas that are carnauba-based and contain some percentage of carnauba wax. Some synthetic wax formulas aren’t as high-quality in general but can contain ingredients that clean your car and strip it of any residue, making it ultimately easier to work with.
✔️ Cost: “Car wax can vary in price, ranging from just a couple dollars to upwards of a hundred,” says Rothman. Synthetic car wax formulas typically fall in a lower price range, while carnauba waxes will cost you a bit more. Also, paste wax formulas are oftentimes more expensive than wax formulas in the form of liquid or spray-on. Our pros suggest finding a high-quality car wax that falls somewhere in the middle.
What's the best way to apply car wax?
Before applying car wax, you should first clean your car to remove any dirt, grease or stains from its surface. “As is the case with most finishes, you need to first ensure the surface is in good, clean shape," Rothman says. "An ideal time to apply wax is only after your car has been washed and detailed.” But if your car’s surface still feels rough after washing it, you can use a clay kit or clay bar to remove additional contaminants stuck on the paint and ensure you’re working with a smooth surface.
If you’d like ultimate shine, consider polishing your car and then finally finish by waxing, which will protect your car’s exterior surface and add extra gloss. When applying the wax, you should spread it in a thin and even coat as opposed to applying too much. Once you’ve applied the wax, don’t rush the process and make sure the wax has ample time to dry before removing the excess with a microfiber towel. Lastly, it’s best to wax your car in a cool, shaded area like your garage as opposed to in direct sunlight.
How often should you wax your car?
While there’s no precise rule indicating how many times a year you should wax your car, our pros suggest at least twice per year. “Depending on the environmental conditions your car is subject to, I’d advise waxing it two to five times a year,” says Rothman. If your car is exposed to harsh conditions such as heavy rain, snow and mud, you’ll need to wax it more frequently to maintain its condition.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Media and tech reviews analyst Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer tech to smart home devices, auto and more. She continues to stay on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helps readers make better buying decisions by testing and reviewing the best gadgets to hit the market.
To select the picks featured, she worked closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute’s chief technologist and auto lead Rachel Rothman. A mother of three, she not only has owned several vehicles but understands the importance of keeping each one clean, waxed and polished.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests and writes about tech, home, travel, fitness, parenting and health products. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
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