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Slathering a protective layer of wax is a must-do step in any decent detailing routine. But let’s be honest: Actually applying wax is a job that’s tricky to master. And without the right products in your garage arsenal, it can be a total pain. That’s where spray waxes can make your life easier. Packaged in convenient, easy-to-wield bottles with spray nozzles, spray waxes make automotive wax of any kind a breeze to get onto the surface of your exterior. And these waxes aren’t of lesser quality; they come in an array of different formulas, including options for black paint jobs and varying levels of gloss and shine. Plus, spray waxes can be just as protective in between car washes, delivering a layer of wax that can keep sun damage, dirt, and water spots at bay. You can find our picks for the best automotive spray waxes right here.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Malco CR2 Hydro Protect Ceramic Spray
- Best Value: Turtle Wax One-Step Wax and Dry
- Honorable Mention: Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax
- Most Versatile: Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed Wax
- Best Shine: Chemical Guys Carnauba Spray Wax
- Best Hybrid Spray: Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Wax
- Best Long-Lasting Shine: Adam’s Polishes Carnauba-Infused Spray Wax
Our Methodology
The best spray waxes are those that can offer the level of protection you need for your car’s exterior, while leaving behind no swirls and a sleek, smooth shine. So, to choose our top product picks, we looked for bottled waxes that could deliver these key qualities. We looked for spray bottles that made application easy, offering features like an adjustable nozzle or spray pattern, comfortable grip, and a lot of coverage. We also looked at the formulation of the wax itself, choosing products that were safe for all areas of auto exteriors. And we looked into users’ reviews about using these waxes to determine if they went on easily, offered the level of protection and quality finish that they promised, and how they performed once applied.
Best Spray Wax Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Malco CR2 Hydro Protect Ceramic Spray
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Offers Excellent Shine
- High Durability
Cons
- Expensive
Malco’s CR2 has been tested by our staff and is continuously used to this day. It’s a hybrid ceramic spray wax that offers excellent protection and shine to bolster your base protection or can be used as a standalone product. It excels at repelling UV rays and water and is very easy to apply. Unlike similar products that require a good bit of elbow grease to really work in, this simply sprays on and wipes off. Despite what that might suggest, it offers up to 6 months of protection.
The only potential drawback is the price. It is a bit more expensive than some of the other options. However, it’s well worth it when you consider the benefits it offers.
Best Value: Turtle Wax One-Step Wax and Dry
Pros
- Makes waxing a one-step process
- Leaves a smooth, shiny finish
- Won’t streak or water spot
- Protects against dirt, dust, water, and UV rays
Cons
- Watery and thin liquid
- Not deeply glossy in its finish
This Turtle Wax product might be an excellent option for those who are looking for something powerful yet budget-friendly. It comes in a 26-ounce bottle and applies in a breeze. All you need to do is to wash your car, spray the liquid, and dry it. The results are noticeable right away. The wax makes the surface shiny and smooth and keeps your vehicle in the best condition. It also protects the car surface from dirt, dust, sun, rain, and other harmful elements. Thanks to the carnauba and polymer blend, this product is perfectly safe and highly efficient. Additionally, it won’t leave any streaks or water spots on the surface.
What can be an issue with this product is the watery formula. The liquid is not very thick, which results in less durability. Frequent reapplications might be needed. Also, this product does leave a glossy finish but not the deep one desired by most driving enthusiasts. For flawless and durable finishing results, an extra polisher might be necessary.
Honorable Mention: Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Durable, long-lasting finish
- Affordable
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- Easily damaged in shipping
- May occasionally streak
Mequiar’s Quik Wax is tough to beat in nearly every way. For starters, it’s extremely easy to use and can even be applied in the sun. Despite that, the formula produces a durable, long-lasting finish. Because it goes on wet or dry, it can also be used to quickly spruce up your car between washes as needed, so long as it’s not extremely dirty. It’s also rather affordable and even smells better than most.
Aside from being easily damaged in shipping, like many others, it’s hard to find a problem with this spray wax. However, it is still worth mentioning that it tends to leave heavy streaks if you don’t spend enough time buffing it out. That’s not a major setback, but certainly more of an issue than most want to deal with.
Most Versatile: Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed Wax
Pros
- Suitable for cars as well as boats, trucks, airplanes, and more
- Applies on wet or dry surfaces
- No rinsing required
- Won’t streak or scratch
Cons
- Not great at removing dirt
- Not the most protective wax
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist Speed wax is designed to boost the shine on your vehicle’s paintwork and keep the exterior in perfect condition. It’s meant to be used on all kinds of materials, including chrome, glass, vinyl, and more. With it, you can maintain not only cars, but also boats, trucks, airplanes, and more.
The product applies in a breeze on both wet and dry surfaces. You don’t even need to rinse it—a few simple wipes with microfiber cloths will get the job done. That makes the wax perfect for on the go when you might need waterless washes. It will clean, protect, and maintain the surface without leaving streaks or scratches.
Although a handy detailer for quick cleanups and general protection between washes, this product is not very efficient in removing dirt and other harmful stuff from the surface. It’s more suitable for applying to new or already clean vehicles. Another issue is the quality of the sprayer—it’s fragile and might break easily.
