Almost all cars built after the mid-1980s have a clear coat applied on top of their base color. As the name implies, a clear coat is a glossy and transparent coating that protects your car’s paintwork from the sun’s harmful rays. In addition to preventing unsightly scratches and scuffs that may ruin your paint, a clear coat also helps protect it from damaging elements.
It is often possible to buff out surface scratches and swirl marks on your car without having to touch up or refinish the entire paint job. Consider removing a dull or faded clear coat from your car to restore its shine and luster. Identifying the quality of a clear coat isn’t always determined by its price, as there are many options, from cheap to very expensive.
We have put together a helpful buying guide and an in-depth review of our top picks to assist you in sifting through the various fodder and selecting a clear coat that meets your needs and falls within your budget.
Here are the best clear coat for cars.
Editor’s Pick-Clear Coat For Cars
Best Clear Coat For Cars Reviews In 2023
1. Krylon K01305 Gallery Series Artist
The Krylon Gallery Series Artist Acrylics are designed for use on many surfaces. This permanent, highly pigmented, fast-drying acrylic features an alcohol-based resin system formulated to dry quickly, allowing artists to work with a brush, palette knife, or trowel while the paint remains wet.
Permanent Coating
The Krylon Gallery Series Artist line is a non-yellowing, permanent coating that provides strong coverage on most indoor and outdoor surfaces. This painting spray dries in seconds to a smooth finish, preventing brushstrokes and being used with any other medium.
Easy-to-use
Krylon Gallery Series Artist Acrylic is an easy-to-use, high-performance acrylic paint that dries in minutes. Durable, waterproof when dry, and retains its shape when dry. The paint soaks into the material and bonds to it. Interior/exterior use on most substrates such as paper, canvas, and wood (requires preparation). Ideal for mixed media projects, journaling and lettering, stenciling, and crafting.
2. Spray Max 2K High Gloss Finish Clear Coat Spray Paint
2K High Gloss Spray Max 2K is a 2 component clear coat that is easy to apply, flows smoothly, and dries to a long-lasting, high gloss finish. This product has been formulated to give optimum performance in industrial applications requiring a glossy finish.
Easy-to-use Aerosol
Spray Max 2K High Gloss Finish Clear Coat Spray Paint is an easy-to-use aerosol. Activate and shake the can, then spray your object in a few seconds. The nozzle delivers a fine finish similar to a spray gun and dries to a high gloss shine that resists weather and chemicals, adding protection for your car or boat.
High Gloss Finish Clear Coat Spray
Spray Max 2K High Gloss Finish Clear Coat Spray Paint is a clear coat that can be used over all basecoats. It helps to make the basecoat last longer and keep its original look for as long as possible. The metallic range has a more satin/dull sheen than the non-metallic range.
3. Oxide Reducing Emulsion to Restore Faded
Restore faded car paint easily and quickly in your garage at an affordable price with Oxide Reducing Emulsion. Simply apply the red liquid to the oxidation areas, allow it to dry, and wipe away the white residue for a new-looking finish with your car’s original color.
Fast-drying Emulsion
Repair oxidized, peeling clear coat with Oxide Reducing Emulsion. This non-greasy, fast-drying emulsion makes detailing faster and easier by restoring the original luster to all exterior trim and plastics, including headlights, tail lights, and more.
Colors And Restore Color Intensity
Restore and preserve your oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, and many other art surfaces. Oxide Reducing Emulsion will help you remove faded colors and restore color intensity. Thousands of artists have used it to revive antique museum pieces, family portraits, priceless artwork, and even paintings hanging on living room walls!
4. Spraymax 2K Clear Coat Aerosol Spray Can
Spraymax 2K clear coat is the best clear coat on the market. Its super slick and fast-drying clear coat formula has been built by professionals for professionals and is so easy anyone can use it. Gives you all the results of a high end spray booth without all the expensive equipment. The secret is in its advanced resin technology that allows easier application than any other leading brand out there.
High Clarity
With a high-quality acrylic base, 2k clear coats allow for high clarity, fast cure time, and maximum durability. Unlike conventional automotive clear coats, the 2K will produce a harder finish protecting from rock chips and road debris. This 2k clear coat features a professional quality formula that dries to a high gloss finish and is extremely durable.
