Ceramic Coating vs. Wax: Which Is Right for Your Car?

We sell wax, ceramic sealant and ceramic coating, so we don't have a reason to push you toward one. Here's how they compare.

Car wax

• Lasts: a few weeks to about two months
• How it works: sits on top of the paint
• Best for: a warm, deep shine and cheap, frequent protection

Ceramic sealant

• Lasts: about six months
• How it works: engineered polymers that outlast natural wax
• Best for: getting through pollen season without re-waxing

Ceramic coating

• Lasts: two or five years with our Gtechniq options
• How it works: chemically bonds to the clear coat after paint correction
• Best for: cars you plan to keep, dark paint, and anyone tired of waxing

Side by side

• Chemical resistance: coating is best by far against bird droppings, sap and harsh soaps.
• Water behavior: all three bead water; only a coating keeps doing it for years.
• Prep: wax goes on after a wash. A coating needs decontamination and paint correction first.
• Cost over time: wax is cheapest per visit. A coating costs more once and replaces years of waxing.

Our advice

Keeping the car two years or less? A sealant twice a year is plenty. Keeping it longer, or it's new? A coating pays for itself. Ceramic coating · Ceramic sealant · Car waxing