A common question we are asked is how often a car should be polished. The honest answer is: only when it needs it. Machine polishing is not something to do on a calendar, and understanding why will help you get the best from it.
Why you should not over-polish
A machine polish works by refining the clear layer on top of your paint, which removes a very small amount of it. The clear layer is thin and there is only so much of it. That is why polishing should be done when it makes a visible difference, not every few months for the sake of it, and why a careful assessment before you start matters.
Signs your car needs a polish
- The paint looks dull or hazy even when the car is clean.
- You see fine circular scratches, called swirl marks, in direct sun.
- The colour looks faded or chalky, especially on the roof and bonnet. See our guide to oxidised paint.
- The paint has lost its depth and sharp reflections.
- You are about to sell the car and want the paint at its best.
What decides how often
- How the car is washed. Gentle washing with clean tools keeps new scratches away. Brush washes and careless drying create them.
- Where it is parked. Outdoors, in the sun, wind and dust, paint ages faster than in a garage.
- Paint colour. Dark colours show marks more clearly, so they tend to look tired sooner.
- How old the paint is and what it has already been through.
- How much it matters to you. Some owners want paint at its best all the time, others only when it clearly looks bad.
For a well-kept car washed gently and parked under cover, a polish may be needed rarely. A daily driver parked outside and washed carelessly may need one sooner. There is no fixed number of months that is right for everyone.
How to make a polish last
- Wash gently, using the method in our guide to washing without scratching.
- Rinse the car before you touch it, and use clean microfibre for washing and drying.
- Avoid drive-through brush washes. See are automatic car washes bad for paint?
- Park in shade or under cover when you can.
- Remove bird droppings and tree sap quickly.
What a polish with Ace involves
Our machine polish removes swirls and oxidation and restores gloss and depth, and costs from R900, depending on your vehicle and the condition of the paint. Every vehicle is assessed individually. The aim is the best possible visual improvement while preserving the integrity of the paint, which is why we would rather tell you a polish is not needed yet than sell you one.
How polishing and washing work together
Washing and polishing do different jobs. A regular snowfall wash removes dirt, and gentle washing stops new scratches from forming. Polishing repairs damage that is already in the paint. The better you wash, the longer a polish lasts.
What to ask before you book a polish
- Will the paint be assessed before work starts?
- What can realistically be improved on my car?
- What does the price include?
- How long will it take?
Signs you do not need one yet
- The paint looks glossy and deep after a wash.
- You cannot see swirl marks in direct sun.
- The paint is not chalky, faded or hazy.
Polishing before selling or after buying
There are two moments when a polish is often worth considering. Before you sell, because paint that looks glossy and deep makes the whole car look better cared for. After you buy a used car, because you do not know how the paint was washed before it was yours, and a polish gives you a clean start. In both cases, we assess the paint first and tell you what a polish can realistically do. See our first-week checklist for a used car.
