This question may arise in your mind. if you are the owner of a used car, or want to sell your car and buy a used car. “Is detailing a used car worth it?”. The short answer is yes, detailing increases your car value. Keep reading to understand how it is worth.
First impressions are important. You may know your car is in great condition, but potential buyers could get the wrong impression if the exterior or interior of your vehicle has noticeable flaws. If a buyer believes the previous owner took good care of the car, the vehicle’s value can rise significantly. Additionally, knowing that they won’t have to clean up someone else’s mess after buying the car provides the dealer or buyer peace of mind.
The appearance and condition of the car makes a significant impact. And detailing increases this impact. Because detailing involved:
- Stain or scratch removal
- Color correction
- Upholstery and fabric cleaning or restoration
- Full body detail (includes tires, wash, wax)
Detailing a car makes it look brand-new, improved driving experience, preservation of interior or exterior. And one important thing is increased car resale value. Based on our findings, detailing can increase the trade-in value of your car by 10-12% or the private-selling value by 7-9%.
Below are some related queries that help you to get more information about detailing.
What does detailing a car involve?
Car detailing involves full body detailing and restoration from inside and outside both, like car wash, wax, polish, tires cleaning, clay bar treatment, lights and fabric restoration, paint correction, scratch removal.
Detailing a car majorly divide into two parts:
- Interior detailing
- Exterior detailing
Interior detailing involves interior deep cleaning and restoration. It involves vacuuming (Seats, carpets, entire interior), glass cleaning, odour removal, cleaning and polishing (dashboard, vents, instruments, and trim).
Exterior detailing involves clay-bar treatment, waxing, buffering and polishing, tires and wheel cleaning, headlight restoration and paint repair.
How Long Does it Take to Detail a car?
The time it takes depends upon the size of the car and how much detailing it requires.
If you have a standard size car and want quick and basic detailing then it takes 2-4 hours for complete detail. And if you have an SUV then time increases because of car size. It takes 4-5 hours for quick detail. Let’s dive more.
Interior Detailing:
If we talk about quick and basic interior detailing then a standard size car requires 1 to 1.5 hours and an SUV requires 2 to 2.5 hours. The quick interior detailing includes cleaning and finishing seats, carpet, dashboard, console, windows, doors, and more.
Exterior Detailing:
If talking about quick and basic exterior detailing. The standard size car has 2-3 hours for quick interior detailing. An SUV car required more time due to its size. It requires 3-4 hours for quick interior detailing. And it includes hand-washing, Tires & rims cleaning, Exterior body finishing etc.
If you want deep detailing
If you have a standard size car and your car have worst scenario, and want to get deep interior detailing then it take 5+ hours and SUV take 7+ hours which include:
- Vacuum carpet, floor mats, and upholstery
- Steam clean headliner, leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces
- Deep clean carpet, floor mats, and cloth upholstery
- Clean glass
- Apply a leather and vinyl protectant
- Apply odour-eliminating product if necessary
And for exterior detailing if your car have standard size then in depth detailing which take 5-7 and for SUV it took 8-10 Hours which may include:
- Tires and rims dressed & cleaned
- Vehicle treated with foam wash
- Hand wash
- Paint and rims chemically decontaminated
- Hand and air dried
- Paint mechanically decontaminated
- IPA mix applied to paint
- 1 coat of ceramic spray wax applied to paint, windows and rims
- All windows cleaned
Do I need to detail my car to sell it?
If you want to sell your car for good value. You must need to detail it. Because the condition of the car has a significant impact on its resale value. According to used car experts, annual professional detailing can boost the market value of your vehicle by up to 15%, depending upon the make, year, and overall condition. A vehicle’s worth can greatly increase if the buyer thinks its previous owner took care of it. It also gives the buyer or dealer peace of mind knowing that they won’t have to clean up someone else’s mess after purchasing your vehicle. If you’re looking to maximise your car’s trade-in value, investing in a thorough detailing session is a smart move!
Is it worth detailing a daily driven car?
Yes, It’s a worthwhile and wise investment if you detail your daily driven car. Here are some reasons why you need to detail your daily driven car:
- Detailing a car can make it look fresh and well-maintained and it enhances your car’s overall condition that makes you proud as an owner.
- Detailing protects your car. Because it involves finishing, deep cleaning and many more things that protect your car from environmental contaminants and it also helps prevent paint fading.
- Detailing gives you more driving pleasure experience, because your car looks better.
- Detailing and regular maintenance also help you avoid costly repairs.
- Regular interior detailing removes dust and bacteria from your car. It contribute to your good health
Remember, detailing a car is a wise investment and pays off in long run. Regular detailing not only maintain your car but also offers several significant benifits. Explore the benifits of car detailing and give your car the care it deserves.
How much does a car detail cost?
Car detailing cost depends on various factors like size of car, level of work required and location from where you detail your car. Here are some estimates about car detailing cost.
Detailing for small cars: A complete detailing for small cars including interior and exterior starts from 175$ and if you add-on more services it can go upward to 400$.
Truck and SUVs: If you have a truck or SUV then you have to pay at least $350 for a thorough detailing and again these charges may increase for add-on services.
And if you want extensive paint correction then the price range between 500 to 750$ depends on car size.
Remember, these prices may vary according to your needs. Because it depends on various factors. Regular detailing keeps your car beautiful and maintains its value. So, consider investing in professional detailing to keep your car in excellent shape.
