Everyone loves a sunny day, and taking a drive with the warmth on our skin is invigorating.
But, how does our car feel? Fine for a while, but plastic trim will start to suffer eventually.
Thankfully, you can resurrect it thanks to those smart chemical engineers behind restoration technology.
Let’s take a look at the 4 Best Trim Restorers for your Vehicle:
1. TriNova Plastic & Trim Restorer - Shines & Darkens Worn Out Plastic, Vinyl & Rubber Surfaces
Volume: 8 oz
Best Overall Value
TriNova is a well-known brand with generally exceptional reviews. This restorer has received similar praise.
It will bring dull faded plastic back to a shiny sheen. But, beyond that, it leaves a protective layer to help shield against the elements.
This is currently one of the best selling products in the category and Made in the USA. This will work on plastic, vinyl, and rubber.
Before application, it’s best to wipe the area down to get it as clean as you can. After that apply a coat and see how it goes. Sometimes a second application might be required to get the shine you’re after.
There is not a drop of dye in this product, which means you won’t have to worry about excess fluid staining anything. No tape required, and a great value overall.
2. CarGuys Plastic Restorer - The Ultimate Solution for Bringing Rubber, Vinyl and Plastic Back to Life!
Volume: 8 oz
CarGuys and their restorer can invigorate the same surfaces as its TriNova competitor.
They include an applicator pad in their purchase as well. The main difference is their formulation protects against UV rays to keep it lasting longer.
For that reason, it’s a little more expensive. They don’t release their exact formulation because according to them they are in the process of patenting the additive that makes it last longer.
Usually, we’d roll our eyes at a description like that. But, customers are overwhelmingly thrilled with it and the results speak to themselves. This is a long lasting solution that will bring your trim back to life.
It doesn’t bleed after a car wash and actually helps to repel water. Overall this is on a similar tier as TriNova, and a good buy for anyone who wants a long term shine.
3.Solution Finish Black Plastic & Vinyl Plastic Trim Restorer - Car and Truck Polish
Volume: 12 oz
Not for use on rubber
This restorer by Solution is made specifically for black surfaces including plastic and vinyl.
You can buy this as a restorer or a preventative measure for plastic on your vehicle. But keep in mind it’s a dye.
This is a messy product, but it works wonders. You will need to take extra care applying this relative to our two earlier mentioned products. That means gloves, and something to wipe down the coat.
It goes on thick so you’ll want a rag to smooth it out. Before all of that make sure the surface is exceptionally clean. Not the “warm soapy water” clean, but the “I wiped it down with alcohol and there isn’t a smudge in sight” clean.
4. Carfidant Trim & Plastic Restorer - Restores Faded and Dull Plastic, Rubber, Vinyl Back to Black
Volume: 8.4 oz
Carfidant has a broad application plastic restorer that includes a nice little applicator in the purchase price.
It’s fine to use this on the interior or exterior. But, we recommend buying a product specifically made for the interior of your car and have a recommendation below.
This will protect against the suns rays, and it’s not a dye. You won’t have to worry about it fading after getting wet. It’s on the upper end of the price range for this category but it works well and has left a trail of happy customers.
Overall this is a decent buy and it comes down to preference!
Are there any good options for the interior of the vehicle?
Protecting the interior of your vehicle is just as important as the outside. Over time the sun can do damage that include cracks in the dash, or the emergence of squeaky noises that can drive you up the wall.
If you care enough about your vehicle to bring the outside to life, protecting the inside is going to be made easier with this product by 303. Simply spray, wipe, and your vehicle will now have some more protection against the trials and tribulations of the ultraviolet.
What’s the difference between the more expensive products and cheaper ones?
Some remarkably cheap “restorers” are just a formulation of dye masquerading as something else. That means when you go through a car wash you’ll get streaking. Or even a heavy rainfall.
What are other ways to protect my vehicle from the elements?
If you’re looking to protect your vehicle from rain or shine for a long period of time, you may want to look into a car wax. These days synthetic options are at the forefront because they’re generally much easier to apply and can last a bit longer.
A couple of brands on this list make car wax counterparts. We made a guide on those products called the best car wax for UV protection that you can check out.
Bringing your vehicle back to life is a great feeling, and using a trim restorer will help you reach that goal. There are many products on the market that use dyes, but nowadays people have gravitated away from them in favor of the advantages synthetics provide.
Our top choice based on value was the TriNova synthetic solution.
Hopefully, this guide helped you make an informed decision. If you end up choosing one of these products make sure to come back and tell us how it worked out! We appreciate reader input and work it into our reviews over time.
Good luck on your search and thanks for stopping by!