How Much Does a Full Detail Cost? (Lancaster County, PA)
The term “Full Detail” is widely used in our industry, and many people have different definitions. One thing is common though, a Full Detail typically includes both an interior and exterior service. The quality and depth of that service can change from one shop to another. At Dino’s Detail Co. here in Lancaster PA we try not to use the term “Full Detail” very much because it can make things confusing. We treat the interior and exterior of your car separately so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting with each one.
So, How Much Does A Full Detail Cost?
If your car needs a good cleaning, you might be wondering how much will it cost to have it detailed by a professional. At Dino’s Detail, our Interior Detail packages start at $250 and our Exterior Detail Packages start at $200. The total cost to detail your car will depend on the size, condition, and which add-on services you may want. If you call around to different shops, you’ll probably come across people charging much less than we do. When that’s the case, you should question the quality of the work that person is offering.
True professional detailing is not cheap and requires a high degree of skill to do right without damaging the vehicle. Some of the cheaper detailing services you see are just a wash, vacuum, and armor-all bath... Be careful with these cheaper services. If the technician is inexperienced, a lot of damage can be done to your vehicle when detailing chemicals and tools are used wrong.
In this article, we’ll break down what’s included in our detail packages and explain how factors like vehicle size and condition will impact the price to detail your car.
Interior Detailing
When it comes to interior detailing, our goal is for you to sit in the driver’s seat and feel just like the day your car was new. To accomplish this, we’ve designed an Interior Detail package that covers all of the main areas of your vehicle’s interior. This Interior Detail package starts at $220 and may increase depending on the size and condition of your vehicle. Your vehicle’s condition usually has the biggest impact on price. For example, an interior detail for a very dirty Toyota Camry could cost $350, while a relatively clean Chevy Taho might run $250 for an interior. The condition of your vehicle depends on your driving habits and how often you clean the car on your own. If you drive a lot for work and eat in your car every day, it’s probably going to require more work than a car that’s only driven around town on the weekends.
Here’s a section from the checklist that we use for each Interior Detail:
By using this checklist, it helps us control quality and make sure that each item is done for your vehicle.
Since every vehicle is a little different and may need additional steps outside of our standard Interior Detail package, we have a few Add-on Services that are available for your interior.
Interior Detail Add-ons
Pet Fur Removal - If your vehicle has a large build-up of pet fur, we’ll use specialized tools to remove as much as possible - starts at $50
Leather Deep Clean and Condition - A thorough cleaning and conditioning of your leather seats. Dust and crumbs will be cleaned out of all stitching, seams, and piping. All leather panels will be cleaned and conditioned to the best possible appearance - starting at $100
Seat Hot Water Shampoo and Stain Extraction - If your seats have larger stains that can’t be spot-cleaned, then a hot water shampoo and extraction will make a great improvement - starts at $50
Carpet and Floor Mat Hot Water Shampoo and Stain Extraction - If your carpets or floor mats have larger stains that can’t be spot-cleaned, then a hot water shampoo and extraction will make a great improvement - starts at $50
Door Jamb and Rubber Seal Restoration - A thorough cleansing of your door jambs and rubber seals using chemicals, steam, and compressed air to remove built-up dirt and sludge for vehicles that have never received a thorough cleaning of these areas - starts at $75-
Between the standard Interior Detail package, and all of the add-ons that are available, your car’s interior can look and feel just like the day it was new!
Exterior Detailing
When we perform an Exterior Detail, our focus is to make your car shine just like the day you bought it. Over the years, we’ve put together an Exterior Detail package that includes all of the necessary steps for most vehicles. This is a deep clean of your vehicle’s exterior, not the basic wash and wax you’ll find at some places. Our Exterior Detail package starts at $220 and may increase depending on the size and condition of your vehicle. If you have a Honda Civic that parks outside and gets driven in all types of weather, it probably has a lot of dirt and debris built up (especially on these Lancaster County roads) so an exterior detail for that Honda will cost more than an exterior detail for a garage-kept Ford F-250.
Here’s a section from the checklist we use for each Exterior Detail:
By using this checklist, it helps us control quality and make sure that each important step is done for your vehicle’s exterior.
Since every vehicle is a little different and may need additional steps outside of our standard Exterior Detail package, we have a few Add-on Services that are available for your exterior, too.
Exterior Detail Add-ons
Black Trim Restoration - If you have black plastic trim pieces that have started to fade and turn gray from the sun, we have a process to first restore the color, then add a layer of ceramic protection to keep the color for years - starts at $100
Clay Bar Treatment - If you have a heavy build-up of contaminants that are embedded in the pores of your paint and make it feel rough to the touch, these may not come out with a regular wash process. We can use a clay bar to deep clean and remove contaminants from every inch of your paint prior to applying sealant - starts at $80
Truck Bed Detail - If your truck bed needs some extra attention, we have methods to bring it back to excellent condition - Starts at $50
Engine Bay Cleaning - A thorough cleansing of your engine bay so you can be proud to pop the hood! - starts at $100
Door Jamb and Rubber Seal Restoration - A thorough cleansing of your door jambs and rubber seals using chemicals, steam, and compressed air to remove built-up dirt and sludge for vehicles that have never received a thorough cleaning of these areas - starts at $75
Wheels-off Detail - Removing your wheels will allow for a much deeper level of cleaning and detailing for the back side of your wheels and suspension components. We can even add ceramic a coating while they’re off - starts at $300
Headlight Restoration - If your headlights are oxidized or starting to turn yellow, we have a process to remove the haze and restore clarity so you can see better and feel safer while driving at night - starts at $100
Window Water Spot Removal - If your windows have water spots etched in that won’t come out with a wash, your glass can be machine polished to make a huge improvement - starts at $100
Underbody Cleaning - A thorough degreasing and cleaning of your underbody - starts at $200
Paint Correction - starts at $750 (more info can be found on our Paint Correction page)
Ceramic Coating - starts at $1200 (more info on our Ceramic Coating page)
Between the standard Exterior Detail package, and all of the add-ons that are available, your car has the potential to shine just like the day it was new!
So, What is the Average Cost to Detail A Car?
As you can see, the price to detail your car is going to depend on a few different factors. The size and condition of your vehicle, and which services you want, all come into play here. We try not to use the term “Full Detail” too much so that people don’t get confused, but on average if a vehicle is receiving an Interior and Exterior detail, the total comes out to around $500. If you call around, you’ll probably find guys charging a fraction of what we do. Be cautious if you want to go with a cheap detailer. Professional detailing is not a cheap service. The guys who are good will take pride in their work and charge accordingly for their expertise. If you go to the cheap side of the spectrum, you might be dealing with an inexperienced technician who could end up damaging your vehicle. Like all things in life, you get what you pay for.
If you are in the Lancaster PA area and are looking for an auto detailing service, email info@dinosdetail.com or give us a call at (717) 945-2450. Be sure to check out our Car Detailing Ceramic Coating and Paint Correction Service pages for more information on scheduling and what each package includes.