Interior Care
303 vs Armor All
The two most common protectants in America, compared on what each maker publishes. Both claim UV protection; neither publishes a rating; the finishes are visibly different.
By Sawyer V. · Last verified 2026-09-08
We have not tested any of this. Everything below is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, and the arithmetic is printed so you can check it. This page carries affiliate links: if you buy through one we earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it does not change the order of the picks. Full disclosure.
| # | Pick | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 303 Automotive Protectant 303 | A dry, non-greasy finish with a UV claim | 4.3/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Armor All Original Protectant Armor All | The one everyone has used, on interior and exterior alike | 4.3/10 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Pilot Interior Detailer The Rag Company | A matte OEM finish, with no silicones | 7.2/10 | Check price on Amazon |
No live price is currently verified, so every button here reads Check price rather than a number we cannot stand behind. Why we do it that way.
What each maker publishes
| 303 Automotive Protectant | Armor All Original Protectant | |
|---|---|---|
| Stated protection | UV damage and fading on vinyl, rubber and plastic | UV damage, fading, cracking and discoloration |
| Stated function | Protects | Cleans and protects |
| Finish described as | Non-greasy | Not described on the product page |
| Stated surfaces | Vinyl, rubber, plastic; automotive, marine and RV | Vinyl, rubber, plastic; interior and exterior |
| UV rating published | No | No |
| Durability figure published | No | No |
| Size or price published | No | No |
That table is the honest state of this comparison. Two of the best-known products in American car care, both sold on UV protection, and between them they publish two adjectives and no numbers. There is no rating, no test standard referenced, and no stated duration.
The finish is the difference you can verify
303 describes a non-greasy finish. Armor All does not describe its finish on the product page, and its long-standing reputation — the reason people either love it or avoid it — is the glossy sheen it leaves. That difference is visible within a minute of application and it is the thing worth deciding on.
Gloss has two practical costs. It reflects into the windshield when the sun is low, which on a steeply raked screen puts the reflection in your eyeline. And a slick film holds dust electrostatically, which is why a glossed dashboard looks dusty again in three days.
Gloss also has a benefit, and it is not nothing: it looks freshly detailed, it makes faded plastic look darker, and plenty of people genuinely prefer it. This is a preference rather than an error, and the useful thing is to make it deliberately.
Armor All cleans; 303 protects
Armor All publishes that Original Protectant cleans and protects, which on lightly soiled trim saves a step. 303 publishes protection only, which means it wants a clean surface underneath it.
For a maintenance wipe-down that combination favors Armor All. For a proper interior detail — where you are cleaning with a dedicated interior cleaner anyway — the combined product is doing a job you have already done, and the protectant-only product is the cleaner choice.
The option neither of them offers
Both of these products are a generation older than the current matte-finish protectants, and neither states what is not in the bottle. The Rag Company’s Pilot states silicone-free and dye-free and names UV blockers and anti-static agents, which is three disclosures more than either product on this page manages.
That does not make Pilot better at protecting — nobody publishes the data that would settle it — and it does make it the only product of the three where you know what you are putting on your dashboard. On a site built around published figures, that is the tiebreak.
How to choose
- Want the classic dry, non-greasy finish: 303.
- Want gloss, and want the product to clean as well: Armor All.
- Want a matte OEM finish and want to know what is in the bottle: Pilot, or another silicone-free product.
- Have a steeply raked windshield and drive into low sun: avoid gloss entirely.
- Want a UV rating to compare: nobody in this category publishes one, including all three of these.
Every pick, with the working
Each entry lists the specifications the maker publishes, the axis scores those specifications produce, and what you give up. Rows that read “Not published” are not omissions on our side: they are figures the maker will not commit to in writing, and they cost the product points on the transparency axis.
Our pickA dry, non-greasy finish with a UV claim
303 Automotive Protectant
303
303 publishes a UV protection claim for vinyl, rubber and plastic and describes a non-greasy finish, which is the pair of properties that separates a modern protectant from an old-fashioned dressing. What it does not publish is a UV rating, a durability figure or a price.
- Stated surfaces
- Vinyl, rubber and plastic
- Stated protection
- UV damage, fading and cracking
- Finish
- Non-greasy
- UV rating
- Not published
- Claimed durability
- Not published
- Size
- Not published
- List price
- Not published
What it does well
- Non-greasy finish stated on the manufacturer page, which is the practical difference from a silicone gloss dressing
- UV protection claimed specifically against fading and cracking rather than as a generic benefit
- Sold for automotive, marine and RV use, so the same bottle covers more than the car
Who it is not for
- No UV rating or SPF-equivalent figure published
- No durability figure published
- No size or list price published on the manufacturer page
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- 303 publishes no durability figure for this product, so the axis is dropped rather than guessed at.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ouncedropped
- Either the list price or the container size is unpublished, so the division cannot be done and the axis is dropped.
