Detailing quality varies more between workshops in this city than most people realise until they've had a bad experience once. Before you hand your car over anywhere — us included — here's what's actually worth asking.
Ask for a Written Estimate, Every Time
Not a verbal number tossed out while you're standing there. A proper estimate means someone actually looked at your car's condition first. If a place gives you a fixed price over the phone without seeing the vehicle, that number is a guess, and guesses have a habit of growing once the car's already inside.
Ask What Products They're Actually Using
Some workshops water down products or use unbranded mixes labelled as premium coating or wax. There's no shame in asking directly — is this a name-brand ceramic coating or something mixed in-house? A shop confident in what they're using will just tell you.
Check How They Handle Existing Damage
A rushed wash-and-coat over paint that already has swirl marks just seals those marks in under a glossy layer. A detailer who's actually good at the job will inspect the paint first and mention correction before quoting a shine job, not after you've already paid and noticed the marks are still there.
Ask About the Warranty in Writing
"It'll last a couple of years" means very little if nobody wrote it down. A real warranty comes with a defined period and terms you can actually hold someone to, not a friendly promise made while you're paying.
Watch How They Handle Your Car, Not Just What They Say
This one's a small tell but a reliable one. Does someone walk around the car and note existing scratches or dents before starting, or do they just get straight to washing it? The first habit tells you they're covering themselves and you both. The second tells you something too.
We'd genuinely rather you ask us all five of these questions than just assume. If the answers don't add up, that's useful information before you've paid anything — not after.
Talk To Us About Detailing & Wash
Written estimate before anything starts, and a straight answer even if the answer is "you don't need this yet."