Painting A Fresh Coat
Seal your paint jobs with Spray Max! Whether you are repairing paint or painting a fresh coat, use Spray Max for an excellent finish with high resistance to chemicals, gasoline, and weathering.
5. SprayMax 2K High Gloss Finish Clear Coat Spray Paint
Engineered to resist abrasion and scratching, all of your hard work will shine through. This 2K high gloss clear coat spray paint offers high hiding capabilities, incredible adhesion, and durability. Use it on steel, fiberglass, and other materials to achieve a long-lasting finish.
Horizontal And Vertical Substrates
SprayMax 2K High Gloss Finish Clear Coat is a clear liquid used on horizontal and vertical substrates. This water-based, ready-to-spray formula provides a smooth, highly durable finish. It is ideal for coating furniture, cabinets, and flooring. It reaches full cure within 72 hours of application and offers superior gloss retention after several coats.
Easy To Apply
Spray Max 2K Glamour High Gloss Aerosol Clear. A 2 component aerosol clearcoat that is easy to apply flows smooth and dries to a long-lasting, high gloss finish. 2K clearcoat in an easy-to-use aerosol. Activate, shake and spray. Unique nozzle delivers spray gun results. Dries to a high gloss finish. Excellent weather and chemical resistance. Manufacture date on can Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals which is [are] known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
6. ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquer
Produces a beautiful traditional nitrocellulose lacquer finish without elaborate spray equipment. ColorTone® Aerosol Guitar Lacquer is formulated especially for musical instruments. Fast-drying and resistant to alcohol and water, it produces a hard, durable finish that enhances the beauty of the wood.
Colortone Stains
This clear nitrocellulose guitar lacquer can be applied over smooth bare wood, sanded basecoats of grain filler, ColorTone Sanding Sealer, and over ColorTone Stains. Perfect for touch-up work or for finishing an entire instrument. The rotating-tip nozzle can spray a horizontal or vertical pattern.
Slightly Rougher Surface
Aerosol spraying is an economical way for the beginner to apply the first finish without an elaborate setup or equipment. However, aerosols produce a slightly rougher surface than spray guns, and more sanding may be needed for a level surface. ColorTone nitrocellulose lacquer comes in 4 different formulas (each sold separately): Clear Vinyl Sealer, Clear Sanding Sealer, Clear Gloss, and Clear Satin.
7. Automotive High Gloss Clear Coat Urethane
A great high gloss clear coat that is easy to work with and gives you a high gloss finish. With its low shrinkage, this product can be applied to all auto finishes, including fiberglass, plastic, rubber, and more.
High-performance Formula
This clear coat urethane is a versatile, high-performance formula for coating your car with a true 2K urethane finish at a great price. Our clear coat is resistant to weathering and will provide long-lasting protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This 4:1 ratio paint will cover any surface quickly and easily, delivering professional results from every application.
Clear Coat Designed
SMR-21 Urethane Coating is a national rule, 2K epoxy clear coat designed for use on most substrates. Its high gloss finish resists yellowing, fading, and chipping while providing excellent adhesion and durability.
8. Automotive Acrylic Urethane Clear Coat
This premium automotive acrylic urethane clear coat is perfect for all automotive refinishing, including cars, trucks, and boats. UV and weathering resistant, this is an easy-to-apply option that gives you a durable high gloss finish that will protect your paint or glasswork.
Excellent Flexibility
It covers in a single coat and is a tough, hard, water-resistant finish. It offers excellent flexibility, impact, and abrasion resistance. It has superior yellowing resistance and flexes easily over irregular surfaces, such as plastic bumpers that are typically hard to paint. This formula is available in clear and many different candy colors, ideal for decorating automotive parts.
High Durability Of Urethane
SMR-1170 is a national rule 4.4 lbs/gallon VOC product. This is the best choice for your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and hobbies! This paint gives you the high durability of urethane but with an easy 3:1 ratio and combines all the brilliance of acrylic with the protection of urethane. This paint dries to a fast cure time so you can hit the road faster and cheaper than other products like it.
