Keeping your car in top condition is a fairly important thing, especially in the US. We use cars more than other nations for just about every aspect of our lives. The last thing you want is your car failing you on your way to work in the middle of the highway.

In the same vein, keeping your car’s appearance respectable and presentable has some practical purpose, as well as some more aesthetical reasons. We reached out to car detailing professionals at La Jolla Mobile Car Detail to tell us why waxing your car is more than a vanity thing.

Protect Your Paint from the UV-Rays

The paint used for cars is pretty robust and can last for a very long time. However, it won’t last forever, and it is subject to wear and tear. Specifically, the harsh UV rays from the sun gradually break down the paint and make it lose its luster over time.

The simplest way to protect your car’s paint from the UV rays is to keep it away from the sun as much as possible. However, in warm and sunny places like California, it can be a bit tricky to avoid the sun. Therefore, you need to protect your car somehow. Applying coating wax on your car creates a protective layer which will keep your car’s paint job from premature fading.

It Looks Really Good

We know we said that waxing your car is not all about vanity and looking good, but it is at least a little bit about looking good. Applying wax on your car will give it an amazing shine and the kind of glossy appearance that only brand new cars still have. And that’s simply a nice thing to have and experience.

Protection from Small Impacts

Waxing doesn’t only protect your paint job from the harmful sun rays. Seeing how it creates a physical layer on top of your paint, a proper wax application can actually protect your car from impacts of small objects such as pebbles and gravel which might chip the paint from your car over time.

Additionally, corrosive and chemically abrasive substances such as bird droppings or acid rain in particularly polluted areas are a real threat to your paint job which simple waxing can prevent.

Keep the Resale Value of Your Car

Finally, keeping your car looking good is likely going to be a relevant factor when you decide to sell your car. A car that looks well cared for is more likely to fetch a good price than one which seems a bit run-down, regardless of the actual state of the car.

We are highly visual creatures and we are attracted to shiny and pretty things. Therefore, if you’re looking to impress someone or want to achieve a higher price for the car you’re selling, give it a wax before showing it.

How Often Should I Wax My Car?

Even though waxing can do a lot of good for your car, doing it only once and expecting lasting results is misinformed, to say the least. Wax can be greatly beneficial to the visual appeal of your car, as well as having some protective properties as well.

However, it is just a temporary protective coating. Meaning that, if you want to keep it effective, you will need to reapply it from time to time.

How often typically depends on how you treat your car. If your car is parked in the garage for the majority of the time, and you don’t drive it too much in bad weather (whether it is the extreme sun or strong rain and snow), chances are that you will only need to apply the coat once every 6 months.

On the other hand, if your car is more exposed to the elements, the protective layer will be exhausted that much sooner. By some estimates, you may need to re-apply the wax coat as often as every 3 months. However, most of us are somewhere in between the two extremes.

Consult your local car detailing professional on tips regarding waxing your car.

Jeffrey Connolly