The Best Paint Sealant for Black Cars – Top 5 Reviewed

Being an owner of black cars is much like being blessed with a curse.

If a black car is clean and shiny, it’s an absolute jaw-dropper on the road, however, dirt and imperfections in the paint tend to be more apparent on black cars, making it more difficult to maintain the shine.

As a black car owner, myself, I’ve spent way too much time and money in the chase for the best paint sealants that last for a long time and give the absolute best results.

In this article, I’m going to share the 5 best paint sealants for black cars, that worked for me the best.

Related: The 5 Best Headlight Sealants

The 5 Best Paint Sealants for Black Cars

Advertising	Best Overall Wolfgang Concours Series WG-5500	Protection: Up To a Year Cure Time: 12 hours	Check Price On Amazon
Advertising	Popular Choice CarGuys Liquid Wax	Protection: 6 Months To a Year Cure Time: 6 hours	Check Price On Amazon
Advertising	Best Value Meguiar's G18309 Ultimate Fast Finish	Protection: 1 Year Cure Time: Instant	Check Price On Amazon
Advertising	Wet Look Blackfire Pro Detailers Choice BF-300	Protection: Half a Year Cure Time: 6 hours	Check Price On Amazon
Advertising	Time-Tested Meguiar’s M2116 Mirror Glaze	Protection: Half a Year Cure Time: 6 hours	Check Price On Amazon

Wolfgang Concours Series WG-5500 – Best Overall

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This is by far the best sealant that I’ve tried. The first thing you’ll notice is just how easy it is to apply; it instantly wipes off a using a soft microfiber towel without leaving any dust as some waxes do. It really feels like the weight of the towel is enough to reveal the shine.

Once applied, Wolfgang WG-5500 really brings out the depth of black paint and gives a noticeable wet shine. The paint on my Hellcat felt like there was a force field above it, however, I was a bit skeptical about the longevity of this sealant.

Much to my surprise, even after 6 months, water was still beading up on all surfaces and the paint still felt slick.

This sealant is sensitive to moisture and because of that Wolfgang recommends letting it cure for at least 12 hours before being exposed to moisture. I’d recommend letting the car sit in a garage or under a cover if there is a chance of morning dew, as it messes with the curing time of the sealant.

Also, make sure the sealant doesn’t get onto plastic trim or rubber as it leaves grey marks once cured.

CarGuys Liquid Wax – Popular Choice

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This paint sealant is excellent. Just like the Wolfgang WG-5500, it’s effortless when it comes to ease of use and provides an outstanding shine.

I’ve used it on my black 2005 Volvo S60R and it made a huge difference in shine. The paint looked extremely glossy and felt very slick. CarGuys Liquid Wax is on the pricy side; thus, I was not surprised when the wax lasted for such a long time (half a year at least).

Bird poop and road dust were a breeze to remove as the surface of the paint was so slick.

The wax came with a handy applicator pad and a microfiber towel, which is a great bonus considering the price. It’s safe to use on rims, glass and doesn’t react with decals, however, plastic and rubber trim get stained very easily so you have to be extra careful when applying it.

Just like the Wolfgang wax, CarGuys Liquid wax is sensitive to moisture and needs at least 6 hours to cure properly.  

Meguiar’s G18309 Ultimate Fast Finish – Best Value

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I’ve always had a soft spot for Meguiar’s products and I’m sure most car detailing enthusiasts feel the same way. Meguiar’s is a very popular brand, known for making solid car care products and it really shows with the G18309 Ultimate Fast Finish as it’s probably the best value for money.

Like the sealants above, it’s a pure synthetic polymer paint sealant that’s extremely easy to apply and unlike most waxes, doesn’t stain plastic and rubber trim, which is a huge bonus.

What’s interesting about this sealant is that it comes in an aerosol can, which is unusual for paint sealants. It’s almost ridiculous how easy it is to apply – no buffing required. All you have to do is just spray the sealant onto a microfiber towel and wipe.

At first, I thought it was a gimmick but I was convinced when I tried it myself. Now it’s my go-to paint sealant if I just want to finish the job quick.

Even though this wax is good for any color paint, I personally think it looks best on black cars from what I’ve seen. It gives a solid shine and a long-lasting gloss that rivals higher-priced competitors and considering that it only takes about 15 minutes to wax the whole car, it’s definitely a solid choice.

Blackfire Pro Detailers Choice BF-300 – Wet Look

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The main selling point of Blackfire BF-300 is that it’s specially designed for dark color cars. It really does bring old black car paint back to life while giving it excellent depth and gloss.

It’s easy to apply and remove even by hand like most paint sealants in this list. Even though Blackfire BF-300 was designed for dark-colored cars, it does not contain any dye so it’s safe to use on rims, glass, headlights, and chrome trim as it doesn’t leave any visible cloudy residue like some sealants.

