How Much Does Car Detailing Cost?

The cost of car detailing services can vary depending on the level of service required, the experience-level of the detailer, the size of the vehicle, and whether the service is being carried out at a unit, or by a mobile detailer. In this guide, we’ll be discussing the cost of different detailing services and what’s included so you can decide if it’s a suitable option for you.

Cost of Car Detailing

Car detailing services can cost anywhere from £200 to £1000+ in the UK. Deep clean detailing services are the least expensive, followed by paint correction and ceramic coating services. Mobile detailing services are also typically less expensive than unit-based equivalents.

In this article, we’ll break down the cost of different detailing services into:

• Deep cleaning
• Paint correction
• Ceramic coating
• Maintenance detailing

Deep Clean Detailing Cost

One of the least expensive types of detailing service is the deep clean. This can apply to the exterior, interior or both, and includes a thorough clean of the vehicle in order to “reset” it back to factory-level cleanliness. Unlike the more expensive detailing services we’ll discuss later in this guide, it doesn’t include any restorative processes, and instead focuses on cleaning.

Most detailers will list this as their entry-level service, or as a top-tier valeting package. In some cases this service will also include the application of protection, usually in the form of a wax or sealant rather than a ceramic coating.

Our deep clean package starts from £175 and includes:

• Wheel & tyre cleaning (including the arches and barrels for a complete clean without removing the wheels).
• Pre-wash using snow foam to soften the dirt and rinse as much as possible away before the contact wash.
• Two-bucket contact wash using soft microfibre wash mitts and high-quality car shampoo.
• Chemical decontamination using iron and tar removers to deep clean the paintwork.
• Application of a 3-month ceramic paint sealant.
• Door shut cleaning.
• Interior vacuuming and deep cleaning to cleanse the surfaces.
• Interior and exterior window cleaning.
• Application of a tyre dressing.

Paint Enhancement & Correction Cost

Next to discuss, are the paint enhancement and correction detailing services. These go far beyond just cleaning, and focus on restoring the paint by removing swirl marks and scratches using machine polishing. This level of service will include all the aspects of a deep clean (although the interior is usually an add-on with most detailing services in this tier), but also includes physical decontamination of the paintwork using a clay bar, and at least one stage of machine polishing.

The different levels of service within this particular category are:

• Paint enhancement – this includes a single-stage of machine polishing which is designed to improve gloss and clarity, but does not target scratch and swirl-mark removal. This service starts from £499.
• Paint correction – this includes two-stages of machine polishing to address swirl marks and scratches and enhance gloss. This service starts from £699.

We also include the application of a 3-year Gyeon ceramic coating with our paint enhancement and correction packages. Many other detailers will typically only include the application of a short-term wax or sealant, with the option to upgrade to a ceramic coating, so keep this in mind when comparing your options.

Ceramic Coating Cost

The final tier of car detailing packages to discuss, is the ceramic coating service. Ceramic coatings offer an incredible level of protection for the paintwork, far surpassing traditional waxes and sealants. Here are the key benefits of ceramic coatings:

• Long-lasting durability – upwards of 3-years.
• Extreme water repellence – this helps to keep the car cleaner between washes.
• Enhanced gloss – to make the paintwork truly “pop”.
• UV & chemical resistance – to preserve the paintwork underneath.
• Easier maintenance – the hydrophobic properties make the paintwork easier to wash.

We offer the choice of three different ceramic coating packages to suit different budgets and requirements. With all the packages, we apply a 3-year Gyeon ceramic coating. The difference between them, is in the level of paint correction performed before the coating application. If you’re unsure which package is suitable for you, we can advise based on your car’s current condition, and your budget.

• Ceramic coating-only: this includes a deep clean of the paintwork but no machine polishing work. This service starts from £299.
• Paint enhancement and ceramic coating: this includes a single-stage machine polish to boost gloss and clarity. This service starts from £499.
• Paint correction and ceramic coating: this includes a two-stage machine polish to remove and minimise scratches and swirl marks. This service starts from £699.

