Best Clear Coat for Cars 2021 | For Long Lasting Protection
All new cars come with a layer of clear coat on it to protect the paint from external elements. These coats are normally transparent and you would not be able to see it with your naked eyes.
As your car ages, the clear coat will fade and expose the paint job to moisture, oxidation and even ultraviolet rays that will result in your car looking really bad.
But, this can be rectified and all you’d have to do to prolong the life of your car’s body is by applying a touch up of a layer clear coat. It can be rather difficult to find the best clear coat to use on your car, and that’s where we at Electro Mobiler come in.
Our team have tried and tested over 50 different clear coats for cars and have found the following 6 products to be the best. These products are easy to use and can transform the appearance of your beat down car thus giving it a new look.
Here are the top 6 best clear coats for cars.
- USC Spray Max 2K Clear Coat
- Dupli-Color Perfect Match EBUN01007
- Speedokote Automotive Clear Coat
- Sherwin Williams Finish 1 Automotive Ultimate Clear Coat
- KBS Coatings 8504 Diamond Finish Clear Coat
- Genuine Toyota Clear Coat
How many types of clear coats for cars are there?
There are 5 primary clear coats that are designed for cars. Each clear coat product has a different healing period and while some take a few seconds to dry, others would take a couple of hours.
Let’s check out the different types of clear coats for cars out there and see which is best suited for your car.
- Turbo clear coat – Turbo clear coats are those clear coats that dry extremely quickly and are generally used by mechanics who are working on a car that was recently in a fender-bender.
- Top coat clear coat – This type of clear coat can be easily applied over the base layer of paint and is easy to polish and maintain.
- Higher solid clear coat – While not commonly used, the higher solid clear coat is used by professionals who don’t mind waiting a long time for the coat to dry. It’s also best suited for those looking to apply a thick layer rather than a thin film.
- Glamour clear coat – Glamour clear coats are designed to help users level out blemishes and mild dents on the body of the car. This type of clear coat dries slowly and offers a mild shine to the body.
- Euro clean coat – This type of clear coat requires heat to stay firm over the paint. The heat is used to quickly harden and dry the clear coat so it does not get brushed away easily.
Best Clear Coats for Cars – Buyers Guide
When buying a can of clear coat for your car, there are certain things you need to keep in mind in order to pick the best product for you. This guide will help you determine which is the best clear coat for your car.
- Transparency – The first thing you need to look at is the level of transparency offered by the clear coat. A transparent coat can improve the overall appearance of your car and highlight the paint job.
- Level of Gloss – Not all clear coats for cars give off a glossy appearance. This depends on the kind of product you buy and any high gloss clear coat will make sure UV rays from the sun bounce off the paint job and not damage the paintwork.
- Ease of Application – Applying a clear coat on your car is meant to be an easy task and should not take more than a few minutes. It’s best to pick a clear coat for your car that is easy to apply simply because it can be used by both professionals and amateurs.
- Damage Resistance – High quality clear coats are designed to prevent weather related damage and yellowing of the paint. You will need to choose a clear coat for your car that is scratch resistant and resistant to yellowing even after being placed in the rain.
- Durability – Finally, the clear coat you choose should be durable enough to last through various weather conditions. You have to pick a product that does no chip away or turn flaky.
Top 6 Best Clear Coats for Cars
USC Spray Max 2K Clear Coat
Pack of 1/311ml or 11.8 fl oz
The USC spray max 2K is a premium quality clear coat for cars that you can buy on Amazon. It’s one of the most effective products to use that’s equipped with a unique nozzle to deliver the right amount of clear coat over your car.
This product offers long lasting high gloss that makes your vehicle stand out from the rest and this also helps protect the car’s paint from eroding. It’s designed to provide maximum resistance to scratches and knicks on the body and acts as a weather proof coating for your car.
The USC 2K clear coat uses a clear liquid and is best suited for placement over a base coat on the car. It is slow acting and would take around 24 hours for a layer of the clear coat to dry.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 24 hours
- Protection – chip resistant, weather resistant, chemical resistant
- Type of clear coat – Aerosol spray
Dupli-Color Perfect Match EBUN01007
Pack of 1/226g or 8 oz
The Dupli-Color perfect match clear coat is a great choice for those on a budget. It’s an effective clear coat that offers professional-grade results and can not only be used as a primary layer of a clear coat but also in case you need to apply a touch up layer.
This clear coat for cars can be applied in any angle and you wouldn’t have to worry about applying the formula slowly. It’s capable of drying in under 30 minutes depending on the amount of clear coat you used and if you’re looking to use this product to cover your entire car, it’s best if you pick up more than one can to get the job done.
