# Can I clear coat new headlights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [June 30, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951 "2022-06-30T00:24:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eLixir979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7feea3/32.png) [@eLixir979](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eLixir979)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/1 "2022-06-30T00:24:43Z")
I bought new headlight assemblies for my 02 Honda Civic, along with a can of spray max 2k clear coat. I intend on giving them a spray to prevent any future yellowing/ damage to the plastic. Do I need to do any prep to the new headlights besides cleaning them before I spray? I don’t want to sand the new headlights if I don’t need to. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/2 "2022-06-30T03:12:19Z")
Does clear coat block UV? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/3 "2022-06-30T03:35:57Z")
I wouldn’t sand them. Spray if you want to, but how many more years will you keep it? The last headlights lasted EDIT 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/4 "2022-06-30T12:40:30Z")
I would not clear coat new headlight, just use a wax with UV protection every 90-120 days. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/5 "2022-06-30T12:42:55Z")
> [@texases](#): > > The last headlights lasted 10 years. Perhaps that’s 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/6 "2022-06-30T20:55:36Z")
If clearcoating would resolve the yellowing problem, don’t you think all headlights would already come with a clearcoat? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/7 "2022-06-30T21:44:59Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > Does clear coat block UV? All polymers block UV. Actually, the UV light breaks bonds in the polymer (basically all polymers) and the UV is spent in probably far less than a millimeter. That’s why polymers turn yellow or fog up. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-i-clear-coat-new-headlights/184951/8 "2022-07-01T03:13:09Z")
> [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > If clearcoating would resolve the yellowing problem, don’t you think all headlights would already come with a clearcoat? One 1992 Toyota Camry headlight is fairly clear. 2010 replaced aftermarket one is a bit more yellow. Why not just make the plastic like they did in 1992?