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2014 Subaru Impreza, Venetian Red Pearl
By Mechele Dillard Mar 27 2014 - 7:55am

Do I Really Need to Wax My Car or Is It a Waste of Time?

In the modern era, cars have a clear coat over that beautiful paint job, keeping them shiny and protecting them from the environment. So is it really all that important to wax?
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“Do I really need to wax my car?”

This is a question car owners ask over and over nowadays. Whether or not to wax is simply not as clear-cut as it was 50 years go. Then, yes, when your new car just had a few coats of colored lacquer, car owners needed to wax, to protect a car’s finish. However, today’s debate is fueled by the fact that most cars now have a protective clear coat—a clear resin applied over the colored resin. Isn’t the clear coat placed there as a protective barrier, after all? Why wax?

There are arguments for and against waxing; in all honesty, I fall on the, “Why wax?” side. True, if you want to keep your car looking like it rolled right off the factory line, you’re going to want to wax. But, for me, the difference is like watching HD vs. non-HD television: Unless they are side-by-side, I just do not notice enough of a difference to worry about it from an aesthetic point-of-view.

Is the wax necessary for protection from the environment? Well, the clear coat itself is a protective barrier against things like acid rain and UV rays, keeping your paint color from fading and keeping that nice, deep color on your car. The clear coat is not prone to fading because, of course, it is clear! But, on the other hand, clear coat IS prone to scratching, which can in itself lead to a dulling of your finish. And, when contaminants like dirt, grime, bugs and pollen are allowed to accumulate on your car, they can reduce the reflective quality of the clear coat, also dulling the finish.

So, is that a “yes” or “no” for waxing?

Well, a little bit of both, in all honesty. While waxing on occasion will help keep your car pristine, proper washing is much more important, in my opinion, than waxing. Washing away contaminants--acid rain, dust, pollen, airborne pollutants, bird droppings, bug splatter, etc.—in a timely, proper manner will do more to keep your clear coat in shape and doing its job, scratch-free, than frequent waxing. But, while I don’t believe waxing is strictly necessary, I do think that waxing 3-4 times a year can provide a car’s surface with a “sacrificial layer” of protection. In other words, that layer of wax may not be much, but it is enough of a buffer so that when you wash your car and remove those contaminants, you are rubbing against the wax, not the easily scratched clear coat.

It’s something to consider, whatever your point-of-view on the actual "necessity" of waxing.

Of course, all of this is moot if your car is one of those exceptions with a “matte” or “flat” finish; for these, waxing is not only not necessary, it is not recommended!

Image: 2014 Subaru Impreza in Venetian Red Pearl

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Comments

shirl wrote on March 27, 2014 - 1:15pm
our jeep is so past needed waxing :( but, it would prob. help it if it was waxed, it sure could not hurt :) anyone w/a vehicle, take care of it, it will last longer and look better.
Mechele Dillard wrote on March 27, 2014 - 7:01pm
Yes--washing regularly and correctly is especially important, I think, if you don't want to wax. :)
Tim Murphy wrote on December 13, 2017 - 10:14am
Had a Plymouth Voyager for 24 years 213 thousands miles I washed it with mild soap and water Best mini car ever built
Jeff wrote on March 24, 2018 - 12:20am
Been cleaning cars for 62yrs,modern paints are poor quality keep waxing.Just look on the net at the paint fade and peeling thats going on,on moden cars they are clear coating but how much paint is going on keep waxing regards Jeff
Bruce Dixon wrote on June 18, 2020 - 10:22am
Strange you should say that. When I traded in my 2007 RAV-4, the finish looked about as good as it did when I bought it, with the exception of the usual dings and scratches. Rarely waxed it.
Tom wrote on June 3, 2018 - 1:11pm
Actually there is a big difference between HD vs. non-HD television.
John King wrote on April 10, 2019 - 1:50pm
"Actually, there is a big difference between HD vs. non-HD television." between HD vs. 4K is better comparison, "4K" would be a good name for a "do-nothing" clearcoat protection product.
Mike wrote on June 20, 2019 - 12:48pm
Huge difference between HD and Non-HD. That comparison makes the rest of the article very different to take seriously.
Angel L Zayas wrote on June 24, 2020 - 9:05pm
3 times a year is good enough if you are using a high quality wax. One thing is when you wax it helps keep your car looking cleaner looking for longer. As it tends to repel ( up to a point) water and dust. Also when you do actually wash your car it makes drying easier since the water will bead. Waxing besides making your car shiner fills in microscopic scratches making your car look nicer. It also protects your clear coat.
John Habart wrote on March 13, 2021 - 11:38am
Been waxing cars for almost 50 years. I used to use the paste wax...you know wax on, wax off, and although the painted surfaces looked good, if you happened to get some on the plastic trim, or weatherstripping, you had these white marks that were near impossible to hide, even with Armorall. Now, I just use the spray wax that you apply while drying the car, and I use it every time I wash it. Not really anymore effort than simply drying. You don't have to worry about getting the spray wax on the wrong surface, it's actually recommended. Even the glass. Works better than the products made specifically to make your windshield repel rain. Once a year, I claybar the paint to remove stuck on tree sap, bird droppings and any other environmental contaminants that inevitably get on the paint. I wait until the trees are done dropping the sap in the spring. My vehicles always have a showroom finish, and people are amazed that they are 6, 8, or 10 years old with over 100k miles. Sure, there's stone chips and light scratches if you get real close, but from a few feet back, magnificent!
John Habart wrote on March 13, 2021 - 11:38am
Been waxing cars for almost 50 years. I used to use the paste wax...you know wax on, wax off, and although the painted surfaces looked good, if you happened to get some on the plastic trim, or weatherstripping, you had these white marks that were near impossible to hide, even with Armorall. Now, I just use the spray wax that you apply while drying the car, and I use it every time I wash it. Not really anymore effort than simply drying. You don't have to worry about getting the spray wax on the wrong surface, it's actually recommended. Even the glass. Works better than the products made specifically to make your windshield repel rain. Once a year, I claybar the paint to remove stuck on tree sap, bird droppings and any other environmental contaminants that inevitably get on the paint. I wait until the trees are done dropping the sap in the spring. My vehicles always have a showroom finish, and people are amazed that they are 6, 8, or 10 years old with over 100k miles. Sure, there's stone chips and light scratches if you get real close, but from a few feet back, magnificent!
Hersh J wrote on May 23, 2021 - 1:14pm
I agree with clear coat, the new spray quick wax is great. Washing is the best. Wax has another important point, chips on the paint can rust, wax protects, prevents rust, a shiny car is always nice. No real need to break your back any more. Enjoy