I used to be a detailer and have tried everything. Teflon coatings are not much better than conventional automotive wax. Application of any wax is critical. Of course the vehicle needs to be clean. ***If possible, go over your vehicle with a "clay bar". It's a bar of...something...that you rub across your paint with the supplied lubricant spray that removes all the environmental contaminants...mainly iron and carbon. Your vehicle will feel like glass! It can be found at any automotive store, even Wal Mart. *** Now, apply the wax in the shade(preferrably in a garage). The coats do not need to be applied heavily, just evenly. Allow it to dry to a "haze", then remove with a soft towel or the equivalent. 2-3 coats are optimal. In Indiana, you should rewax your car every 1-2 months during the summer and every 2-3 months in the winter. The best "wax" I have found has to be a product called Liquid Glass. It can be found in virtually any automotive store. You MUST follow the directions on the can for it to work properly. It is very time consuming to apply(several hours to 2 days), but is worth the extra effort. You can go much longer periods between reapplications(6months to a year I believe). There is no such thing as "scratch free", but a properly applied wax will make it slightly more difficult to scratch...but not really. No defense against shopping carts or keys! Sorry for this drawn out response. I hope this is somewhat helpful