In this article, we run through the best car wax options currently available in the UK. These can all help you keep your car in a spotless, showroom condition.
Let’s be honest: Waxing the car can feel like quite a chore sometimes. This is definitely the case for those people for whom a car is just a car, and not their pride and joy! However, it’s a worthwhile task to keep a vehicle’s bodywork in tip-top condition. Furthermore, choosing the best car wax and taking the time to give your car some TLC can actually keep the car looking cleaner for longer.
In compiling this list of the best car wax, we’ve taken into account the fact that some people have neither the time nor inclination to spend much of their life buffing their car to a shine. With this in mind, you’ll see some of the options are relatively low effort compared to traditional car wax.
1. Best Car Wax: The “All-Rounder”
Auto Glym Aqua Wax Kit
If you want a quick and easy, all-in-one best car wax, you can’t go far wrong with this Auto Glym kit.
It comes complete with two microfibre cloths, and the wax can be used on a dry vehicle or while the car is still wet – straight after washing.
Unusually, this wax is designed to work on “all exterior surfaces.” This is quite rare, as plenty of waxes are best avoided around windows and plastic panels.
We’re not alone in assessing this as the best car wax out there – Auto Express also gave the product a “best buy” award.
Positives:
- Works on dry and wet vehicles.
- Lots of good user reviews.
- Works on all surfaces.
Negatives:
- May not last as long as a more traditional wax.
2. A More Traditional Car Wax
Carnauba Ultra Gloss Wax
This wax is more of a traditional option for those who want to make a bit of an effort!
This effort will pay off, however, as rain will just run off your car after application, keeping your vehicle shiny for weeks on end.
It’s worth emphasising that this is a traditional wax, intended for applying when your bodywork is dry.
Positives:
- Lasts for ages.
- Provides lots of paintwork protection.
Negatives:
- Not the easiest wax to apply.
- Not ideal for use on windows.
3. Best Car Wax: An All-in-One Solution
Showroom Shine Waterless Wash & Wax Car Cleaner
This is something a little different; It’s a complete car cleaning solution, including wax, that doesn’t require any water. This is ideal if you want to clean your car when you’re away from home, or anywhere without a convenient water source.
The idea is that you use the “waterless wash” first, and then buff the car up with the separate wax.
The product claims to work “without streaks, smears, scratches or water spots.” Almost all the online reviewers agree this is a valid claim, and rave about the product.
Positives:
- A complete solution.
- Allows you to clean your car without water!
- Saves a lot of time.
Negatives:
- A few reviewers not convinced by the quality of the finish.
- Not particularly economical.
4. The Household Name in Car Wax!
Turtle Wax Green Line Original Paste
Arguably the best-known household name in car wax. This “hard shell shine” Turtle Wax is found in thousands of UK garages, and really does the job.
Some effort is required, however to get the best out of it. This wax is really only at its best when the car is really thoroughly cleaned prior to application.
Positives:
- An unrivalled finish.
- A trusted household name.
- Protects your car from the elements.
Negatives:
- Not the easiest wax to apply.
- No applicator provided.
5. The Easiest Option
Turtle Wax Wet It Wax
This wax could fairly be described as a “lazy option!” However, nobody would be any the wiser. It still creates a great finish.
The clue to how this works is in the name; You apply this wax while the car is wet, making for a far quicker car wash routine.
This product doesn’t even need an awful lot of buffing after use, so it really is a quick solution. Unsurprisingly, however, it’s unlikely to last quite as long as “the real thing.”
Still, this is well worth a go if you’re pushed for time, and almost all reviews are very positive.
Positives:
- Very little effort involved.
- Produces a good finish.
Negatives:
- Rumours the product may be being discontinued – grab it now!
- Doesn’t protect against the elements as well as traditional wax.
Best? You have to be kidding. None of these would be in anyone’s top ten.
I think Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Premium Quik Wax is worth a mention, which is also brilliant. Simply spray it on and then wipe off with a microfiber cloth. Provides a deeper shine and helps beed the water off.
William waterless wash & wax is awesome stuff for a great quick clean on all parts of the car
no comments on MER car polish, i have used this polish for some 30 years on all my cars and caravan.
Just apply twice a year and that’s it.
Best applied wet, drys quickly polish off for a deep shine.
I wouldn’t touch any wash waxes. The best way to clean a car is hose off the grit muck then two bucket wash (one plain water and one with proper car shampoo) with a microfibre mitt and rinse. They dry with a drying towel or several microfibre cloths. NO WASH LEATHERS ! If you wish you can then claybar or claymitt the car and rinse off.Then apply a good wax polish and clean off, then a sealant. I recommend AUTOGLYM products.
