If you’ve tried to look up what a car detail costs around here, you’ve probably noticed that half the websites say “call for a quote.” That’s annoying when all you want is a ballpark. So here’s what we know about prices in the Richmond area, what moves the number up or down, and what we charge.
The short answer
For a sedan, a full interior and exterior detail in the Richmond area usually runs somewhere between $150 and $300. SUVs, trucks and minivans cost more, often $30 to $75 more, because there’s simply more car to clean.
A wash-only or interior-only service costs less. Packages that include paint correction (machine polishing out swirl marks) or a real ceramic coating are a different category entirely, and those start in the high hundreds and go well past $1,000.
What actually changes the price
Size. A Civic and a Suburban are not the same job. A third row alone can add 20 minutes to an interior.
Condition. This is the big one. A car that gets cleaned every month is quick. A minivan with a year of Goldfish crackers, dog hair woven into the carpet and sand from the Outer Banks is not. Most detailers, us included, have a heavy-soil charge for this. Ours is $25 to $75, and we tell you before we start.
What’s included. “Detail” means different things to different people. Some places call a quick vacuum and tire shine a detail. Ask what’s actually in the package: is the wash by hand? Are the door jambs done? Is there any protection on the paint afterward, like a spray wax or sealant?
Add-ons. Headlight restoration, engine bay cleaning, seat shampooing and odor treatment all add to the total. They’re worth it when you need them and a waste when you don’t.
Where it’s done. A shop has rent to pay. A mobile detailer has a truck, gas and travel time. Prices end up in a similar range. The real difference is your time: with a shop you drop the car off and get a ride; with mobile you don’t go anywhere.
Things to watch out for
- A deposit before anyone has seen the car. Some booking systems ask for one. We don’t. You pay after the job.
- The surprise at the end. If the final price is higher than the quote, you should have heard about it before the work started, with a reason.
- “Ceramic” in the name of a cheap package. A spray ceramic sealant is a good product, and we offer one as an add-on. But it lasts weeks, not years. It’s not the same thing as a ceramic coating.
What we charge
These are our current prices, straight from our price list. Same price anywhere in our area, and no travel fee within 20 miles of Richmond.
| Service | Sedan / coupe | SUV / truck / minivan | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Detail (Inside & Out) | $149 | $179 | 2.5–3 hours |
| Exterior Hand Wash | $79 | $99 | 1–1.5 hours |
| Interior Detail | $89 | $109 | 1.5–2 hours |
| Headlight Restoration | $129, or $99 with any wash | 1–1.5 hours | |
| Ceramic Spray Sealant (add-on) | +$30 | about 30 minutes | |
| Engine Bay Cleaning (add-on) | +$25 | about 30 minutes | |
Free tire pressure check and Free washer fluid top-up with every service.
If you’re not sure what you need, our full detail is the one most people book the first time. After that, an exterior hand wash every few weeks keeps the car easy to maintain, with an interior detail every few months.
How to keep the cost down
Clean out the trash and loose stuff before we arrive. Shake out the floor mats if they’re really sandy. Book a regular wash instead of waiting until the car is in rough shape. And if a friend sent you our way, you both get 10% off. See all the discounts on our pricing page.
