NA Car detailing price check

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
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Location
west Texas
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Dave Taylor
Seems like prices are wildly variable.
What is typically done, how long should it take, and what should it cost on average?
This is a 13yo working pickup, so far from show condition it is not funny. But it is not caked with 3" of off-roading either.
 
My neighbor is trying to start up his own side deal in his driveway. Wash, dry, dunno about wax, vacuum, dust, clean windows inside and out. He might charge extra for pet hair. He's still figuring out all the pricing, but he seems to be settling in on about $75 for an average car or small SUV.
 
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I'm right outside Chicago and was going to get a detail for my wife's b-day. There are two in my neighborhood. One was $200 and the other was $250.

She got something else...
 
I've seen some videos and photos from a guy in the Phoenix area. A full detail job for his services might run as many as 40 manhours...and that's everything down to doing the air vents in the dash with Q-tips.. I wouldn't be surprised if his billing wasn't less than $1K, but we are talking about Ferrari's, Lambo's and the like. I don't think I saw any car he did that has value under $100K.
 
$58 per hour all inclusive of materials.
Same for aircraft. Bigger the job, the more it cost.
 
I'd charge anywhere from $100-$500 depending on what I'm doing, what car it is, and what condition it's in.
 
The term detail has a lot of meanings, from wash, vacuum and hit the windows. To removing seats, steaming carpet, q-tips in the crevices, buffing and waxing exterior, polishing chrome etc. I'd say most mobile detainers around here do a pretty good wash, vacuum, window cleaning are $75-100 on average.
 
All depends I can wash wax and vacuum pretty good in 2 hours. Or I can spend all day getting every nook and cranny and do a 3 step waxing process. I dare say anything under 100 barely qualifies as "detailing"
 
Prices are widely variable because the actual work and quality done are also.
 
Its a workman's truck. I think I'll see what he wants to remove the larger buts, wash, wax, make it so I can see out the windows, vacuum the larger french fries off the floor. I'm thinking 2-3hrs/100 bucks.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Its a workman's truck. I think I'll see what he wants to remove the larger buts, wash, wax, make it so I can see out the windows, vacuum the larger french fries off the floor. I'm thinking 2-3hrs/100 bucks.
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Leave off the wax, and you can do all of that in 15 minutes at the coin op car wash for about $7.
 
Leave off the wax, and you can do all of that in 15 minutes at the coin op car wash for about $7.
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I have underlined the difficult part of your suggestion!
 
Is there a coin-op car wash in your berg, Dave?
 
denverpilot said:
Leave off the wax, and you can do all of that in 15 minutes at the coin op car wash for about $7.
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Not up to the same quality. My car looks way better if I hand wash and dry with detail spray and microfibers, than if I do the coin op thing
 
I'm sure it varies widely by area, average salary, and cost of living. Here, the local Chevy dealer hand washes, waxes, details the engine and interior, and ”armoralls" for $100.

If the vehicle isn't trashed out they usually give a discount. Mine typically aren't so I'll get out of there for $75. They do a great job.

Living in hillbilly land has a few advantages...not many but a few.
 
ktup-flyer said:
Not up to the same quality. My car looks way better if I hand wash and dry with detail spray and microfibers, than if I do the coin op thing
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Move to the end of a dirt road, and you'll realize it's a lot of work for nothing. Haha. Or to paraphrase the saying, nobody will be lying on their deathbed wishing their car was cleaner.
 
timwinters said:
I'm sure it varies widely by area, average salary, and cost of living. Here, the local Chevy dealer hand washes, waxes, details the engine and interior, and ”armoralls" for $100.

If the vehicle isn't trashed out they usually give a discount. Mine typically aren't so I'll get out of there for $75. They do a great job.

Living in hillbilly land has a few advantages...not many but a few.
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Dealer "detailing". Scary thought.
 
N747JB said:
I know a couple dealers that do it, but hell I can barely get my used cars detailed and on the lot in a timely manner!
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I've seen some cars that look like they got washed with a doormat after they have been "detailed" by dealerships. Some dealers do a good job, but I always tell them not to do it just to be safe.
 
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