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Wax or coating: which is right for your car?
The choice depends on three things: how long you plan to keep the car, how often you want to bring it in for protection, and how it is washed. Wax is shorter-term protection that is renewed once or twice a year. A coating lasts from a year and a half to two years, and a coated car doesn't need waxing.
What protection does and doesn't do
Wax and coatings work on the same principle: they form a layer on top of the paint that dirt and salt don't stick to as easily. Water beads up and runs off, and dirt comes off more easily in a wash. In Finnish conditions this helps all year round, from winter salt and slush to summer pollen and insects.
Neither keeps the car clean or makes the paint scratch-proof. The car still needs washing, and the way it is washed affects how well the protection lasts.
How long will you keep the car?
If you are changing your car soon or don't yet know how long you will have it, wax is a sensible choice. Hard wax protects for 6–8 months and Premium wax for about a year. If you end up keeping the car longer, you can renew the wax or switch to a coating.
If you plan to keep the car for years, a coating is worth considering. Paint coating and Stardust PCS 2 last 18–24 months. NanoCeramic Protect – full set is the most comprehensive option: it coats the glass and the wheels as well as the paint, and the manufacturer states that the paint coating lasts 48–60 months. The coating is applied at an authorised centre, and you receive a treatment certificate.
How often do you want to bring the car in?
In practice, Hard wax is renewed twice a year, for example before winter and in spring once the salt has been washed off. Premium wax is enough once a year. A coated car only needs washing.
With a coating, one visit replaces several waxings. Compare the options by how long the protection lasts, not by the one-off price. You will find the prices and how they differ in our article on what waxing costs.
How is your car washed?
The way you wash the car wears down the protection. The brushes and strong detergents of an automatic car wash wear wax away faster than a gentle hand wash. If the car often goes through a brush wash, the wax may be gone before the end of its expected lifespan.
A coating stands up to detergents and wear better than wax, but it too lasts best when the car is washed by hand. All our washes are suitable for a coated car, as long as the wash is done correctly and according to the coating's instructions. We explain washing a coated car in more detail in our article on caring for a coated car.
Check the condition of the paint first
Protection doesn't remove scratches. Wax can hide fine wash scratches for a while, but a coating won't hide them. If the paintwork is dull or shows a lot of hairline scratches, consider having it polished before it is protected (Paint polishing, €350–450). If you choose a coating, you can arrange polishing before the coating when you book. We explain what causes scratches in our article on where scratches come from.
In short
- Wax suits you if you are changing your car soon or don't want to commit for long.
- Premium wax suits you if you want a year's protection from a single visit.
- A coating suits you if you are keeping the car for a long time and don't want to keep bringing it in for waxing.
- NanoCeramic Protect – full set suits you if you also want protection for the glass and the wheels. It is agreed over the phone, because the price depends on the size of the car and the condition of the paint.
Choose your protection and book
Hard wax €129–149, Premium wax €199–239, Paint coating €299–359. When booking, you will see the price for your car and the available times.