What Is Car Detailing?
Car detailing is a comprehensive cleaning, restoration, and finishing process that goes far beyond a standard car wash or valet. While a car valet cleans the visible surfaces, detailing addresses every surface, crevice, and component of your vehicle to restore it to near-showroom condition.
Detailing includes deep interior cleaning with steam extraction, leather conditioning, and fabric protection. On the exterior, it includes decontamination with clay bar treatment, machine paint correction to remove swirl marks and scratches, and long-term protection with ceramic coating, wax, or sealant.
What Car Detailing Includes
Exterior Detailing
- Thorough wash — Pre-wash with snow foam, two-bucket hand wash, wheel and tyre cleaning
- Decontamination — Clay bar treatment to remove bonded contaminants like industrial fallout, tar, tree sap, and overspray
- Paint correction — Machine polishing to remove swirl marks, scratches, water spots, and oxidation
- Protection — Application of ceramic coating, paint sealant, or carnauba wax
- Trim and glass — Trim restoration, glass polishing, tyre dressing, and wheel sealant
Interior Detailing
- Deep vacuum — All surfaces, under seats, boot, crevices
- Steam cleaning — Fabric seats, carpets, headliner, and floor mats
- Leather care — Cleaning, conditioning, and protection of leather surfaces
- Dashboard and trim — Cleaning and UV protection for all plastic and vinyl surfaces
- Glass — Streak-free cleaning of all interior glass surfaces
Car Detailing Pricing in Ireland (2026)
| Service Level | What's Included | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Detail | Thorough interior/exterior clean, clay bar, hand wax | €80 – €150 | 3 – 5 hours |
| Full Detail | Basic detail plus single-stage paint correction, sealant | €150 – €300 | 6 – 8 hours |
| Show Detail | Multi-stage paint correction, full interior restoration | €300 – €500+ | 1 – 3 days |
| Ceramic Coating | Paint correction + professional ceramic coating application | €300 – €800 | 1 – 2 days |
| PPF (Partial) | Paint protection film on bonnet, bumper, mirrors | €500 – €1,500 | 1 – 2 days |
Paint Correction Explained
Paint correction is the process that separates detailing from valeting. It involves using a machine polisher (dual-action or rotary) with specialised compounds and polishing pads to level the clear coat and remove imperfections. These imperfections include swirl marks from automatic car washes, light scratches, buffer trails, water spots, and oxidation.
Single-stage correction uses one compound and pad combination to remove the majority of defects. Multi-stage correction uses progressively finer compounds for an increasingly refined finish. The result is paintwork with mirror-like clarity and depth of gloss that simply cannot be achieved with hand polishing or waxing alone.
Ceramic Coating
Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer applied to the exterior surfaces of a vehicle that chemically bonds with the factory paint to create a permanent or semi-permanent protective layer. See our complete ceramic coating guide for detailed information on how it works, how long it lasts, and whether it is worth the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions — Car Detailing Ireland
What is car detailing and how is it different from a car wash?
A car wash removes surface dirt. Detailing involves deep cleaning every surface, correcting paint imperfections with machine polishing, and protecting surfaces with ceramic coating, wax, or sealant. Detailing restores a vehicle to near-showroom condition and takes hours or days rather than minutes.
How much does car detailing cost in Ireland?
Basic detail: €80 to €150. Full detail with paint correction: €150 to €300. Show detail: €300 to €500+. Ceramic coating: €300 to €800 additional. See our pricing guide for full comparisons.
How long does car detailing take?
Basic detail: 3 to 5 hours. Full detail: 6 to 8 hours. Show detail: 1 to 3 days. Ceramic coating adds another day for application and curing.
What is paint correction?
Paint correction uses machine polishing to remove imperfections from the clear coat including swirl marks, light scratches, water spots, and oxidation. Single-stage correction removes most defects; multi-stage achieves a near-perfect finish.
Is ceramic coating worth it?
Yes, for owners who want long-term protection (2 to 5 years), easier washing, and maintained resale value. At €300 to €800, it is a significant investment but eliminates the need for regular waxing. Most cost-effective on newer vehicles. See our ceramic coating guide.
What is paint protection film (PPF)?
PPF is a clear, self-healing polyurethane film applied to vulnerable areas to protect against stone chips and scratches. Partial coverage costs €500 to €1,500; full vehicle €2,000 to €5,000. Popular on premium vehicles.
How often should I get my car detailed?
One to two full details per year is sufficient for most vehicles. With ceramic coating, a maintenance detail every 12 to 18 months is enough. Regular washing between details maintains the finish.
Can car detailing remove scratches?
Detailing can remove or reduce light to moderate scratches in the clear coat through paint correction. Deep scratches penetrating to the base coat need professional paint repair. A detailer can assess your scratches and advise on what is achievable.