Best Shine: Chemical Guys Carnauba Spray Wax
Pros
- Delivers high level of shine
- Showroom-level finish
- Protects against dust, dirt, water, and sun
- Won’t streak, scratch, or spot
Cons
- Spray is difficult to control
- Not long-lasting
If you’re searching for a quick detailer for boosting the shiny surface or prolonging the time until the deep wash, this product might be perfect for you. The Chemical Guys spray wax gives a glossy finish and archives showroom results. The product works against dirt, dust, water, sun, and other dangerous elements. It’s a carnauba blend you can use on paint, glass, plastic, and metals, which makes the product quite versatile. Also, the product is easy to use, and you can spread and wipe it off within a few minutes. It won’t leave streaks, scratches, or annoying water spots.
Although the application is fairly easy, the spray on the bottle is difficult to control. It requires some extra care because the liquid tends to pour out from the bottle. Also, the product is not very durable. It’s designed mostly for quick shine boosts and cleanups, so it won’t last for long.
Best Hybrid Spray: Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Wax
Pros
- Sprays on, rinses off
- Repels water easily
- Resistant particulates, dirt, and debris
- Delivers impressive shine
Cons
- Can be too thick to rinse off
- Bottle can crack during shipping
We’ve included Meguiar products on this list already, so by now, you know what to expect: a heady cocktail of impressive performance and long-term reliability. Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Wac is probably the most hydrophobic ceramic-based wax on this whole list. It sheds heavy rain like nothing else—even some carnauba waxes. Water’s not the only material we’ve found this to be great at shedding, either. It’s also resistant to particulates and larger road debris. It works on glass and vinyl, and gives your car an awesome shine.
In the interest of honesty, we should mention that this is not as easy to apply as the bottle claims. It’s too thick to rinse off with just water—you’ll have to either buff it or use an applicator to get the best results. Also, the bottle often arrives cracked.
Best Long-Lasting Shine: Adam’s Polishes Carnauba-Infused Spray Wax
Pros
- Extra level of durability in shine
- Safe for use on all auto surfaces
- Single bottle covers multiple applications
- Almost completely streak-free
Cons
- Expensive
- Hydrophobia isn’t as long-lasting
To round out the list, we thought we’d share one of our favorite higher-end spray waxes—this 16-oz can from Adam’s Polishes. The added price gets you extreme durability. With this spray, you can go up to two months between applications and keep the same shine you had when you first put on the coat.
What else? It’s almost entirely streak-free. Other than the bottle, a single microfiber towel is all you need to apply it. It’s flexible, suitable for all surfaces, and a single bottle can cover your entire car more than once. Also note the brand’s sincere customer service guarantee.
The price, of course, is a drawback. It runs about twice as much as the other choices on this list. This is a great spray wax, but it’s not so much better than the others that the higher price is necessarily warranted. Another drawback is that, while it’s one of the best-looking waxes we’ve tested, it doesn’t have a great protection factor: The hydrophobia lasts for less time than the shine.
Our Verdict on Spray Wax
Our pick for the best overall spray is Malco CR2 Hydro Protect Ceramic Spray it’s an excellent product all around, offering the protection and durability you need. Another great choice is the Turtle Wax and Dry Wax Spray, which is more affordable yet still pretty potent.
What to Consider When Buying Spray Wax
As you shop for the right spray wax for your vehicle and your needs, don’t overlook these key details.
Types of Spray Wax
Clean & Polish/Wax
This multi-purpose spray-on formula includes a cleansing agent combined with wax protection. Some of these products don’t require water, a bucket, or rinsing. Simply spray, wipe, and go. Some brands tout water spot-free application and high lubricity that keeps the paint finish from getting swirls and scratches, and the wax can last a few weeks.
Single-Purpose Spray Wax
Traditional spray wax has one function: produce a smooth-as-glass finish after a car wash. Many motorists prefer to use the best wax for car shine in between touch-ups. You can thoroughly detail your vehicle a couple of times a year with a deep wax, and then every time you wash your car or truck, apply a quick spray-on wax. It’s essentially designed to protect a vehicle’s finish in between washes.
Spray Wax Key Features
UV Protection
UV rays can damage a vehicle’s paint surface, causing it to fade over time. The best spray wax for cars may have agents that provide UV protection to lengthen the life of your paint job. UV protection in a car wax product is considered an extra bit of preventative maintenance; however, there is some debate on how much UV protection these waxes actually provide.
Versatility
Some easy car wax products are solely intended to be applied to a paint finish. Others can be used on car or truck windows, headlights, plastic trim, and rims. You need to decide if you want one product to do multiple things, or if you want to have separate products for cleaning the car’s paint, windows, and so on.
Eco-Friendly
We’re deluged on a daily basis with chemical-based products, and car care brands are no exception. Fortunately, some of the best spray waxes are non-toxic and eco-friendly. They are made with bio-based ingredients from plants, which are better for the environment and your health. If living green is important, look for products that are eco-friendly.
Spray Wax Pricing
The best spray wax for cars doesn’t need to be expensive. You can find several products in the under $10 price range that work effectively and provide a deep shine. Products that cost more than $10 typically have more versatility and additional offerings such as plant-based ingredients that are earth-friendly.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A: Even the best spray-on car wax lasts only about two weeks, although some products may last a month or more. Be prepared to reapply the wax often if you want to protect your vehicle from the elements. In contrast, paste waxes can last up to several months.
A: Apply as much or as little as you need. Keep in mind that if you don’t use enough, you won’t get a lasting shine. If you use too much, you may leave smears on the finish.
A: It depends on the product. Some sprays will dry quickly on a dry surface, which makes them more difficult to wipe off. On a wet vehicle, spray the wax on the finish before using a chamois and buff it with a microfiber towel.
