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
- PROFESSIONAL
- Ideal for large touch ups, vehicle accessories, motorcycles, etc.
- Apply over any factory applied finish or Duplicolor Perfect Match Premium Automotive Paint
- Features an adjustable EZ Touch 360 degree nozzle and a wide spray pattern for smooth, even coats
- 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.
- 1.25 gallon kit with a four to one mixture
- Great overall clearcoat for cars, trucks, or motorcycles
- Designed to withstand the elements and create a UV barrier
- Excellent flow and non-sagging properties
- Provides excellent gloss and long-term durability
- 00C
- Backed By 1 Year Or 12k Warranty Which Ever Comes First
- High Quality OEM
- Genuine Toyota Part
- Clear Coat
- Best value 2K clear coat on the market - ERA Paints premium 2K Clear Coat offers superior hardness, easy application and provides a high gloss finish. As good as or better quality than ANY 2K clear coat spray product on the market. PERIOD.”
- ERA Paints 2K Clearcoat - provides 100% UV protection and superior gasoline and chemical resistance compared to 1K clearcoats. Clear coat improves color match, protects your paint and enhances sheen when applied to your car, motorcycle or truck.
- Same quality & finish as the original manufacturer's clear coat.
- Fastest cure time in the industry - 24 hour cure time.
- Easy application - Our professional fan spray adjustable nozzle delivers high quality application.
- 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.
- DiamondFinish Clear is Formulated to Apply Directly Over Other Coatings or Direct To Metal DTM. DiamondFinish Clear is a permanent high solids over 60% and low VOC's Clear Coat
- DiamondFinish Clear is a Moisture Cured Urethane which is an advanced coatings technology offering durability, flexibility, corrosion and chemical resistance. DiamondFinish Clear can be applied directly to Painted Surfaces with Minimal Surface Prep. DiamondFinish Clear is incredibly tough and hard like no other clear coat on the market
- DiamondFinish Clear is a water clear high gloss clear coat remains permanently flexible and can perform in the toughest environments without yellowing, cracking or peeling. DiamondFinish Clear can be applied with a brush without leaving any brush marks, roller and conventional spray gun
- With DiamondFinish Clear, unlike normal two-part coatings, no hardener is needed. You can just stir and go. DiamondFinish Clear will cure without heat or UV lights in temperatures from 50° to 86° Fahrenheit. DiamondFinish Clear can be applied directly to a cured Automotive basecoat, Standard solid color paints, and Single Part or Two-Part paints. DiamondFinish Clear can also be applied to Non Ferrous metals including Aluminum, Alloys, Brass, Chrome and Copper
- DiamondFinish Clear withstands the harshest of chemicals including fuels, solvents, Battery acid, Brake fluid, Ethanol, Methanol, MEK, Hydrochloric Acid, Fertilizers, and Acetone. DiamondFinish Clear is Graffiti Resistant: because of its chemical resistance, grafitti just won't stick and can be removed simply with a solvent soaked rag
- Universal Durable Clear, Medium Speed, 65 - 80 deg. F
- Medium Dry and Cure
- High Gloss and DOI
- UV Resistant for excellent weathering
- Easy Buffing
- Professional Results - Built by professionals for professionals and so easy anyone can use it. Giving you all the results of a high end spray booth without all the expensive equipment. Car clear coat spray paint.
- Spray Max 2K Clear Coat - Unlike other automotive clear coats the 2k is a two part paint that leaves you with professional results every time. 2k clear coats will cure faster and harder leaving you with a high gloss finish.
- Long Lasting - Spraymax 2k clear coat spray paint offers maximum resistance to abrasion and scratching. With high chemical, gasoline, and weathering resistance this clear coat will keep your paint sealed for years to come
- 48 Hour Pot Life - Project taking longer than you thought or have a busy schedule? Spaymax has you covered with an astounding 48 hour pot life. Shelf life is 3 years, date stamped on top of can is manufacturing date not an expiration date.
- Moshify Spray Can Trigger - Utilizing Spraymax’s rotating nozzle this spray trigger lets you paint like a spray gun without the hassle of all the clean up afterwards. Just snap it on and save your fingers from unnecessary pain and suffering
- Crystal-Clear Protective Coating: Provides a durable, transparent finish that enhances and protects surfaces without altering their appearance
- Superior Rust & Corrosion Resistance: Forms a strong, moisture-resistant barrier to protect metal surfaces from rust and oxidation
- UV & Chemical Resistant: Blocks harsh sunlight, chemicals, and environmental damage to keep surfaces looking pristine
- Tough, Long-Lasting Durability: Resists chipping, peeling, and abrasions, ensuring a reliable, high-performance finish
- Easy Application: Can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed for a smooth, professional-grade finish with excellent adhesion
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.