The clear coat finish is the final protective layer on your car’s paint job, so it’s important to make sure it’s applied correctly and in the case of not one, but two coats. Your car’s clear coat protects the paint underneath from fading, chipping, and water spots.
But figuring out which clear coat to use can be tricky. Do you want a spray, a paste, or a paint? Do you want to buy it online or from a local shop? What’s the difference between durable and durable? Do you need a top coat, and if so, what’s the difference between them?
To help you find the best car clear coats for you, we’ve rounded up the top products currently on the market.
Our Editor’s Best Car Clear Coats Reviews
- DURABLE, FAST DRYING ACRYLIC FORMULA: Delivers a long-lasting, attractive finish on indoor and outdoor surfaces including metal, wood, plastic and more
- ULTIMATE 2X COVERAGE: Premium automotive spray paint covers surfaces with fewer passes for faster project completion
- CUSTOM SPRAY 5-IN-1 DIAL: Offers five spray paint patterns for ultimate control and superior results
- QUICK DRY AND EXCELLENT COVERAGE: Dries to the touch in 20 minutes and covers up to 12 square feet per can
- SPRAYS FROM ANY ANGLE: Choose from high output, standard, low output, vertical fan, and horizontal fan spray patterns with 360° any-angle spray technology
- Dupli-Color Perfect Match Premium Automotive Clear Coat is an easy-to-use, high-quality, fast-drying, acrylic lacquer aerosol paint
- Features an adjustable EZ Touch 360 degree nozzle and a wide spray pattern for smooth, even coats
- Apply over any factory applied finish or Duplicolor Perfect Match Premium Automotive Paint
- Ideal for large touch ups, vehicle accessories, motorcycles, etc.
- Gloss Finish: Ultimate Overall Clearcoat provides an excellent gloss finish, distinctness of image, leveling, blending and buffing
- High Solids Urethane Clear Coat: Designed for overall refinishing
- Application: This clear coat for overall refinishing can be applied to automotive basecoats and cured single stage enamels
- Easy to Apply and Polish: Using a cross-coat application technique, apply 2 coats
- 4:1 Mixing Ratio: Car spray paint kit includes 1 quart of standard universal hardener
- Maximum resistance to abrasion and scratching
- Suggested Use: For use over all basecoats.
- Mix: Ready to spray: Activate, shake and spray.
- Color: Clear liquid
- Manufacture date on can 2 year expiration from that date.
- Crystal High Gloss,Enhance Texture： The small-bottle car clear coat has the crystal-like high-gloss characteristics.After being applied to the car paint,it can bring excellent gloss and transparency to the paint surface,making the applied part present a clear and bright texture,instantly enhancing the overall texture of the car paint surface,making the car look brand new and showing exquisite.
- Long-Term Protection,Resist Damage： The clear coat for cars has excellent durability and UV resistance.After application,it can form a strong protective film on the car paint surface,effectively resisting the erosion of dust,sand,rain,etc.during daily driving,and preventing the paint from fading and aging due to long-term sun exposure.It provides long-term protection for the car paint,extends the service life of the paint surface,and keeps the car paint in good condition all the time.
- Easy to Operate,Efficient and Time-Saving： The small-bottle clear coat has built-in brush, and the usage steps are simple and easy to understand.The clear coat hardens in an hour,and only a few coats are needed to form a thick protective effect,which greatly shortens the time,saves labor and material costs,and makes the paint repair efficient and convenient.
- Wide Range of Applications: Automotive clear coat suitable for metal surface-cars,motorcycles and bicycles;walls of different colors;wood suface-door,fence,chair;other small items-models,crafts and etc.
- Easy 4:1 Mix: Combine 4 parts Part A with 1 part included Part B hardener; 1.5-hour pot life after mixing.
- Pro & DIY Ready: Ideal for custom builds, restorations, or modern designs with predictable, professional results.
- Tack-free in 20–40 minutes (temperature-dependent); fully cures in 12 hours at 70°F.
- 00C
- Backed By 1 Year Or 12k Warranty Which Ever Comes First
- High Quality OEM
- Genuine Toyota Part
- Clear Coat
- Crystal High Clear Gloss: Achieve a stunning, high-gloss shine on your vehicle's paint surface. Auto Paint Depot clear coat provides a finish that is exceptionally clear and glossy, enhancing the appearance of any surface it's applied to. Automotive Paint clarity ensures a smooth and polished look, giving your project a professional-grade finish.
- Durable and UV Resistant: The clear coat offers a high level of durability, providing long-lasting protection to your painted surfaces. Additionally, touch up paint is UV resistant, guarding against the fading and deterioration that can occur due to prolonged sun exposure. The clear gloss ensures that your finish maintains its quality and appearance over time.
