Cost for local detailer to do a ceramic coating on my pickup and Crosstrek

Donald · Jul 22, 2023

I have used a local guy to do detailing. He is mobile and has a van with pressure washer, generator and water tank. Does a good job.

He showed my a little bottle of the ceramic coating product and I think it was $500 for both vehicles but could have been $300. He seems to like to give discounts.

Is $500 a reasonable price for my two vehicles?

Should he do more than one coat? Do I need to worry about how thick a coat he applies?

I know the ceramic coating product is expensive.

I have been having him doe PowerLock+ spring and fall.

Looking for long paint protection vs showroom shine.

So Crosstrek & Ford F-250

billt460 · Jul 22, 2023

Donald said:
I have used a local guy to do detailing. He is mobile and has a van with pressure washer, generator and water tank. Does a good job.

He showed my a little bottle of the ceramic coating product and I think it was $500 for both vehicles but could have been $300. He seems to like to give discounts.

Is $500 a reasonable price for my two vehicles?

Should he do more than one coat? Do I need to worry about how thick a coat he applies?

I know the ceramic coating product is expensive.

I have been having him doe PowerLock+ spring and fall.

Looking for long paint protection vs showroom shine.

So Crosstrek & Ford F-250

Is the product $300 / $500, or does that include the whole detail job with the ceramic applied?

Doc8404 · Jul 22, 2023

I’ve seen ceramic coats as high as $1-3k for a pickup.

2010Civic · Jul 22, 2023

I think ceramic coating is a little overrated. People act like the car is invincible after being coated and that couldn't be farther from the truth. I'd just wax the car for essentially nothing.

billt460 · Jul 22, 2023

2010Civic said:
I think ceramic coating is a little overrated. People act like the car is invincible after being coated and that couldn't be farther from the truth. I'd just wax the car for essentially nothing.

I tend to agree. I think the stuff is good, but horrifically overpriced for what it is. A bit like the whole "Polyglycoat" scam of the 70's.

I've used the stuff Autozone sells, (Mothers CMX Ceramic in the spray bottle). And it gives good results. It's around $23.00 @ bottle, and you can do 2 cars easily.

No doubt the stuff professional detailers use is better. But like you, I think it's overrated. $500.00 for 2 vehicles, yeah. But $1K+ for a pickup, no way, no how.

hrv · Jul 22, 2023

I will stick to a yearly application of Race Glaze...works for me and a lot cheaper too....

2010Civic · Jul 22, 2023

I use Collenite 845 about once a year and then use a spray wax as a drying aid/topper during every wash. Car always beads like crazy.

walterjay · Jul 22, 2023

I have used a lot of products including Griots Ceramic spray. After all this I am leaning to going back to Collinite 845. The stuff is great.

Donald · Jul 22, 2023

walterjay said:
I have used a lot of products including Griots Ceramic spray. After all this I am leaning to going back to Collinite 845. The stuff is great.

Better than Power Lock+?

walterjay · Jul 22, 2023

Donald said:
Better than Power Lock+?

No not tried that

PimTac · Jul 22, 2023

Donald said:
I have used a local guy to do detailing. He is mobile and has a van with pressure washer, generator and water tank. Does a good job.

He showed my a little bottle of the ceramic coating product and I think it was $500 for both vehicles but could have been $300. He seems to like to give discounts.

Is $500 a reasonable price for my two vehicles?

Should he do more than one coat? Do I need to worry about how thick a coat he applies?

I know the ceramic coating product is expensive.

I have been having him doe PowerLock+ spring and fall.

Looking for long paint protection vs showroom shine.

So Crosstrek & Ford F-250

I think we could provide a better answer if you remembered what the brand of coating it was he had.

Ceramic coating do not go on thick. Any layer you put on will be tiny. That applies to pretty much any product.

For a lot less money use a ceramic spray product. Griots 3 in 1 is good. There are others. Trucks are big vehicles so a spray product used every third or fourth wash will not be expensive and will not take much extra time to do.

Strommen95 · Jul 24, 2023

$500 is dirt cheap for this. Too cheap to be true. That's at $500 per vehicle. If you meant $500 for both, $250 each, that's a serious red flag and there's no chance a real coating or paint correction is being done.

RooflessVW · Jul 24, 2023

Strommen95 said:
$500 is dirt cheap for this. Too cheap to be true. That's at $500 per vehicle. If you meant $500 for both, $250 each, that's a serious red flag and there's no chance a real coating or paint correction is being done.

I'd be at $500 for the Crosstrek and $800 for the F-250 for a light one-step and coating.

No interior.

zzyzzx · Jul 28, 2023

Aren't you retired and have all day to do this type of thing yourself?

Hermann · Jul 28, 2023

Since early 2008 I have not hand waxed a vehicle. I go to the car wash and hand wash and rinse. Then use the really good wax at the car wash. It still beads after several months. And it shines after a quick dry. Life's too short!

dkryan · Jul 28, 2023

Donald said:
Better than Power Lock+?

PowerLock Plus is a great product! Combined with using Mother’s CMX ceramic spray sealant every third month after a hand wash, I can get a full year of protection before another detailing session (Wash, clay, polish, sealant).

I’ve used Collinite 845, also, and it’s my “go to” wax if I use wax instead of PowerLock Plus.

Full disclosure: the rides are garaged.

dan_erickson · Jul 28, 2023

Strommen95 said:
$500 is dirt cheap for this. Too cheap to be true. That's at $500 per vehicle. If you meant $500 for both, $250 each, that's a serious red flag and there's no chance a real coating or paint correction is being done.

Exactly

Donald · Jul 28, 2023

dkryan said:
PowerLock Plus is a great product! Combined with using Mother’s CMX ceramic spray sealant every third month after a hand wash, I can get a full year of protection before another detailing session (Wash, clay, polish, sealant).

I’ve used Collinite 845, also, and it’s my “go to” wax if I use wax instead of PowerLock Plus.

Full disclosure: the rides are garaged.

What's a garage? Same as a tool & dog storage room except with a car rather than tools & a dog?

Donald · Sep 16, 2023

Ok, the mobile detailer uses Undrdog for a 5 year ceramic coating and Hyperclean for a 3 year.

paulo57509 · Sep 16, 2023

Appears that most of the cost is in the prep work. My brother sent me these "correction" images before and after (not his vehicle).

My brother had is Camry done by this guy.