Clear coat polishing

Swirl marks, haze, and dullness build up over time from washing, weather, and everyday driving. Polishing brings back the depth and shine of your paint without removing any color.

Excellent on Google

5.0

Before & after

Here's what the fix looks like

Every one of these is a real job we did somewhere around Summerville or Charleston.

Close-up of car tire and scratched grey car fender with black scuff marks and paint damage.

Before

Close-up of a fixed area on a vehicle's light gray fender above the tire.

After

Deep scratches

2 hours

250$

Car hood covered with water spots and light reflections of sky and clouds.

Before

Glossy black car hood with a Raptor badge and reflections of trees and a lamp post.

After

Water spots

2,5 hours

300$

Close-up of white vehicle's front left fender with black scratches near the headlight and tire.

Before

Close-up of a white vehicle's front tire, black fender, orange side marker, and headlight.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Close-up of a black car's fender with visible scratches and scuff marks above the tire.

Before

Close-up of the front left wheel and fender of a black vehicle on a gravel surface, showing tire tread and part of the headlight and indicator light.

After

Paint transfer

2 hours

270$

Reflection of a person wearing a blue visor and black shirt, crouching and holding a phone, seen on a glossy surface with a long scratch across it, with a beige house door and siding in the background.

Before

Reflection of a man taking a photo with a smartphone, kneeling next to a black toolbox with red latches on a gravel surface in front of a white house with a door and window.

After

Deep scratch

1 hour

140$

Close-up of the driver's side of a black car with visible scratches and scuff marks on the door near the handle and lower panel, parked on a gravel surface with grass and trees in the background.

Before

Close-up of the side of a black car with a large dent on the rear door panel, parked on a driveway in front of a garage, with reflections of nearby house siding on the car surface.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Clear coat polishing

What you need to know

A clear picture of what you're dealing with makes the next step a lot easier.

Don't let it sit

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

What causes dull or swirled paint

  • Improper washing. Dirty wash mitts, automatic car washes, and drying with a rough towel are the most common causes of swirl marks.
  • UV exposure. Sun and heat break down the clear coat over time, leaving paint looking flat or hazy.
  • Age and lack of protection. Paint that hasn't been waxed or coated loses its shine faster, especially near the coast.
  • Environmental buildup. Salt air, pollen, and water minerals settle into the clear coat and dull its finish.

What polishing actually fixes

  • Swirl marks and light scratches. Polishing levels the clear coat just enough to remove shallow marks.
  • Haze and cloudiness. A dull, foggy look on the paint is usually corrected in one polishing pass.
  • Water spot etching. Light mineral etching in the clear coat can often be polished out.
  • Overall depth and shine. Polishing restores the reflective quality of the paint, similar to how it looked when new.

Simple process

How we fix it

Once you know what you're dealing with, here's what happens next.

//01

Washing and decontaminating

The paint is fully washed and clayed to remove embedded dirt before any polishing starts.

//02

Inspecting under proper light

We check the paint under direct light to see the true extent of swirls, haze, and etching.

//03

Machine polishing

A cutting or finishing polish is used depending on how much correction is needed, working panel by panel.

//04

Sealing the finish

A wax or sealant is applied to protect the freshly polished paint and extend the shine.

One honest note

Polishing removes a very thin layer of clear coat, so it isn't something we recommend doing over and over every few months. We'll always tell you honestly how much correction your paint needs and won't recommend more polishing than it can handle.

FAQ

Questions we get a lot

Chances are, someone's already asked what's on your mind. Here's what we tell them.

Will polishing remove my scratches completely?

Is polishing the same as waxing?

How often should paint be polished?

Does polishing remove clear coat?

Will polishing fix water spots?

Get started

Get your free quote

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

A man wearing sunglasses, a blue visor, black t-shirt, and gray shorts kneels on a driveway holding a vehicle buffer polisher while smiling at the camera, with a white SUV and toolboxes containing car care products nearby.