The best car polish is the mildest product that still removes your scratches and swirls. Heavy scratches call for a compound, light swirls for a polish, and for extra depth you finish with a finishing polish. If you want to be done with one product, pick a one-step. Below we explain how to choose.
What to look for in a car polish
A polishing paste works with abrasive particles that take off a very thin layer of paint, so the scratch or swirl disappears. The coarser the particles, the faster it works and the more gloss you still have to build back afterwards. That is why there are three levels:
Compound (cut): coarse, for deep scratches, sanding marks and heavily weathered paint. A compound often leaves a haze, so follow it with a polish.
Polish: finer, for swirls, holograms and light scratches.
Finish: the finest paste, for the last bit of depth and clarity, right before wax, sealant or coating.
Always start with the mildest product. Your car has only a thin layer of clear coat and you cannot grow it back. Test a small spot with a polish and only reach for a compound if the scratch stays. When choosing, look at the range the manufacturer states and not only at the name on the label.
One-step, by hand or with a machine
A one-step combines cutting, finishing and sometimes protecting in a single product. That is quick and suits paint with light to moderate swirls. A one-step cuts less deeply than a separate compound. With deep scratches, work in two or three steps.
Polishing by hand works for a local spot, but it corrects far less than a machine. Modern clear coat is hard, and your hand cannot match a machine. A dual-action polishing machine with the right pad is therefore the best choice, even for beginners. The whole process is in our guide to polishing your car and removing swirls.
The best car polish: our comparison
Product | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Compound | Sanding marks and deep scratches | |
Medium cut polish | Removing scratches while keeping gloss | |
Cutting polish | Swirls and holograms | |
Finishing polish | Deep gloss as the last step | |
One-step with sealant | Quick correction with protection | |
One-step polish | Swirls, by hand or machine |
The products one by one
Koch Chemie Heavy Cut Polish H9.02
H9.02 is a coarse polishing paste with a correction level of 9 out of 10 and a gloss level of 6 out of 10 (on the Koch Chemie scale). According to the manufacturer it removes sanding marks down to P1200. You use it with a rotary machine and a lambswool or Heavy Cut pad, and follow it with a finer polish for the gloss.
Menzerna Medium Cut Polish 2500
The 2500 is a medium cut polish free of silicones and fillers. Menzerna rates it cut 5 and gloss 7. It works with a rotary, an orbital machine and by hand. If you want hologram-free paint, follow it with a finishing polish.
Chemical Guys V36
V36 is a water-based medium cutting polish for swirls, holograms and light sanding marks in the 2500 to 3500 grit range. The manufacturer says it contains no fillers or oils, so you see the true result on the paint.
Menzerna Final Finish 3000
Final Finish 3000 is a water-based finishing polish for the last step. You use it after a medium cut polish to clear swirls, holograms and light scratches and to build deep gloss. Use a soft finishing pad.
Koch Chemie P6.02 One Cut & Finish
P6.02 is a machine polish with built-in sealant. According to Koch Chemie it removes polishing haze, holograms, scratches and sanding marks down to P2000, with gloss level 8 out of 10 and a sealing effect. Work with a powerful eccentric machine (at least 15 mm stroke) and the One Cut Pad, and spread five pea-sized drops over the pad.
Chemical Guys Rebound
Rebound is a one-step polish with diminishing abrasives that removes scratches, swirls and water spots from the paint. It has no filler or wax that hides scratches. It works by hand and with a machine.
Which one suits you
Deep scratches or sanding marks: start with the Koch Chemie H9.02 and finish with a polish.
Swirls and holograms in dark paint: choose Chemical Guys V36 or Menzerna Medium Cut 2500 and finish with Final Finish 3000.
Maximum gloss before wax or coating: Menzerna Final Finish 3000 as the last step. What goes on the paint afterwards is covered in choosing wax, sealant or ceramic coating.
Done quickly with one product and a machine: Koch Chemie P6.02.
No machine at home: Chemical Guys Rebound for light swirls.
The right pad is in polishing pads, and all the products side by side are in polish and compound.