How Much Does Car Detailing Cost?

When it comes to the care of your car, nothing feels better than seeing it shiny and looking like new. With a sleek exterior and a plush interior, your vehicle should be worth boasting about when it comes to riding in style. Therefore, if you value the appearance of your car, it might be worth exploring the world of car detailing. True professionals take car detailing in Toronto incredibly seriously, as they understand how important your vehicle is to you.

The cost of car detailing can vary drastically, as it depends on how much work needs to be done to your vehicle. Car detailing can last anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day, with the duration determined by the condition of the vehicle and how much work is required.

Depending on the size and the scale of the detailing job, standard prices for car detailing can range between $90 and $180 per hour. However, first-time customers can sometimes find a deal, as businesses are often offering incentives to bring in customers.

Car Detailing Costs: Interior Cleaning Services

The cost of interior car detailing varies widely. Some shops charge by the hour to clean and condition carpets, leather upholstery (seats), vinyl surfaces (trim, door panels), and headliners (the fabric that’s stretched over the interior roof). Meanwhile, others simply ask for a set price in advance. An average price for this type of detail is $35 per hour; however, it can be more or less expensive depending on the shop.

Car Detailing Costs: Exterior Cleaning Services

This type of work typically includes a wash and dry followed by a clay bar treatment, which removes contaminants from the paint surface. A machine buff with two or three steps in varying strengths of polish is also applied to remove swirl marks and restore the paint finish to its original shine. Also included in this service is an application of carnauba wax or polymer sealant, which offers protection against the elements.

Here are some other factors that affect how much an exterior detail costs:

The size of your vehicle

One would expect to pay more for detailing services on larger vehicles than smaller ones because each job involves more work and more products and labour hours. 

The condition of your vehicle

If you’ve neglected washing, waxing, or other routine care for years, the exterior of your car is probably in poor shape with plenty of oxidation, scratches, and swirl marks. This will make it difficult for an expert detailer to restore the paint finish to its original look. In this case, you may need a “stage two” service in addition to a regular exterior cleaning job in order to remove deeper imperfections and bring back that like-new quality appearance.

Location

Where you live can have an effect on how much you’ll pay to keep your auto looking great. The cost of living varies greatly around the country, so it’s only natural that different regions will also have different costs associated with their auto detailing services.

Experience

A professional detailer should be able to deliver outstanding results whether they are servicing a high-end luxury vehicle or a modest sedan. Of course, off-the-lot luxury cars are typically designed better and contain fewer plastic parts than budget models, which means the former requires less intensive work to remove blemishes.

Extras

The cost of additional services such as underbody rustproofing, headlight restoration, or wheel cleaning will be added to your final bill for a complete detailing service. Over time, you can protect your car’s appearance by opting for these extras if you don’t want to do them yourself.