How To Choose The Best Clear Coat For Cars Before Buying
Although the clear coat concept is not new, it keeps evolving. It is therefore difficult to keep up with market trends to know which factors to consider before making a purchase. You should consider these points before purchasing a clear coat.
Transparency
The case is Clearcoat! Adding transparent paint to your car will enhance its appearance without changing color. Make sure your top coat is completely transparent before buying it.
Gloss Level
A clear coat on a car enhances its appearance by allowing light to reflect off the base coat. You can choose between a matte clear coat and one with a high gloss. Choose the glossiest possible coat when buying a gloss coat. This then gives the paint a luster and helps it catch the light.
Applicability
The equipment you need to paint your car may already possess serious DIY automotive painters. Depending on your container, you may need to transfer the clear coat to your spray gun.
When you have limited space to cover, and if it is your first attempt at this job, the aerosol clear coat may be the best option.
Easy to use
Choose a product that can be applied easily. In a clear coat, you can usually find aerosol cans with nozzles so that beginners will have an easier time applying the coating evenly and getting a good result. This will smooth your face out.
Environment
There can be a great deal of sensitivity to temperature for clear coats. The clear coat must be applied in all types of temperatures if a garage or enclosed space is unavailable. It is also important to consider relative humidity.
Resistance to Damage
The clear paint on your car should withstand the wear and tear of driving. As UV light degrades clear coats over time, they can become yellow. It is sometimes called scratch-resistant. If your coat has UV protection, you can prevent this from happening.
Price
You should carefully review its features to determine which clear coat is the best value for money. The most expensive product here isn’t necessarily the best.
Durability
This will impact your car’s value and appearance. A clear coat is prone to breaking and becoming flaky with time. A long warranty is an important factor to consider when choosing an appliance.
Compatibility
Your paint job’s compatibility with a clear coat is your first and foremost concern. It cannot be stressed enough how important this is. Choose another clear coat if the one you are considering will not work well with the paint you are using. Even if this is the best and most affordable clear coat, it shouldn’t be incompatible with the paint on your car.
Application Factors
In choosing the right clear coat, the interaction of the clear coat with the environment during application is underappreciated. The set should be kept indoors as much as possible to protect it from sun, rain, and dust.
Warnings also accompany these coatings for health hazards due to their chemicals. Although it is ideal to do this inside, this may not be an option.
Frequently Asked Question
How Durable Is A Clear Coat?
DiamondFinish Clear Coat is an extremely tough and durable clear coat applied directly to metal or over another coating. In addition to staying permanently flexible despite harsh environments, DiamondFinish Clear also helps prevent yellowing, cracking, peeling, and stains.
What Is The Best Clear Coat For Cars?
Additionally, it has a high gloss finish. A hard shell forms when acrylic enamel paint dries, so it lasts much longer. It is actually baked onto the car when this paint is applied by a professional.
What Effect Does A Clear Coat Have On The Paint?
The first time a painter sprays on a clear coat, many do not realize it is not glossy until they look at the finished product and are disappointed to see the paint looks dull and flat. If you use the right materials, this problem is easy to fix, and you can get your paint job back to shiny and glossy in no time.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Clear Coat?
Clearcoat applications, such as factory clear coats, can typically last for 10-15 years if properly cared for by the owner. Particles in the environment, such as dirt, metal, and sand, lodge in the clear coat and reduce their ability to protect.
Is It Possible To Spray A Clear Coat Over A Clear Coat?
Having said that, you can paint over a clear coat, but before painting, you need to sand off some of the clear coat. You cannot paint over a clear coat if you just spray the base coat, which will result in an ugly finish.
Final Verdict
We recommend USC Spray Max 2k High Gloss Clearcoat Aerosol because of your expertise in selecting the right clear coat. Acrylic components are uniquely designed to provide thorough and easy application on the surface of your car. After the process, you’ll have a glossy, durable finish that gives your car a little more zing.
Metallic Clear Dupli-Color is a more affordable alternative. Metallic sheens are fun to wear since they change color with different light sources.