Clear Coat

Most modern cars use a base coat with the colour and a clear coat on top. It protects against UV light, bird droppings, chemicals and light scratches. It is only a fraction of a millimetre thick, so polishing removes a little of it each time. Bird droppings and tree sap are acidic and can etch the clear coat if left too long. Regular washing and waxing or sealing help it last. On repaired panels, the new clear coat must be blended to match gloss and texture.

The clear layer cures to a hard, glossy film that seals the colour coat.

Peeling or clouding clear coat, often on roofs and bonnets, means it has failed and must be repainted. A paint thickness gauge shows how much clear coat is left before polishing.