The protective layer is really slick and makes washing the car easy since most of the dirt and dust come off just from the water spray. If using correct washing techniques, Blackfire BF-300 could provide protection and shine for up to a full year.

Meguiar’s M2116 Mirror Glaze – Time-Tested

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It probably comes as no surprise but I’ll finish off this list with another Meguiar’s sealant. This is a classic among professionals and detailing enthusiasts as it has stood the test of time. It goes without saying but the M21 gives a great shine with great longevity – you can’t go wrong with the M21.

As for ease of applying and removing goes, it’s just as easy as the other sealants on this list. Just make sure you don’t leave it on for too long before buffing it off so it doesn’t harden up. The M21 also works great on glass and rims.

As with most polymer sealants, it will last for a long time and it’s advisable to recoat again after 6 months or when water beading is less pronounced.

Paint Sealant for Black Cars FAQ

Car Paint Sealant vs Wax

Car paint sealant is a fully synthetic alternative to the natural Carnauba wax. Just like our favorite natural wax, paint sealant protects the surface of car paint from exposure to the elements while also providing shine and depth to paint.

Modern car paint sealants have come a long way and usually last much longer than natural wax.

It’s no surprise, really – paint sealant is chemically engineered with precision to provide the best chemical bond to the surface possible. It provides a significantly stronger layer of protection against outside elements like acid, salt, UV rays, and bird poop.  

Now, natural Carnauba wax still has its place and is still used commonly. Most detailing enthusiasts agree that Carnauba wax gives a much deeper and softer finish, which makes the car paint more vibrant.

You can combine the two for the best result possible by layering natural wax on top of paint sealant, assuming the two are chemically stable together.

Preparation is Important for Best Results

To get the most out of your car paint sealant, you need to put some effort into removing contaminants from your car’s paint surfaces. Paint sealant needs to come in contact with clean car paint to bond chemically but if there’s dirt or any other contaminants, like old leftover wax or sealant, the chemical bond between paint and sealant won’t be as strong.

Cleaning the visible dirt off your car is not enough for the absolute best results. Leftover wax needs to be removed from the paint before claying the surface.

Polishing your car is optional but if you’re going for professional results it’s worth it. Polishing will smooth out the surface, which will make it easier for the paint sealant to fill in imperfections and give a great shine.

Just make sure you don’t over-polish your car as there’s only a finite amount of clear coat you can remove, once a year is more than enough in most cases.

Related: Is Buffing a Car Bad?

How to Apply Paint Sealant

The manufacturer of your paint sealant of choice will provide you with the instructions, make sure you read them. In case you’ve lost the instructions, here is a brief overview of the whole process:

1. Wash your car first. It’s very important to remove as many contaminants from the surface of the paint as possible. For most sealants, your car needs to be completely dry, so it’s best to wait up to an hour after you’ve finished washing it.
2. Apply the sealant. Most paint sealants allow easy and effortless application by hand but it’s best to use a buffer as it spreads the product more consistently. Some sealants come in an aerosol can and only need a quick wipe with your hands to properly bond to the paint.
3. Give the sealant a few minutes to haze. This step does not apply to some paint sealants, so make sure to read the manual on your specific product.
4. Buff off the sealant. I do it by hand with a couple of microfiber towels as most paint sealants are effortless to remove. Sometimes it feels like the weight of the towel is enough.

A few application tips:

• Be very conservative with the amount of sealant that you use, there’s no need for a thicker coat since only a thin layer will bond to car paint. Thicker coats will just make it more difficult to buff off and could leave clouding on black paint.
• Working in the sun is a bad idea as hot paint will speed up the curing of the sealant and if you’re too slow to buff it off before it cures, you’ll have a hard time removing it.
• Another thing to keep in mind is that some sealants are sensitive to moisture, meaning that dew will extend the curing time and compromise the chemical bond with car paint. Make sure you give the sealant at least 12 hours of rest before introducing moisture.

Taking Care of Your Paint Sealant

I can’t stress enough the importance of proper car washing techniques. It’s usually the single biggest reason for swirls and scratches in car paint.

If you want your paint sealant to last for longer, stay away from automatic car washes. Not only are the chemicals used in automatic car washes too harsh for your sealant, but the brushes also can never be 100% free of abrasive particles. The dirty brushes will be forced against your car’s paint and will cause swirl marks.

Touchless car washes are also to be avoided, if possible. To loosen up the road grime on your car, touchless car washes use low Ph dirt dissolvers that are way too acidic for your paint sealant.

The safest and best way to wash your car is to do it yourself. Here is a great video by the Forensic Detailing Channel on how to wash your car safely:

Eddie Westheimer

Eddie is the co-founder of CarCareCamp.com, and the site’s primary contributor.

Under his belt, Eddie has a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Electronics Engineering and almost a decade of experience working as a  semi-truck technician (specializing in electrics).