Should I polish a fairly new car before waxing?

[mossyoakglock]

I'm going to be detailing a 2016 Toyota Avalon with dark charcoal paint (not sure of the exact color name). When I looked the other day I did not notice any major surface defects (swirls, etc) just normal everyday defects from rocks, etc. There are a few light scratches that will need to be buffed out but those can be done by hand with ScratchX, etc.

My question is this. Since there are no major defects or swirls, do I need to both polishing? I have both UP and Pinnacle Advanced Polish.

I'll start with the standard wash and then clay and if I can skip the polish I'll go straight to wax. Will the polish step hurt if it doesn't really need it? I'll be apply with a DA and white LC pad (I also have some black pads that I could use too). If it doesn't really need a strong polish can use the black pad instead of the white?

[Buster906]

I would try both pads and see which one yields better results

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[Bobby B.]

I would polish the paint surface using the Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish with the Lake Country White Polishing pads. Apply the Carnauba Wax with the Lake Country Black pads.

[Rsurfer]

Do a test spot. I can't see how a 1 year + dark paint (soft) won't have quite a few swirls unless it was polished before.

[mossyoakglock]

Do a test spot. I can't see how a 1 year + dark paint (soft) won't have quite a few swirls unless it was polished before.

The car is garage-kept and only washed by hand. I checked it yesterday in full sun and I could not see any swirl marks anywhere.

[Rsurfer]

The car is garage-kept and only washed by hand. I checked it yesterday in full sun and I could not see any swirl marks anywhere.

Then just use a paint cleaner before waxing/sealing.

[rlmccarty2000]

A decontamination would be good. Use iron-x then clay afterwards. You would be surprised how many contaminants are on brand new cars. After decon, wash then wax if no scratches or swirls are visible.

[mossyoakglock]

Definitely going to clay. I'll waiting and see what the paint looks like after claying and make the determination if it needs polishing. First assessment says it doesn't but that could change.

[986DTM]

Why not just use some sort of all in one? I don't even bother with doing much of a dedicated waxing step anymore. If you're going to be waxing by machine you may as well use an all in one and polish it at the same time. It's no extra work and you can still put some spray wax or something on top afterwards.

[Toolhead]

did you view the car when dusty in sunlight..

my new car i did not notice the swirls until it got dusty a bit / then direct sunlight...

when it was clean it was hard to see the swirls ..little bit of dust and they jumped out.