Choose the Mini Detail (from $89) if the inside of your car is already clean and you only want the outside washed and protected. Choose the Full Detail (from $244) if the cabin needs shampoo and steam cleaning as well, or the whole car is overdue for a proper clean inside and out.
What is a mini detail?
A mini detail is an exterior-only detail: a careful hand wash, the fiddly areas a quick wash skips, and a spray-on layer of protection for the paint. No interior work at all. The Gloss Go Mini Detail covers:
- Pre-rinse of the whole vehicle
- Wheels, tyres and arches cleaned
- Door and boot jambs pressure cleaned and dried
- Snow foam hand wash and dry
- Protective spray wax sealant
- Windows and mirrors cleaned
- Tyres glossed
The pre-rinse and snow foam are there for a reason. RACV notes that fine swirl marks are generally caused by dust or dirt particles being wiped along the bodywork, and advises rinsing a car thoroughly before washing it. Getting the grit off before a mitt touches the paint is the whole point.
Mini Detail vs Interior Detail vs Full Detail
| What you get | Mini Detail | Interior Detail | Full Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | Exterior | Interior | Both |
| Hand wash, wheels, arches and jambs | Yes | No | Yes |
| Spray wax sealant | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bug splash and road tar removal | No | No | Yes |
| Rubbers and plastics glossed | No | No | Yes |
| Vacuum, shampoo and steam clean | No | Yes | Yes |
| Leather cleaned and conditioned (if fitted) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hatch or sedan | $89 | $144 | $244 |
| Small SUV or wagon | $99 | $164 | $284 |
| Large SUV, 4WD or 7 seater | $115 | $184 | $324 |
The Full Detail is the Mini and the Interior Detail in one visit, with exterior extras on top: bug splash and road tar removal, the fuel door, rubbers and plastics glossed, and arches and mud flaps glossed. For exactly what happens inside the car, see our interior car detailing guide.
Which car detailing package do I need?
The weekly commuter that is clean inside
Mini Detail. If you already keep the cabin tidy, paying for shampoo and steam is money spent on carpet that doesn't need it. The outside is what cops the freeway grime, and $89 to $115 gets it hand washed with the sealant topped up.
The family car after the school holidays
Start with the inside, because that is where the mess is: sand in the carpet, crumbs around the child seats, sunscreen on the door trims, a sticky cup holder. If the paint is fine, the Interior Detail on its own ($144 to $184) is enough. Outside had a rough few weeks as well? Book the Full Detail.
The car that has not been detailed in a year
Full Detail at a minimum. A year of bug splash and road tar rarely shifts with a normal wash, and after that long the cabin needs shampoo as well as a vacuum. Look hard at the paint once it's clean, though. If it still looks dull or swirled in the sun, washing was never going to fix that. Machine polishing does, and that is the Ultimate Detail below.
Getting ready to sell
Buyers open the doors, so both halves of the car count. The Full Detail is the usual starting point, and we've written a separate guide to detailing a car before you sell it.
When is the Ultimate Detail the better buy?
When the paint needs machine polishing and you were going to book a Full Detail anyway. The Ultimate Detail pairs the full interior detail with a machine cut and polish for $344, $394 or $444. That is $100 to $120 more than the Full Detail. Booked separately, an Interior Detail and a Cut & Polish add up to $64 more than the Ultimate at every vehicle size.
It's the wrong buy if the paint is already glossy. Machine polishing removes a little clear coat each time, so it should only happen when there are swirls to remove. Our post on cut and polish vs paint correction explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mini detail just a car wash?
No. A mini detail includes a snow foam hand wash, but it also cleans the wheels, arches and door and boot jambs, and finishes with a protective spray wax sealant. It is still exterior only, so there is no vacuum and no machine polishing.
Does the Full Detail include a cut and polish?
No. The Full Detail finishes the paint with a protective spray wax sealant and does not include machine polishing. If the paint has swirls you want reduced, that is the Ultimate Detail, from $344.
Do bigger cars cost more?
Yes. Every package has three prices: hatch or sedan, small SUV or wagon, and large SUV, 4WD or 7 seater. A Full Detail is $244, $284 or $324 across those sizes. There is no travel or call-out fee inside our service area.
Still deciding? Every inclusion is listed on our packages and prices page, or book your detail and tell us how the car gets used. We're mobile across Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Clyde North, 7 days a week.