- Price against the ceilingdropped
- The maker publishes no list price, so there is nothing to score here and the axis is dropped.
- Written commitmentdropped
- 303 publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency4.3/10, weight 18%
- 3 of the 7 specifications we went looking for are published by 303. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
Specifications from Gold Eagle's 303 Automotive Protectant page, compiled September 8, 2026.
2The one everyone has used, on interior and exterior alike
Armor All Original Protectant
Armor All
Armor All publishes that Original Protectant cleans and protects vinyl, rubber and plastic on interior and exterior surfaces while guarding against UV damage, fading, cracking and discoloration. It is the most widely available product in this category and it publishes no UV rating and no durability figure.
- Stated surfaces
- Vinyl, rubber and plastic, interior and exterior
- Stated protection
- UV damage, fading, cracking, discoloration
- Function
- Cleans and protects
- UV rating
- Not published
- Claimed durability
- Not published
- Size
- Not published
- List price
- Not published
What it does well
- Cleans as well as protects, stated, which removes a step on lightly soiled trim
- Explicitly listed for interior and exterior surfaces alike
- Available in effectively every store that sells anything for cars
Who it is not for
- No UV rating published on a product sold on UV protection
- No durability figure published
- The finish is glossier than a modern matte protectant, which is a preference rather than a fault
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Armor All publishes no durability figure for this product, so the axis is dropped rather than guessed at.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ouncedropped
- Either the list price or the container size is unpublished, so the division cannot be done and the axis is dropped.
- Price against the ceilingdropped
- The maker publishes no list price, so there is nothing to score here and the axis is dropped.
- Written commitmentdropped
- Armor All publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency4.3/10, weight 18%
- 3 of the 7 specifications we went looking for are published by Armor All. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
Specifications from Armor All's Original Protectant page, compiled September 8, 2026.
3A matte OEM finish, with no silicones
Pilot Interior Detailer
The Rag Company
$13.49 for 16oz, stated silicone-free and dye-free, leaving a matte factory finish with UV blockers and anti-static agents. Silicone-free is the specification that matters: silicone is what makes a dashboard shiny, sticky and eventually cracked.
- Sizes
- 16 oz / 128 oz
- Silicones
- None
- Dyes
- None
- Additives
- UV blockers, odor fighters, anti-static
- Stated surfaces
- Leather, vinyl, screens, chrome, glass, alcantara
- pH
- Not published
- UV rating
- Not published
What it does well
- Silicone-free and dye-free, both stated plainly, which is rare in this class
- UV blockers and anti-static treatment named as part of the formula
- Stated for leather, vinyl, screens, chrome, glass and alcantara alike
Who it is not for
- No UV rating or SPF-equivalent figure published
- No pH figure published
- A matte finish is not the look everyone wants
How this score was calculated
- Protection claimdropped
- Nothing in this category is bought on how long it lasts, so the axis is dropped and the other weights are re-normalized.
- Capabilitydropped
- No single published number decides capability in this category, so the axis is dropped rather than invented.
- Cost per ounce8.3/10, weight 16%
- $13.49 for 16 oz works out at $0.84 an ounce, scored against a band of $0.60 (good) to $2.00 (expensive) for a interior cleaner.
- Price against the ceiling6.1/10, weight 14%
- A listed $13.49 against the $35 one upgrade in this category realistically tops out at. A list price captured on the compile date, not a live price and not what you will pay.
- Written commitmentdropped
- The Rag Company publishes no warranty term on this product's own page, so the axis is dropped. On a tool that is worth noticing, and it costs the product points on transparency instead.
- Spec transparency7.1/10, weight 18%
- 5 of the 7 specifications we went looking for are published by The Rag Company. Every blank row below is something the maker will not put in writing, and it costs the product points here.
List price $13.49 per The Rag Company, 16oz, captured on the compile date below. Not a live price and not what you will pay — the button is where the real number is.
Specifications from The Rag Company's Pilot listing, compiled September 8, 2026.
No live price is currently verified, so every button here reads Check price rather than a number we cannot stand behind. Why we do it that way.
Questions people actually ask
+Is Armor All bad for your dashboard?
+Does 303 actually block UV?
+Which lasts longer?
+Can I use either on leather?
Where these figures came from
- Gold Eagle, 303 Automotive Protectant product page — retrieved 2026-09-08
- Armor All, Original Protectant product page — retrieved 2026-09-08
- The Rag Company, Pilot Interior Detailer listing — retrieved 2026-09-08
Every figure on this page is a published manufacturer or authorized-retailer claim, not a measurement we made. How we research explains exactly what we did and did not do.