Is a car detail worth it?

When we’re out detailing in the Wood River Valley people often ask us about our prices.  If you’ve ever inquired about getting your vehicle detailed you already know it’s not cheap.  In fact, compared with an automated car wash it can be as much as 20 times the price, or more.  It’s only natural to wonder, is a car detail worth it? 

Like all good questions the answer is, it depends.  And it all depends on your idea of value.

Is having a clean car psychologically valuable to you?  Most of our clients give us a call not because they want to get their Ferrari ready for the weekend, but because they really enjoy the feeling of having a super clean Subaru.  Regaining calm and peace of mind just by stepping inside your car could be considered very valuable, especially when the rest of your world feels like it’s spinning a little too fast.

Is your time valuable?  Most people, given the right tools, products, and enough time are perfectly capable of keeping their vehicles in excellent condition, but most of us don’t want to dedicate an entire Sunday to it, and for good reason.  In today’s world we’re all busy. How valuable are those precious few hours you get to spend relaxing or playing with your kids?   Some would say priceless. 

But the question most people are really asking when thinking about getting their car detailed for the first time is: does it make financial sense?  If I spend $600-$800 or more a year detailing my vehicle, do I ever get that money back? 

This is the part of the post where I start referencing Blue Book values and the differences between resale values for cars in good vs. excellent condition.   But that probably isn’t the best argument to make.   Not everyone is starting with a brand-new vehicle and how a vehicle is used during its life is going to vary dramatically from one person to the next.   I’m certainly in no position to say how much your vehicle will be worth when you decide to sell it.  But at some point, you will sell it, right? 

Because, and let’s be honest here, most people are not selling their vehicle because it’s reached the end of its life and can no longer be driven.  Of course, there are vehicles that get totaled and growing families that need more space, but the plain and simple truth is that we start thinking about the next vehicle just as soon as we start getting bored with the current one. 

At Make It Last Auto Detailing our goal is to keep you interested in your vehicle for as long as possible.  With average monthly car payments now between $600-$800 a month, getting rid of your current vehicle can be very expensive.   If your vehicle is paid off and you can postpone buying the next one just for another year or two, that’s literally thousands of dollars you don’t have to spend right now.  Is it less than what you would spend detailing your vehicle every single year?  You already know we don’t have an exact answer to that question.  But if you’ve never had your vehicle detailed before and are thinking it’s time for a new one, consider booking a mobile detail to see if you can make yours last just a little longer.  We service Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley Idaho. 

Feel like your interior is a wreck?  It’s probably not as bad as you think.  Does your paint feel dull and old?  Dull paint can be dramatically revived with just a couple hours of polishing.  Want to keep a new vehicle looking new for as long as possible? Consider a ceramic coating. 

So, to wrap things up.  Does it make financial sense to get your vehicle detailed? 

Maybe. 

Could a full detail postpone your need to get something newer, shinier, faster?

Perhaps.   

Does it feel amazing to step into a vehicle that’s been freshly detailed, inside and out? 

Absolutely.

And we think there’s value in that.