How Much Does Car Detailing Cost?
A professional car detailer will be able to do everything from clean the exterior to steam cleaning and polishing the interior.
How much does car detailing cost?
The cost of car detailing will depend on the condition of the vehicle, the time spent cleaning it, the car’s size, the package you choose and the detailer you go to. Most detailers will offer more than one detailing package and each one will have its own inclusions. A simple vacuum job, wipe down and window cleaning, for example, can cost $30 to $65, while a full premium detail, which will include shampooing the mats, carpets, seats, and cleaning all the leather inside can cost $80 to $200. Most premium detailing jobs, however, will be about $110 for a car and closer to $140 to $160 for an SUV or van. The costs can be much higher when you factor in any of the premium add-ons mentioned below.
AJ Professional Detailing, located in San Jose, California, for example, charges $50 to $125 for a mini detail and $85 to $174 for an express wax deluxe, which includes two coats of a revitalizing conditioning glaze, an exterior hand wash, light interior cleaning and floor mat shampooing.
Incredibly Detailed, an automotive detailing service, located in Maryland, charges $75 to $110 for a wash and wax package, or $200 to $300 for the Ultimate Package. The company, on its website, goes quite in depth, explaining what each job entails.
Car detailing overview
Car detailing will go beyond the typical car wash. Unlike a car wash that uses brushes and air to remove debris, a detailer will hand wash the entire vehicle, wax it, clean the tires and polish the interior. An interior detail job will usually include a vacuuming, shampooing the carpet and wiping down the dashboard, windows, mirrors, trim and seats. Premium jobs will include shampooing all the upholstery, cleaning the interior door panels and applying a conditioner to the leather seats.
Most good jobs can take close to four to six hours to complete.
Professional detailers can be found at local dealerships, car wash chains, body shops and with independent detailers.
What are the extra costs?
Extra dirty cars that require more time may cost $30 to $75 more. Angie’s List said if you were to bring in a car that hasn’t been cleaned in 11 years and had chocolate candy stuck to the carpet, the costs could be $40 to $70 more.
Using premium products or upgrading instead of the basic products they typically use can cost an extra $50 to $75. For example, a superior wax could cost $50 more, while a steam cleaning could add $75 to the price.
Applying a premium upholstery cleaning to the leather interior could cost another $50 to $75.
Some detailing services are able to remove dents for as little as $40 to $100 per dent, depending on the size.
An engine shampoo can cost another $25 or so.
Adding Scotch Guard to the carpet or upholstery can be another $30 to $45.
Wheel polishing can cost $20 to $80 more.
Detailers may be able to resort discolored or faded trim for a fee.
Clay bar cleaning, which can help remove bonded paint contamination, creating a smooth surface, can cost $50 to $75 extra. This specially formulated clay bar will be rubbed along the surface and is ideal for removing road grime, bug residue, tree sap and any sort of “rough” look.
Headlight restoration, which can turn faded, cloudy headlights into a crystal clear finish, can cost $75 to $115.
Tips to know
Before choosing any detailer, check with Yelp, Angie’s List and/or the BBB to see what other people are saying about the services.
How can I save money?
Check for coupons and deals online. Since this is a rather competitive field, most will find that these companies offer coupons to first-time and even customers.
Some companies offer bulk discounts if you were to buy three to six cleanings at a time.
If you have the time to do it, consider purchasing an all-in-one kit that includes all of the cleaning products you need to make your car look and smell like new again. For example, the Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit, the number one seller on Amazon, retails for close to $50.
Bringing in more than one car at a time can lead to discounts.
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Average Reported Cost: $125
How much did you spend?
- victor (kingman, Arizona) paid $125 and said:
for a wash and wax or a full size pickup truck
Was it worth it? Yes