Maintenance Detailing

The final type of detailing service we need to cover, is the maintenance detail. In order to qualify for this type of service, you will need to have had either a deep clean, paint enhancement/ correction, or ceramic coating service recently. This ensures that the vehicle is restored to an appropriate standard which can then be properly maintained.

This type of service also needs to be carried out frequently, to ensure the vehicle’s condition does not dip below a certain level where a maintenance detail would no longer be suitable. We offer the choice of different schedules so you can pick an option which is suitable for you. These are:

• Weekly
• Fortnightly
• Monthly
• Quarterly

You also get the option to have an exterior-only maintenance detail, or an interior and exterior maintenance detail. Our prices start from £45 and depend on the schedule, and the level of service required.

Here’s what’s included in a typical interior and exterior maintenance detailing service:

• Wheel faces, barrels, and tyres cleaned
• Pre-wash using snow foam
• Two-bucket hand wash
• Tyre dressing application
• Interior and exterior windows cleaned
• Interior vacuum and wipe-down
• Spray wax or sealant top-up (if required)

Other Detailing Services & Add-On Costs

We’ve covered the main detailing services and how much they cost, but there are also a few additional services that we need to cover. These can typically be added on to most detailing packages to create a tailored service that suits your particular car. Here’s a list of detailing add-on services and the respective costs:

• Windshield ceramic coating: from £39
• Windshield and side/ rear window ceramic coating: from £75
• Wheel-face ceramic coating: from £79
• Plastic trim restoration & coating: from £30
• Headlight restoration: from £75

What Affects the Cost of a Car Detailing Service

There are several different factors which can influence how expensive a car detailing service actually is. Here are some of the variables.

Mobile vs Studio Detailing

Typically, mobile detailing services are less expensive than studio/ unit-based equivalents. This is because units are expensive to rent and the higher overheads are factored into the price that the customer pays. We offer a mobile detailing service, which includes paint correction and ceramic coating. This not only allows us to keep our prices affordable, but also makes it more convenient for our customers as the services can be carried out at your home or workplace. We cover Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes and North London.

Size of Vehicle

It should hopefully go without saying, that larger vehicles take longer to detail than smaller ones, and the price of the package reflects that. We list our starting prices on our service pages, but you can also get in touch for an accurate quote based on your car’s make and model.

Level of Service

As we’ve already discussed, there are many different tiers of detailing services, ranging from maintenance and deep cleaning, all the way to paint correction and ceramic coating. This is why there’s quite a range in the cost of detailing services, as the amount of time they take varies considerably.

Experience of the Detailer

More experienced detailers will usually charge more than those who are brand-new to the scene. This is because they’ve taken the time to invest in training, and the money in equipment and chemicals, which means they deliver higher-quality results. We are proud to offer competitively priced detailing services in the Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Herefordshire, and Cambridgeshire areas. Our strong reputation speaks for itself, as we have over 90 5-star reviews on Google praising our quality of work and fair prices.

Be Weary of Cheap Detailing Services

If you’ve heard of the phrase, “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”, you’ll already be switched-on to suspiciously low prices. If the price of a particular detailing service seems unusually low, then this often indicates that something may not be quite right, and that the work may not be up to the quality you’d expect.

For example, very cheap “ceramic coating” packages often indicate that a ceramic sealant is being used instead of a true ceramic coating. These offer very low durability (months instead of years) and limited protection compared to a proper ceramic coating, and are completely different in terms of their chemical make-up.

A suspiciously cheap “paint correction” package could also mean that the technician is poorly trained or inexperienced, which could lead to issues such as poor defect removal, or even the infliction of more defects such as buffer trails or holograms.

Make sure to check the reviews of whichever detailing company you choose, and be weary of low prices as they could indicate poor quality of work or cheap chemicals being used.

The Cost of Car Detailing Summarised

Here’s a summary table of the car detailing services on offer, and the starting prices.

Car Detailing Services near Bedfordshire

We offer a mobile car detailing service across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and North London with a range of packages to suit different budgets and requirements. We offer maintenance detailing, deep cleans, paint correction and ceramic coating services which can be carried out at your home or workplace for complete convenience. Get in touch today for a quote or to book your vehicle in.