Paint Correction Prices

shoeless89

shoeless89

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Hey guys I know every client isn't looking for that total defect free finish that we all love to offer. And I've read a lot about "1 step paint correction" and I was wondering what all does that include, what would you guys use, and maybe some pricing? Thanks guys!
 
1 step paint correction?? Never heard of it...

I've heard of doing a 1-step exterior. But that doesn't typically qualify as "correction" IMO. It's typically just a glaze, or a once over with polish.

Anytime I've ever done correction...it involved more than one step.
 
I've seen it called a couple things but I'm pretty sure its just a once over with a polish but not really sure. I've seen some pretty amazing results from just 1 step
 
I think he means something like Powerfinish, Poli-seal, D151 etc.
 
shoeless89 said:
I've seen it called a couple things but I'm pretty sure its just a once over with a polish but not really sure. I've seen some pretty amazing results from just 1 step
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Yeah, for sure. A one step can make a real improvement on the average daily driver. In my shop, we do more 1-steps than anything else. It satisfies most people.

It's just when you put 1-step along with the word correction...that's where I got confused. I mean maybe I'm wrong. But to do a correction, you need at least a 2 step at the very least being compound and polish. You can get by with that...but the results aren't as good IMO.

I know for me, I wet sand (if needed), compound, polish, fine polish, seal. So really it's a 4 or 5-step when I get into correction. I get anywhere from $350 to $500 depending on the vehicle.

But for the 1-steps I get anywhere from $125-$145. My 1-steps are a wash, clay, glaze or polish (depends), windows, jambs, chrome/trim, rims and tires. Hope this helps!
 
Figure your hourly rate and then multiply it by how long it takes you to do the job. At first you might guess too high or low, but after some practice you will get pretty good at judging how long a job will take.

Rates differ so much in different areas. I know I can get double if not triple the price for detailing services where I am compared to the southern part of the state.
 
A 1 step correction=xmt 360 or meg 151. The clean, seal and correct paint. any "does it all" product really means it does no one good thing well. xmt360 has a cut of 2/10. Not much correction but its fine for daily drivers and some customers.

For me a 1 step correction is a wash, clay, ipa wipe down, and xmt360 on a polish pad, maybe a compound pad.(speed 5 on GG DA) This is done to most daily drivers and I tend not to top it with wax. I explain the different services and different levels of correction. Most people want a quick 4 hour turn around and to me thats a mini detail with xmt360 and dress tires, interior, vaccume ect. If they want a long lasting wax to protect i use collnite 845 and charge a few bucks more, maybe five dollars more same with rain-x.

I like making 15-20 an hour. I am mobile charge 5 or 10 more for SUVs or a long distance. I am trying to build a client base. I know I charge way to cheap. Most time I do way to much work for the money I get, but I'm young
 
weavers said:
I like making 15-20 an hour. I am mobile charge 5 or 10 more for SUVs or a long distance. I am trying to build a client base. I know I charge way to cheap. Most time I do way to much work for the money I get, but I'm young
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I'm in the same boat as you man lol
 
Xmt360 and the like are AIOs but not a one step correction in my book. A one step correction would involve an actual polishing step like menzerna powerfinish as well as a protection step.

Also this proves my point about prices since my hourly rate is slightly more than triple what has been quoted here. Im not gloating or trying to put anyone down, but you can charge what your market will bear.
 
I think it makes a big difference in where you are and how flooded the market is and your level of experiences. If you are working in LA (Cali) then yes there is lots of money but its also a cut throat market with more "detailers" than you can shake a stick at.

Unless you have earned a great rep and get most of your work via referral then you have to make it a good enough deal and yet do a good enough job to get people to do it again. Or you can not eat.

Either way it really has a lot of variables.
 
Here at Tuscarora Dave's Mobile Auto Detailing we do not offer quick and cheap car care.

We provide "proper car care" at a reasonable price.

We will evaluate the exterior finish of your vehicle and perform one of two different exterior car care packages. The Standard wash, clay bar and wax package is the minimum proper exterior car care package that we will sign our name to. Our name and the care of your car are both on the line here.

