Questions to Ask Before You Leave Your Car With a Detailer

If you are looking to have your car detailed, know the steps that should be taken and the right questions to ask the shop you are considering. Here are the questions we would ask.

The checklist

• Do you have insurance?
• Where will the work be completed? Indoors, outdoors, or in a driveway?
• Are you familiar with the surfaces in my car? Coated leather, uncoated leather, Alcantara, and fire-retardant upholstery all need different care.
• Do you have and use a vapor steamer? If not, how will you kill allergens and mold spores in the ventilation system and on hard surfaces?
• I have kids in the vehicle regularly. Do you use strong chemicals or steam?
• Do you have a hot-water extractor?
• How long will it take? If they say you can wait, or that it will only take a few hours, they are not describing a detail.
• Are you familiar with my paint system? Basecoat/clear, nano-ceramic clear, lacquer, enamel, or tinted clear.
• When you buff my car, can you make sure you won’t leave swirls?

Tell the shop what matters to you

Describe any special needs for your vehicle and what you expect from the detail. If you ask these questions and are satisfied with the answers, you are one step ahead in making sure your expectations are met when the work is done.

At Shine Detail Exclusive, the answers are easy: insured, indoors, steam and extraction, and machine polishing done by trained hands. Request an appointment.