Unlike traditional waxes, ceramic coating creates a tough clear layer of protection over your vehicle’s paint. This layer repels harmful UV rays and water, making it easier to clean your car and keep it looking like a showroom condition. It also helps reduce fading from exposure to the sun. Ceramic coating can help protect your car’s resale value and increase the longevity of your paint job.

The best ceramic coatings are long-lasting and provide a brilliant shine. To do this, they must be formulated with a high concentration of silicon dioxide and contain other proprietary ingredients. These ingredients enhance the product’s qualities, including its hydrophobic properties, which displace water molecules and make them bead up and roll off rather than soak in.

Unveiling Superior Protection: The Best Ceramic Coating

There are a variety of DIY ceramic coating products on the market, from cheap sprays that offer solid performance surpassing conventional spray waxes, to more sophisticated compounds found in compact bottles and demanding a meticulous application process. Anyone who has done much automotive waxing knows that surface or paint prep matters almost as much as the ceramic coating, so a good do-it-yourself product must provide easy and effective prep methods and then stand up to the test of time.

For example, the Chemical Guys Carbon Force comes in a compact package with the ceramic coating liquid, three application pads and a microfiber cloth, all for under $30. While it did the best in our tests for ease of use and a great finish, it didn’t last as long as the top performers.