The standard wash, clay bar and wax package.

Our standard wash, clay bar and wax package is the proper car care package for ordinary daily driver cars. If you want to properly care for your car but don't want to spend a ton of money then our standard wash, clay bar and wax package is for you.

Our Standard wash, clay bar and wax package includes a thorough exterior wash of the car including wheels and tires. After the wash, the car's paint gets the "clay bar" treatment to remove any bonded contaminates that the wash doesn't remove. The clay bar treatment will create a smooth clean surface for the wax to adhere to so the wax will provide longer protection and look smooth and glossy. A complimentary vacuum, window cleaning and tire air pressure check is included.

The standard wash, clay bar and wax package starting prices are as follows.

Small cars such as Mini Cooper.....$75

Mid sized sedans such as Toyota Camry.....$100

Small SUVs or small pick up trucks such as Ford Escape or Ford Ranger.....$150

Large SUVs or pick up trucks such as Ford Explorer or 2 door Ford F-Series truck.....$200

Extra large SUVs or pick ups such as Yukon XL, Hummer or quad cab trucks.....$250



Upon eveluation of your vehicle, if your vehicle's paint is oxidized or has a lot of micro scratches we may recommend you upgrade to the "All in one polish package".



"The all in one polish package"

The all in one polish package includes everything that is in the standard wash, clay bar and wax package but in addition to that we will polish the paint to a beautiful oxidation, micro scratch and buffer mark free condition using a rotary polishing machine equipped with foam buffing pad and a cleaner wax.



The all in one polish package starting prices are as follows.

Small cars such as Mini Cooper.....$125

Mid sized sedans such as Toyota Camry.....$175

Small SUVs or small pick up trucks such as Ford Escape or Ford Ranger.....$250

Large SUVs or pick up trucks such as Ford Explorer or 2 door Ford F-Series truck.....$325

Extra large SUVs or pick ups such as Yukon XL, Hummer or quad cab trucks.....$400
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For me a 1 step correction includes decontamination of the paint, then using Menzerna Power Finish and a white pad.

With this combo I have been able to achieve upwards of 90% correction (depending on the paint of course) and a absolutely amazing gloss.
Afterwards, I apply the sealant / wax depending on colour of the vehicle.

My prices for this start at $250 an typically take about 8 hours or so depending on the size of the vehicle.
 
My 1 step I sell is a wash, clay, 1 step (this can be a variety of polishes depending on the paint), then LSP, clean wheels and tires, dress tires and wells, clean all glass, vac interior, clean all interior plastic, dash and door panels then protect $200 start
 
I don't really have any packages. Everything I do is hourly based. My rate is $40 an hour. I estimate the time and quote that. If I take longer, oops, my fault. As I continue to build up business and when I get back from this next deployment, I will start putting packages together for standard work and keep my hourly rate for more custom work.

Of course prices can change depending on LSP used and other variables.
 
The way I look at it is packages get normal customers in the door. the kind of people that want their daily driver to look nicer than a tunnel wash.

the big money is still in custom quoted work for enthusiasts or people that own high end cars. No matter what my packages say, for total correction, I always quote hourly.
 
Let's break down 1 step paint correction. Any time your removing swirls or defects your correcting the paint, correct? My one step means a dedicated polish, but I could see where some people would call a one step paint correction something like d151 or xmt360 since they are removing defects and applying protectant in one step. Just my 2 cents
 
That is why I call one a "one step" and one an "all in one" when I speak to a customer.
 
I use D151 and it has some pretty decent correcting abilities. I used Optimum Poli-Seal ( I think that is thier AIO, i can never remember all the names) and it has basically no correcting abilities compared to D151. I typically use the Poli-Seal on wax jobs in order to get a little more gloss on cars that have a neglected finish.

Around here, a "one step" package for the exterior only goes for around $125 or so. Including vacuuming the interior, wiping down the dash, and cleaning the interior windows as well as the standard exterior cleanings like wheels, tires, wheelwells, etc...
 
Thank you so much everyone you have been a great help! :)
 
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