I was like you, I wouldnt use it on my classic car but for my other cars I use this. If your car is too clean in my area it gets keyed where I live.
Where does Mere wax come?
Really Martin? I’ve the Autoglym Aqua Wax and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s the best, it’s certainly the easiest I’ve ever used and it’s definitely in my top ten.
Auto Glym is highly over ratted. too expensive. The only thing I use autoglym super resin polish for is removing light scrathes on plastic. I have been dissapoint in all Auto Glym products bar the the interior shampoo. Even thier body wor shampoo foam is killed as soon as your your mit touches the body work and their own super resin polish panel.
I managed to get the Waterless wax system from an Aldi store for £2.99. It is as good as the dearer ones. But the Cost beats them all I find it just as quick to wax with the waterless one as to wash and dry the car.
I have used Grease Lightning for ages and am very satisfied with it. I should point out a small error in the text – it is a single application used with two cloths, one to apply to cleaner/polish and another to shine it, not a separate wax. Fabulous even if a little expensive.
Auto Glym Aqua Wax is also available online in 5L containers making it very cost effective. So easy to use, not having to worry about getting it everywhere (avoid windscreen) encourages me to use it more. If you garage your car this stuff lasts for months, although for the other car left outside, not so long, but still long enough considering how quick and easy it is to apply.
I’ve been using Showroom Shine for many years and think it’s absolutely brilliant. I wouldn’t dream of using anything else and everyone comments on how clean and shiny my car is. It’s an all round excellent product and so much better than using water, shampoo, sponge, chamois leather and finally polish. You do need a good supply of cloths especially in the winter months.
What about MER, I have used both their polish and wax for years and found them really good.
clearly the reviewer has never used gtechniq c2 v2
Way too expensive and too difficult to apply although when done with indepth knowleged and indoor over and prep it is good. But some people dont have several hours to spend on this.
What a load of Rubbish! How can these be the Top 5 waxes, you are so out of touch with modern detailer’s I test detailing products and review them for a living. These would be in my Top 5 Worst products.
Meguiars all the way for me expensive but worth it!
Doesn’t look like the reviewer is very familiar with the market. Mequiars or Autoglym top of the range waxes aren’t even mentioned.
I have a black metallic car. Any white wax like Auto Glym is not very practical. Any, even minute, scratches or stone chip recesses shows up as white marks when the polish is removed to get a shine. For this reason I always use black colour coded Turtle Way which also comes with a coloured wax stick to fill in those scratches and chip marks. I have also used it on a green car and a blue care that I have owned with the correct colour with the same brilliant results.
You don’t list the products tested, or the criteria of the test??
Come on guys, I write reviews and test detailing products, this is rubbish, did you test these in the 80’s? A sponge in the picture then the wax, polish and other rubbish in your top 5 are most folks top 5 worst ever. If you want a real top 5 contact me as I have lots or Reviews on my laptop and also write for a national Magazine. Still Laughing at the picture of the sponge.
I use auto Glym and on a red car gives a really deep gloss shine and even after 10 washes the shine and protection is still there also help get rid of the spider web damage to the paint work
Have used the Showroom Shine as featured and agreeit works ‘ OK’ but I am surprised that MER polish did not make it onto your list. I have used this for around 25 years and always found it to be great , both in the ease of application and buffing up and particularly in its shine retention.
I do garage my Lexus virtually every night but I do live in a coastal area , within around a mile from the actual seafront, but I still find that the shine stays consistent for easily 5-6 months.
I say ” Long Live MER ” !
(Also got to say the pricing is very competitive – I did actually buy the Showroom Shine via TV selling and got 2 + 1L
bottles for price of 1 otherwise it would have been effectively double the price of MER )
This list is quite disturbing given there’s no obvious signs that any research was done. If you were to consult any experiences detailed you’d find that none of these cheap supermarket products are anywhere near the top 5.
For example, Killerwaxx Carnauba paste wax would come in higher than any of these for results, ease of use and price. Anyone thinking of investing in a high quality wax should visit a reputable detailing retailer like The Clay Cloth Company and check out the range of products available, from beginner level right through to professional.
Pure white or yellow Carnauba wax is the only way to create a long lasting finish, it needs to be applied when dry, if done correctly, this wax will last for up to six months with only a wash down occasionally with cold water and a good quality deep sea sponge.
Any recommendations for a wash & wax with a power washer ?
Show room shine is the best on the market have used it for over 10 yrs. does what it says on the bottle
Maguires Gold Class is my choice.
Yes I have also used only Mer – you can’t beat it. Easy to apply wet or dry and I only polish the car once a year.
if you want to get your car looking the best and you don’t mind spending a bit of time initially wash you car But do not have wax put on. Get something called Liquid Diamond, apply that to your car. No waxing needed for 5 years. Keep your car clean with Showroom Shine as recommended on the bottle. I did that and can say I have got one of the best looking cars om my estate.
