Car Detailing Near Me [Locator Map + Guide + FAQ] (2023)

FAQs

What should a full detail include? ›

In a general term, a full detail implies that all (or most) areas of the vehicle are cleaned (detailed)… exterior wash, wheels and wheel wells cleaned and dressed, door jambs cleaned, windows, interior vacuumed, interior surfaces wiped down, etc.

Tipping isn't mandatory, but as with tipping waiters and waitresses, it is encouraged and appreciated. Providing a tip for your auto detailer shows your appreciation for the service, especially when the quality of the job done is exceptional.

The standard tip for a car detailing service is 15%. If you're not sure how much to give, best practice is 10-15% of the total cost. For example if an auto detail costs $100 then leave a dollar or two as thanks (and because it's still technically called "tipping").

Basic car detailing service should include a wash, wax, interior vacuuming, interior polish, window wash, mirror and trim cleaning and tire cleaning. You can expect to pay $50 to $125 for an average sized vehicle and $75 to $150 for an SUV or van.

The amount of time required to detail a car will depend on the detailing services you choose. A quick interior detail might take two hours, while a comprehensive exterior detail might take two days. If you wonder why detailing time can vary, it depends on what needs to get done.

Although you may think that performing car detailing yourself will save you money, having it done by a professional actually saves you in the long run. When you detail your car yourself, you still need to purchase the brushes and products for each section of your car — which can add up.

You can increase your resale value by having your car fully detailed by professionals prior to selling. A full interior and exterior car detail will have your car looking showroom good so you can get the most value out of it.

Car wash prices vary depending on amenities, location, and other factors. On average, a single automatic car wash costs between $10 – $25.

It is recommended that you clean your wheels and tires, first. If you wash and rinse your car first, then the water must sit on the car's surface as you clean four tires. While you are cleaning the tires, water spots could accumulate where you just washed.

What is 3 step detailing? ›

The basic premise of a 3-step job involves compounding painted surfaces, then polishing/glazing it, then finally waxing or sealing it. While this is usually a legitimate restoration procedure, this should not be done often, as the compounding stage will inevitably thin out the clear coat too much.

The common exterior process includes: Washing and Drying – Unlike a car wash, detailing is done by hand. The first step involves spraying the car with specialized spray that is high-powered, followed by thorough hand washing on the rims of the car, door jambs, glass and all exterior parts that need cleaning.

While car detailing is more expensive than car washing, it's still available at a reasonable price. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $300 to have your car detailed.

Most detailing experts recommend that you have your automobile detailed roughly every 4-6 months. That being said, you can never have your car looking too nice. If you are someone who sees the true value of their car and it is your prized-possession, don't let us tell you how often you should have that baby shining.

The average vehicle

I would actually recommend getting a car detail 2 to 6 times a year. We have many clients who get a detail done every month to keep their vehicle(s) to where they want them to be. This would be a very in-depth interior and exterior cleaning and protection.

Detailing your vehicle is absolutely worth it, and not just because it saves you from washing your own car. Regular detailing will have valuable benefits for your vehicle, from classic cars to daily drivers.

Car detailing can hide minor scratches through polishing, waxing, and sealing, but it cannot help with deep scratches. For repairing such a car scratch, you need to get professional services for your car's paint.

Your gross earnings could be between $1000 per weekend or up to $4,000 per month. Talk about some extra income! Keep in mind that the average cost for supplies per car is about $5-10.

The drying time after shampooing seats in summer the waiting time can be a matter of 20-30 mins. In winter, the car heater must be turned on to allow the seats to dry and drying time can take up to 1 hour.

When an inexperienced person tries auto detailing, there's a high chance of damage to the vehicle's paint. This DIY process can lead to showing spots up in the paint, especially if the person uses poor-quality products. A DIY auto detailing can also lead to a car that wasn't cleaned properly.

Should you empty car before detailing? ›

If your car is full of items, such as papers, personal items, or bags, your detailer will spend more time taking them out. This mess will reduce the time for the actual detailing. You might not get the best service as a result. You should take the items out of the gloves box and any other storage spaces in your car.

Keeping a car clean and shiny is likely to increase its resale value (though mileage, mechanical condition, accident history and other factors can drag the value down). Car detailing can also provide a psychological benefit that boosts the owner's pride of ownership.

Above 100,000 Miles

Your vehicle will be less desirable to car buyers if it has more than 100,000 miles on it, even if it continues to run well. Vehicles with overly high mileage are more likely to require expensive repairs, which makes them a risky investment.

30,000-40,000 miles: Most manufacturers' general warranties expire in that range, and the first major maintenance is usually due. Selling before reaching those benchmarks may get you the best price for your car.

