Car detailing quote matched to each car

What goes on an auto detailing quote

Two cars of the same model can take very different hours to detail, so a menu price only goes so far. This car detailing quote template lists exterior, interior and protection work as separate lines, adds condition charges for pet hair or heavy soiling, and offers extras like headlight restoration as options. Send it as an auto detailing quote from the Gloss Garage sample in the quote maker, or download the file you prefer.

A detailing quote has to make the condition of the vehicle part of the price. Record the size, the state of it inside and out, each stage of work and the products you will apply, so the owner of a dog hair covered SUV understands why their price is higher than the clean sedan next door.

1. Vehicle and size classYear, make, model and class: coupe, sedan, mid size SUV, full size truck or van. Bigger vehicles take more product and more hours.
2. Condition notesPet hair, sand, mold, stains, odor, swirl marks, scratches and stone chips noted at check in, ideally with dated photos.
3. Wash and decontaminationHand wash, wheels and tires, iron fallout remover, tar remover and a clay bar. Decon is what lets a sealant bond to the paint.
4. Paint correctionOne step polish or multi step correction, priced on its own and described by the defects it will reduce, since deep scratches may remain.
5. ProtectionWax, polymer sealant or ceramic coating, with the expected life the product maker states and the aftercare it needs.
6. Interior deep cleanVacuum, steam or extract seats and carpets, clean and dress plastics, clean and condition leather, inside glass and door jambs.
7. Add-onsHeadlight restoration, engine bay clean, odor treatment and trim restoration as optional lines the customer can tick.
8. Location and utilitiesAt your bay or mobile at the customer’s address, with water and power needs, and whether the job can be done in direct sun.

Sample car detailing quote with example prices

Gloss Garage Detailing quotes Imran Shah for a full detail on a mid size SUV: $120 for the exterior wash and paint decontamination, $150 for an interior deep clean and $90 for paint sealant, listed as materials. That gives a $360 subtotal. Headlight restoration at $70 is an optional extra and stays out of the total unless the customer adds it. There is no deposit. All prices are examples.

Edit the Gloss Garage Detailing quote

4 lines are filled in, from exterior wash and decontamination to headlight restoration. Put in your own car detailing rates, then download the PDF.

Open the car detailing sample

How to price a car detail

Detailers usually start from a menu of packages by vehicle size, then adjust for condition. Behind the menu sits time: estimate the hours per stage, multiply by your hourly target, add product cost, and check the result against your package prices before you send anything.

1. Packages by vehicle sizeSet prices for a sedan, an SUV and a truck at each package level. Quick for customers to pick and easy to book online.
2. Condition surchargesFixed add-ons for pet hair, sand, heavy staining or biohazard cleanup, or an hourly charge for the extra time. Say on the quote how you decide which applies.
3. Hourly for correctionPaint correction depends on how hard the clear coat is and how deep the defects run, so price it by the hour after a test spot.
4. Maintenance plansA lower price per visit for customers on a regular schedule after a full detail, such as every two or four weeks.

Product cost per car is small next to labor, except for ceramic coatings, so price those with a markup checked in the markup calculator. The job pricing guide shows how to set the hourly target behind your menu.

Worked example: a full size truck with pet hair

Pricing from stage times shows why a menu price can fall short on a vehicle in rough condition. The hourly target and markup are examples only.

1. Time each stageExterior wash and decontamination 1.5 hours, standard interior 1.5 hours, one step polish 3 hours: 6 hours in all.
2. Price the laborAt an example target of $55 an hour: exterior $82.50, interior $82.50, polish $165, so $330.
3. Add the condition chargeThe cab is full of dog hair, which adds about an hour: a $55 pet hair line.
4. Add productsSealant, clay, pads and chemicals cost about $38. With a 50% markup they go on the quote at $57.
5. Total$330 plus $55 plus $57 is $442 before tax, against the $350 menu price you might have quoted without seeing the truck.

Paint hardness, time since the last detail, and working mobile in heat or wind all change the hours, so inspect in person before you confirm any correction work.

Detailing inclusions and exclusions

Car detailing quote mistakes

Detailers lose money when the car in the bay is not the car they priced. These quoting habits are the usual reason.

• Giving a menu price over the phone without seeing the vehicle, then finding sand in every seam.
• Calling a one step polish scratch removal and setting expectations the paint cannot meet.
• Taking no condition photos at check in, so old scratches and curb rash become your fault.
• Forgetting water and power access for mobile jobs at apartments and offices.
• Leaving coating aftercare out, so the owner runs it through a brush wash the next day and blames the product.
• Not allowing for the cure time ceramic coatings need before the vehicle can leave.