- Rapid Hardening for High Build: The 1k clear coat hardens quickly, allowing for a high build with fewer layers. This means you can achieve a thick, protective finish in less time with automotive clear coat, saving you both time and resources during your project. Non-sag properties
- Excellent Flow and Non-Sag Properties: The automotive paint is designed to have good flow and non-sag properties. This means that when applied with clear gloss, it spreads smoothly and evenly without dripping or running. The touch up paint ensures a consistent and flawless finish, even on vertical surfaces, making it easier to achieve professional-looking results.
- CLEAR COAT AUTOMOTIVE PAINT – Dupli-Color Paint Shop Finish System Clear Coat is a complete, high-quality lacquer-based paint system designed for vehicle refinish applications.
- DIY FRIENDLY - This ready-to-spray car paint repair system does not require a hardener or reducer and creates a fast drying, durable finish. With no re-coat window, additional coats can be applied at any time.
- EASY TO APPLY – Dupli-Color Paint Shop vehicle paint is easy to apply, dries quickly, and can be buffed to a brilliant smooth finish. It’s dry to the touch in 1 hour and can be handled in 3 hours.
- IDEAL USES – Designed for automotive and motorcycle applications, Dupli-Color Paint Shop Finish System features an array of sheens from high gloss to matte or metallic finishes ideal for almost any restoration or custom paint job.
- DUPLI-COLOR PAINT – Since 1938, Dupli-Color has been the trusted brand leader in providing easy-to-use, innovative, products to restore, restyle and protect vehicle appearance.
- Universal Durable Clear, Medium Speed, 65 - 80 deg. F
- Medium Dry and Cure
- High Gloss and DOI
- UV Resistant for excellent weathering
- Easy Buffing
Best Car Clear Coats Buying Guide
Before choosing the best car clear coat you should consider following options:
1. Time setting: The first step towards choosing the best car clear coat is determining the time setting. The best-suited clear coat for your car is the one that will take care of your car’s paint and make it look shiny and new for as long as possible.
Typically, the car clear coat is designed to last anywhere between 2 years and 8 years. The time setting of the coat will depend on the paint job, their thickness and quality, the environmental conditions, and much more.
2. Cost: The cost of the clear coat is another factor that you should keep in mind before making a purchase.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the final price of the clear coat. They include the quality, the brand, and the size of the can.
It is also worth mentioning that the price of the clear coat can vary greatly depending on the place you purchase it from and the brand you buy.
3. Quality: The quality of the clear coat is another factor that you should take into account before making a purchase.
Ideally, you should look for a clear coat that has a high UV protection so that it can protect your car’s paint from harsh weather conditions.
You should also look for a coating that has a self-leveling ability so that it can easily fill in any minor cracks and holes in the paint. Furthermore, you should look for a clear coat that has a long-lasting effect so that you don’t have to reapply it again anytime soon.
4. Application: The way in which the clear coat is applied also plays a crucial role in determining its quality. Some clear coats can be easily applied with a brush, while some can only be applied with a machine gun.
Some clear coats can be easily applied, while some can only be applied with a machine gun. It is important to keep this factor in mind before making a purchase.
5. Warranty: Another important factor that you should consider before making a purchase is the warranty offered by the manufacturer.
Not all clear coats come with a warranty, but if you come across a coating that does come with a warranty, then it’s a clear indication that the product is of a high quality.
6. Customer service: Another important factor that you should consider before making a purchase is the customer service offered by the manufacturer.
Not all clear coats come with a warranty, but if you come across a coating that does come with a warranty, then it’s a clear indication that the product is of a high quality.
It is important to note that customer service plays an important role in ensuring customer satisfaction. Therefore, make sure that you read reviews and check the history of the company before making a purchase.
7. UV protection: Another important factor that you should consider before making a purchase is the UV protection offered by the product. Not all clear coats come with this feature, but if you come across a coating that does come with this feature, then it’s a clear indication that the product is of a high quality.
Note that having this feature will ensure that your car’s paint is protected from harsh weather conditions. This will help ensure that your car’s paint looks new for as long as possible.
8. Number of coats: Another important factor that you should consider before making a purchase is the number of coats offered by the product.
Some clear coats come with as little as 2 coats while some come with as many as 6
What else you should know about car clear coats
1. What is a car clear coat?
A car clear coat is a type of paint or coating that is applied over the top of the car’s basecoat. It is typically a clear or translucent coating that helps protect the basecoat and provide a high-gloss finish.
2. What are the benefits of a car clear coat?
Some benefits of a car clear coat are that it can help protect the paint from UV rays, it can make the paint look shiny and new, and it can help to prevent rusting.
3. How long does a car clear coat last?
A car’s clear coat typically lasts for several years; however, it can become damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays, chemicals, and road debris.
4. How do I apply a car clear coat?
Car clear coat is typically applied with a paint gun.
5. What are some tips for caring for a car clear coat?
-Wash the car regularly with a mild soap
-Wax the car regularly to protect the clear coat
-Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners on the car
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best car clear coats. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best car clear coats will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.