Typically, putting 13,000 to 14,000 miles on your car per year is viewed as “average.” A car that is driven more than that is considered high-mileage. With proper maintenance, cars can have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles.

If they did a great job, you should tip 20% - 25% for their good work. For assembly line car wash services, it's recommended you tip $5 - $10 for each person who handled your car. What does Reddit say? For a $25 car hand wash, $3 - $5 is a solid and acceptable tip.

According to Ganther, if the weather's not too harsh where you live, washing your vehicle every two weeks is a good rule of thumb. However, if you apply a coat of wax at the end of each cleaning session, you may be able to wash it less often.

Home wash is cheaper than the car wash. It costs you nothing, but the initial purchasing of the supplies but demands more time and labor. Washing your vehicle from your home requires only your leisure time, patience, physical endurance and some tools.

Wheels & tires first

You'll want to clean these before the paint because they're typically the dirtiest part of your vehicle. Plus, if you wait to clean them until the end of your wash you'll run the risk of splashing dirt & brake dust back onto the clean paint.

Steam Cleaning

When it comes to removing stains, many vehicle detailers employ steam cleaners.

Do you wax first or polish first? ›

Polish should be used before wax, as it helps to restore auto paint that has lost its shine due to oxidation. Car polish does this by removing a very fine layer of the paintwork so the appearance of scratches is minimized as they settle into the coat. Car polishes vary in terms of their levels of abrasiveness.

Ozium was created in the 1940s as a sanitizing spray, but it eventually caught on with car people. Dealerships use it to freshen used cars. Car detailers use it. Car owners use it to keep their cars smelling nice.

Using specific products and tools and following defined processes, detailers can successfully remove tough interior stains while increasing sales and customer satisfaction.

Yes, a ceramic coat is good for your car. With paint correction completed prior to application, it can improve the shine of the vehicle's paint, block UV rays, and provide a protective coating that can last years.

Car detailing is one of the easiest ways you can increase the value of your used vehicle. Pristine vehicles command 10 to 20 percent more in value than the same car in ragtag condition. Sometimes, that difference can equate to thousands of dollars.

The job includes a complete interior cleaning to remove stains, odors, and dirt from all surfaces. The exterior is polished to remove light swirls and restore gloss before waxing. Some full-detail packages include engine cleaning, too.

As a general rule of thumb, I use 1 pad per panel, which comes out to about 4-6 pads per car. This means if you are performing a two step polishing process, I will use 4-6 heavy correction pads and 4-6 light correction pads. I use each pad on the hood, trunk, front quarter panels, sides, and the rear quarter panels.

No. Good detailing starts with a good car wash, but it goes far beyond that. It's like the difference between dusting your home and doing a good spring cleaning. Both are important, but that spring cleaning goes a lot further.

A thorough vacuum every couple of weeks (or at least once a month) should suffice. Vacuum the interior of your car twice! Vacuum once to get the surface dirt out. Then, beat the seats with something like a tennis racket to bring embedded dirt to the surface and vacuum again.

Still, experts recommend doing it 2 to 3 times a year for the best outcomes. However, if there has been significant rain, continuous damp weather, or you frequently travel, you may want to consider detailing the exterior of your car more regularly.

How often should you clean the underside of your car? ›

Consumer Reports recommends an undercarriage wash once per season and even more frequently if you regularly drive off-road. Car care product manufacturer Dr. Beasley's goes one step further, suggesting a cleaning as soon as possible after driving on salted roads.

In addition to a thorough exterior cleaning, the wheels, wheel wells, and engine bay are cleaned, too.

Regular engine cleaning is as important as washing your car's exterior and undercarriage. If you give your engine a good cleaning 1-2 times a year, you should be on your way to having a vehicle that not only looks beautiful, but runs smoothly too.

Engine bay cleaning is a must for any car. If you clean your car engine regularly, you can identify problems that can affect your vehicle's performance. Plus, you can prevent dirt, gunk, and other debris from damaging your engine's appearance.

Simply spray Eradicate onto your engine (spraying more onto areas with a bigger build-up of dirt and grime) and allow it to sit for around 4-5 minutes. Then use a detailing brush to agitate certain areas in order to cut through the grease and grime. Do not let it dry out on the surface.

To really maintain your car's outside appearance, it's a good idea to schedule an auto detailing session and wax application at least twice per year (every six months or so). Think of detailing as a “spring cleaning” for your vehicle.

According to research from Yelp cost guides, an average (rudimentary) car detailing session costs $175. However, detailing can cost anywhere from $98 to $300+ per session, depending on the services you request (waxing, steam cleaning, polishing, etc.). The cost can also be influenced by vehicle size and location.

If the interior is brand new, a quick vacuum and basic cleaning can get the job done. However, if the vehicle has seen a lot of wear, a full clean will take 5-8 hours to bring it back to new.