The Dupli-Color perfect match is an acrylic layer that dries extremely fast. The nozzle is designed in such a way that you will be able to cover more area in a shorter span of time as compared to many other clear coats.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 30 minutes
- Protection – Scratch, nick and peel resistant
- Type of clear coat – Aerosol spray
Speedokote Automotive Clear Coat
One 3.78L can of clear urethane/ One 900ml can of medium activator
The Speedokote automotive clear coat is an acrylic-based product that’s designed to protect your car from the harsh rays of the sun. It’s a great investment and has been specifically designed to prevent UV damage. This product is made from a blend of urethane and acrylic that not only protects your car from the sun but also from other chemicals.
This clear coat should be applied at a certain temperature and once set you will receive a nice high-gloss shine over the car. It’s recommended that you apply this clear coat on your car when the temperature is around 80-degrees F as anything lower can result in the formula drying faster and this will become a problem if you have some imperfections that need addressing.
The Speedokote clear coat is available in two separate containers, one will hold the activator whereas the second will hold the clear liquid. Mixing both these products will result in a high quality, long lasting clear coat for your car.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 5-6 hours
- Protection – Scratches, UV and Chemical protection
- Type of clear coat – Liquid
Sherwin Williams Finish 1 Automotive Ultimate Clear Coat
One can of 3.8L ultimate clear coat/ One 946ml can of medium hardener
The Sherwin Williams Finish 1 is a highly versatile clear coat for your car that can easily restore its appearance. The Finish 1 is made from a blend of urethane and a medium level hardener that delivers exceptional results in no time. This product can be used for touch-ups, panel repair or any layer of coating on both the interior and exterior.
Unlike the Speedokote clear coat for cars, the Finish 1 does not need any specific temperature and can either be air-dried or force-dried. The sheen and glossy finish look great and you can easily add multiple layers of this clear coat by making sure there’s an 8 hours gap between each later.
The Sherwin Williams Finish 1 automotive clear coat is a two part clear coat that needs to be mixed in a 4:1 ratio and will harden extremely quickly when the external temperature is between 55-75-degrees F.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 8 hours
- Protection – Paint protection
- Type of clear coat – Liquid
KBS Coatings 8504 Diamond Finish Clear Coat
One 128 fl oz can of clear coat
The clear diamond finish from KBS is a premium quality clear coat that is a moisture cured urethane solution that’s resistant to erosion and chemicals. It creates one of the best coats in the automotive industry and is highly durable.
This product does not require any hardener and all you’d need to do is stir the solution and you’re good to go. It will protect your car’s paint job from UV rays and is one of the few products that can be applied on different non-ferrous metals such as aluminum or brass.
The KBS coatings 8504 diamond finish clear coat is a highly versatile solution that can be applied to metals and over existing coatings of paint. It is one of the few products that does not require heat or sunlight to cure.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 8 hours
- Protection – Environment protection, Prevents yellowing and cracking
- Type of clear coat – Liquid
Genuine Toyota Clear Coat Pen
Pack of 1/14ml or 0.5 fl oz
Ideal for small touch ups, the Genuine Toyota clear coat pen is a paint pen that delivers a reasonably decent amount of clear coat over a small area. This pen can easily cover small blemishes on your paint job and since it’s available in the form of a brush pen, the application process is relatively simple.
For a product priced at under $15, the Toyota clear coat touch-up pen is a dream come true for all you car owners as you wouldn’t have to depend on a basic clear coat job at your local mechanic for over $100. It’s worth every cent and is certainly one product to consider investing in.
This genuine Toyota clear coat pen is a high quality product that does a remarkable job of protecting your car’s paint job. It’s compact and easy to use making it a highly sought after product.
Key Features
- Curing Time – 30 minutes
- Protection – Environmental protection
- Type of clear coat – Touch up brush pen
Best Clear Coats for Cars – FAQ’s
How long should you wait between each layer of clear coat?
Most of the clear coat products would require you to wait for at least 15 minutes to half an hour before applying a second coat. This also depends on the type of formula you’re using and I would suggest referring to the can of clear coat for instructions on how long to wait between coats.
What’s the ideal number of coats to put on a car?
While single coats do work well, it’s best to have more than one clear coat on your car. This is normally done to prolong the effects of the coat and will ensure that the clear coat does not crack or flake in a couple of months. You can apply up to 3-4 layers of clear coat on your car for the best results.
Is it safe to use wax on clear coat paint?
The answer depends on the kind of clear coat paint you used. Some clear coats would be thin and can easily be removed if you rub wax on it in a vigorous manner. So it’s best to check the manufacturers instructions and determine whether you have a thin or thick layer of clear coat that can handle waxing.
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