How Much Does Car Detailing Cost In Melbourne

What You Are Actually Paying For

Detailing is a labour business. Product costs are a small fraction of any legitimate quote. The rest is hours, skill and the equipment to do the job properly.

So the useful question is not what does a detail cost, but how many hours of work is this quote buying, and who is doing them.

The Price Bands And What They Mean

Under $150

This is a wash and vacuum, however it is described. There is no time in it for decontamination, machine work or proper interior treatment. Useful as upkeep, not a detail.

$300 To $450

A genuine full detail. Decontamination, wheels and jambs, protection applied, and a real interior clean. This is the bracket the Popz Full Detail Special sits in, though it is always quoted on the car.

$500 To $900

A full detail plus meaningful paint correction, or a detail on a large or heavily neglected vehicle. The extra is correction hours, which are the most skilled part of the job.

$800 And Above

Multi stage correction, ceramic coating packages, or both. At this level you are buying a finish rather than a clean.

What Moves The Price On Your Car

• Vehicle size, since a dual cab ute has far more panel area than a hatchback
• Paint condition, since correction is the most time intensive stage
• Interior condition, particularly pet hair, stains and odour
• Whether protection is included and what kind
• Whether it is mobile or you drop the car off
• Who physically does the work and how many cars they do per day

Why The Cheapest Quote Often Costs More

A cheap detail is usually cheap because it is fast, and fast usually means contact washing without proper pre-rinse, aggressive product to save time, and no decontamination at all.

The result can be swirls that were not there before, dressing on the glass, and paint that still feels rough. Correcting that costs more than having it done properly the first time.

What Should Be Included At Around $350

1. 1Pre-rinse, snow foam and a safe two bucket wash
2. 2Iron and tar decontamination plus a clay treatment
3. 3Wheels, tyres, arches and door jambs
4. 4A protective sealant, not just a spray wax
5. 5Full interior vacuum including boot and under seats
6. 6Leather cleaned and conditioned, plastics restored
7. 7Glass finished streak free inside and out
8. 8A final inspection before hand back

If a quote at this level is missing decontamination or protection, it is a wash with a detail label on it.

Mobile Versus Studio Pricing

Mobile is not automatically cheaper or dearer. What it removes is your time cost. No drop off, no pick up, no arranging a lift home and no losing hours driving across town.

Popz is mobile first with a climate controlled set-up, so you get controlled conditions without the logistics. There is also a garage at Hampton Park if you would rather drop the car off.

Get A Real Quote

Tell Shabz what you drive, where it is parked and what condition it is in. Up to $500 off currently applies to anything booked.