Body polishing
Sun and sand are hard on paint. Fine sand acts as an abrasive every time the car is wiped, and sustained UV oxidises the clear coat. Machine polishing removes a controlled amount of that damaged clear coat and restores gloss.
Do you need this?
Worth doing when the paint looks dull or hazy, when you can see swirl marks in direct sunlight, or before applying a wax, sealant or ceramic coating — polishing first is what makes those coatings look good.
Signs to look for
- Swirl marks and fine circular scratches visible in sunlight
- Paint looking dull, chalky or faded, especially on horizontal panels
- Water no longer beading on the surface
- Light scratches you can see but not feel with a fingernail
What we actually do
Step by step, so you know what you are paying for.
The car is washed thoroughly and decontaminated with a clay bar to remove bonded particles.
We assess the paint and, where appropriate, measure clear coat thickness before polishing.
Machine polishing is carried out in stages, cutting then refining.
Panels are wiped down to inspect the true finish without polish oils masking it.
A protective wax or sealant is applied.
Included in the price
- Wash and clay-bar decontamination
- Multi-stage machine polish
- Protective sealant
- 5% VAT
Nothing is added at the counter. If we find something unexpected, we tell you the cost and wait for you to agree before doing it.
Questions we get asked
Will polishing remove all scratches?
Only those confined to the clear coat. The usual test is a fingernail: if you can feel the scratch catch, it has gone through the clear coat and polishing will improve but not remove it. Swirl marks, haze and oxidation almost always come out completely.
How often can a car be polished?
Sparingly. Every machine polish removes a small amount of clear coat, and there is a finite amount of it. Once or twice a year at most for correction, with protective sealant maintained in between, is a sensible approach for a daily-driven car in this climate.