The cost really starts with your vehicle itself such as: what size car do you have, do you want an exterior, interior or both detailed, what type of service do you want, does your car have tar, sap, pet hair, beach sand, etc. These all factor into the cost of your detail.
It isn’t complicated, but pricing will also vary depending on who you take your car to. It’s just like going to a restaurant, no two restaurants charge the same for a steak dinner.
All our detailing prices are listed on our website under the services offered. Yes, they are listed as a “Starting Price” this is to account for things such as: excessively dirty cars, sap, tar, pet hair removal, etc which would cause the price to be higher than the posted price due to the extra time and supplies involved. I do my best to try and stay at the price listed on the website, but unfortunately there are times that the price has to be raised above the starting price listed. I make sure to let you know immediately before any work begins.
Other Auto Detailers, may not post their prices and want to inspect the car then give you a price. This all comes down to the detailer. In my opinion one is not right over the other.
Before we start breaking down some pricing, let’s discuss a little difference between a car wash and a professional detailer and what they both offer.
The car wash typically focuses more on high-volume and low pricing. So, their goal is to get as many cars to come in through their doors, finish the wash in the fastest time they can, and bring in the next vehicle. Is this bad? No, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you just want a quick and cheap car wash on your way home from work, then maybe this is the perfect option for you. A typical drive thru car wash takes maybe 2-5 minutes to complete from start to finish.
A Professional Detailer typically goes by appointments only since the details take longer to complete. So, you’d have to plan out the details in advance being you can’t just drive through and get your car detailed. An exterior only detail can take over an hour to complete. Think about this, a detailer may take 5 minutes to clean one wheel and tire as compared to a drive thru car wash that completes your entire car wash in less than 5 minutes. Now ask yourself which cleaning is more detailed.
A professional detailer can restore the gloss, remove defects and decontaminates from your cars paint too. They can also give your interior the attention it may need, such as shampooing the carpets/seats, adding protection to your leather seats, etc. Some car washes offer detailing services sperate beside the drive thru car wash, but again most are still working to get cars in and out as quickly as possible.
Let’s look at some Auto Detailing Price Comparisons
Depending on where you live, this can be another factor in pricing. These prices I’m going to list are based on what I’ve seen posted in Orange County, NY for a small to medium sized vehicle. The size of the vehicle plays a part in the actual pricing.
I’m going to keep the services and prices as basic as I can since each business will provide its own packages which will be an even bigger factor into pricing.
Basic Car Wash:
Car Wash Facility: $10 to $25
Professional Detailer: $40 to $70
Full Interior Cleaning
Car Wash Facility: $60 to $100
Professional Detailer: $150 to $280
Wash and Wax
Car Wash Facility: $40 to $70
Professional Detailer: $75 to $130
Paint Correction (depending on number of steps it could be more)
Car Wash Facility: $100 to $200 (typically just an enhancement not a correction)
Professional Detailer: $275 to 450+
To give you more context, let’s breakdown a service based on what’s included between the two.
Let’s take a wash and wax for example. That’s a pretty popular service. From a professional detailer, this is what you’ll get:
#1: Clean wheels, wheel barrels, tires, fenders wells, and gas cap area#2: Remove bugs from front-end and thorough hand wash#3: Clay treatment to vehicle to remove surface contaminants #4: Dry the car and blow out any standing water from the nooks and crannies #5: Apply a quality wax or sealant to all your paint that can last up to 6 months#6: Apply a water-based dressing to your tires for shine#7: Clean all exterior glass and mirrors#8: Wipe down door jambs
This service can take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours and cost $75 to $130.
Each step is done with the proper tools, products, and methods to give you the best results. Your tires won’t sling dressing once you drive off, there won’t be water running down the car, and there won’t be any wax residue left across the vehicle or on your black textured trim.
From a car wash facility, you may get something like this:
#1: Your car sent through their tunnel wash to clean exterior, wheel faces and tires #2: Remove bugs from front-end after wash#3: Maybe a clay treatment. #4: Apply wax or sealant, they like to mention by machine which doesn’t make it a better application.#5: Apply dressing to your tires for shine#5: Clean all exterior glass and mirrors
This service can take between 45 minutes to 1 hour and cost $40 to $70 according to two different car wash facilities I’ve checked.
It doesn’t seem like a big difference, but these two details yield completely different results.
It Should be About the Results
The price difference and what you ultimately pay for is the end result.
I have heard from some of our clients:
“I took my car to “XYZ” car wash and they didn’t do a great job. I need a more thorough cleaning.”
“I got a good deal from “XYZ” car wash but was not happy at all from the results.”
“I have a monthly pass from “XYZ” car wash and now my paint isn’t that shinny anymore”
Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean every professional detailer is going to get you amazing results. This could be the result of the detailer or unrealistic expectations because a car has been neglected for too long. Just like not every car wash will be cheap, or provide poor results.
Generally speaking, it’s much more likely that a professional detailer has acquired a lot more training, education, and has a skill set to handle your needs better. A professional detailer will also be able to help educate and provide you with the guidance to take care of your car safely and properly after your detail.
Ultimately the choice is yours on how you will clean and maintain your vehicle. There is the old saying “you get what you pay for”. I have found the majority of the time this saying is true. See last month’s blog on how often you should have your vehicle detailed. After a professional detail, it’s up to you if you choose to maintain your car yourself or have your detailer maintain your car. I offer bi-weekly and monthly maintenance packages, just ask.
You can Phone/text me at 845-820-2325 or email:mrgmobiledetailing@gmail.com if you would like more information. You can also fill out the form on the website with your service interest and I will send you a quote. We offer online booking right from the website or at the following link https://orbisx.ca/app/booknow/VSVxK
Mike
Σχόλια