I go to a small wash and wax car wash and for £1.30 get a shiny wash &wax no hassle no stress, behind Aldi Prescott road, brilliant job, highly recommend it, especially for us OAP’s
I started to use Showroom Shine Waterless Wash & Wax Car Cleaner on my car about 11 years ago, but then started to use Williams F1 Waterless Wash and Wax, as less expensive alternative (http://www.idealworld.tv).If you time it right you can get multi- pack deals at a fraction of the price.They both do as they say on the tin or bottle in this case.
I very often get comments how new my 11 year car looks, not a swirl scratch in sight. One 1 Ltr bottle cleans one medium car roof to wheels about eight times. Well worth a look!!!
Having used Auto Glym polish & Auto Glym sealer for many years I have recently changed to using SONAX EXTREME BRILLIANT WAX 1 which is a combined wax & sealer made in Germany. I must admit that I did not believe that Auto Glym could be improved upon until using this combined wax/sealer. The shine is amazing with a lotus effect just as advertised. I cannot say yet how long it will last as only changed in July. However the shine is really amazing & it has the added benefit of not leaving those annoying white marks on black plastic parts or in seams that Auto Glym does & which are so difficult to remove. There are 3 grades & grade 1 is the one that I use which is designed for new or as new paintwork. It is a cream & very easy to apply & polish off with no need for a separate sealer. I can only speak as I find but cannot see myself ever returning to Auto Glym.
Williams waterless wash & wax. Awesome for a total quick clean. Then if time put a sealant wax on. Lol slick the tyres. Job done
5lts on amazon super cheap and free p&p
Swisswax all the way you get what you pay for
With you on that mate. I use Harley white canuba wax to brilliant effect.
I use Triplewax Waterless wash & Shine there’s a lot of good products it’s just getting one that you are satisfied with, I’ve tried Mer it’s good after you’ve got rid of the white residue that takes time to get off, so that’s another job to do as well as the job that you started out to do.
Ronnie can come and get rid of some of his anger on my car WAX on WAX off grasshopper, and self control will put a shine on the car.
Best? You have to be kidding. None of these would be in anyone’s top ten.
I think Meguiars Gold Class Carnauba Premium Quik Wax is worth a mention, which is also brilliant. Simply spray it on and then wipe off with a microfiber cloth. Provides a deeper shine and helps beed the water off.
William waterless wash & wax is awesome stuff for a great quick clean on all parts of the car
no comments on MER car polish, i have used this polish for some 30 years on all my cars and caravan.
Just apply twice a year and that’s it.
Best applied wet, drys quickly polish off for a deep shine.
I wouldn’t touch any wash waxes. The best way to clean a car is hose off the grit muck then two bucket wash (one plain water and one with proper car shampoo) with a microfibre mitt and rinse. They dry with a drying towel or several microfibre cloths. NO WASH LEATHERS ! If you wish you can then claybar or claymitt the car and rinse off.Then apply a good wax polish and clean off, then a sealant. I recommend AUTOGLYM products.
Where does Mere wax come?
Really Martin? I’ve the Autoglym Aqua Wax and whilst I wouldn’t say it’s the best, it’s certainly the easiest I’ve ever used and it’s definitely in my top ten.
I managed to get the Waterless wax system from an Aldi store for £2.99. It is as good as the dearer ones. But the Cost beats them all I find it just as quick to wax with the waterless one as to wash and dry the car.
I have used Grease Lightning for ages and am very satisfied with it. I should point out a small error in the text – it is a single application used with two cloths, one to apply to cleaner/polish and another to shine it, not a separate wax. Fabulous even if a little expensive.
Auto Glym Aqua Wax is also available online in 5L containers making it very cost effective. So easy to use, not having to worry about getting it everywhere (avoid windscreen) encourages me to use it more. If you garage your car this stuff lasts for months, although for the other car left outside, not so long, but still long enough considering how quick and easy it is to apply.
I’ve been using Showroom Shine for many years and think it’s absolutely brilliant. I wouldn’t dream of using anything else and everyone comments on how clean and shiny my car is. It’s an all round excellent product and so much better than using water, shampoo, sponge, chamois leather and finally polish. You do need a good supply of cloths especially in the winter months.
What about MER, I have used both their polish and wax for years and found them really good.
clearly the reviewer has never used gtechniq c2 v2
What a load of Rubbish! How can these be the Top 5 waxes, you are so out of touch with modern detailer’s I test detailing products and review them for a living. These would be in my Top 5 Worst products.
Meguiars all the way for me expensive but worth it!