Ceramic coating vs Wax: which is right for your car?

Whether you own an old car or new car it can be difficult picking a wax that suits your vehicle best. To make this decision there are a few things to process. First you need to understand what the difference is between the two. Then you have to analyze your car.

A ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that lasts 1-3 years when applied to the exterior of the car, it forms a protective layer that shields against dirt, road grime, tree sap,bird droppings, the sun's rays, and other environmental contaminants. Ceramic also has a unique chemical composition which makes water bead off of your paint, making your car easier to clean and protects from water spots when it rains or when you wash your car. Wax is a more soft product that lasts 3-6 months and helps bring that extra shine to your vehicle's paint, as well as protects your paint from the sun. With this being said now it's time to evaluate your car's paint. To do this you will take a bright LED light and put it up to the paint, if you see micro scratches or little lines in your paint then using wax is the best choice. The reason for this is because your paint is already damaged so you don't want to put a strong coating over top of it because that will lock in the scratches for years to come. Therefore using the wax is better because it's more short term but still protects the paint. On the other hand if your paint is clear and has a deep color, it is best to apply a 1-3 year ceramic layer because you will help protect the paint the best, therefore preventing as many scratches over time. Even if your car is scratched there is still a way to get a ceramic coating but you have to take an additional step prior to this. You must get a paint correction which is where you fill all the scratches with compound and then polish overtop of the compound so your paint looks brand new. After doing this you are able to get a ceramic coating to protect the paint for years to come. One tip for after getting either of these coatings is to never take your car through a car wash that has bristles (brushes) because they collect lots of grime from other cars and when you drive through them they can scratch your coating off. Only wash your own car, go through touch less car washes, or hire a professional auto detailer to maintain everything for you.