What's Included in a Full Car Detailing Service: Interior, Exterior, and Paint Care
TINT STUDIO
A full car detailing service is a deep, top-to-bottom cleaning and protection of your vehicle's interior and exterior. It typically includes vacuuming and shampooing carpets and upholstery, cleaning and conditioning leather, dash, and trim, hand washing the paint, wheels, and tires, decontaminating the paint, and applying a protective layer such as a sealant or ceramic coating. Higher-level packages add clay bar treatment, paint polishing, and engine bay cleaning.
The catch is that "full detail" is not a standardized term. One shop's full detail is a wash and a vacuum, while another's includes multi-stage polishing. That is why we publish exactly what goes into each of our full detailing packages at Tint Studio in Mequon. Below, we walk through each stage of the process, what our packages include, and what falls outside the scope of a detail.
Tint Studio Full Detailing Packages at a Glance
| Package | Starting Price | Approx. Time | Best For and Key Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | $150 | 2 to 3 hours | Essential in-and-out refresh: floor mat cleaning, leather wipe-down, door jambs, foam cannon wash, wheels and tires, light paint decontamination, trim and tire dressing |
| Pro | $250 | 3 to 4 hours | Daily drivers and family vehicles: everything in Lite plus a full vacuum, carpet shampoo, leather deep clean and conditioning, dash UV protectant, glass inside and out, and a two-bucket hand wash |
| Elite | $350 | 5 to 7 hours | Heavily used vehicles and pre-sale reconditioning: everything in Pro plus headliner cleaning, cloth seat shampoo, fabric and leather protection, clay bar, single-stage polish with additional correction stages, paint sealant, entry-level ceramic coating, and engine bay cleaning |
Headlight restoration and engine detailing are also available as add-ons, each starting at $50.
Interior Cleaning and Upholstery Care
The interior of your car collects grime in places you rarely notice. Crumbs settle into seat seams, coffee soaks into carpet fibers, and pet hair works deep into upholstery. Our team works through the cabin in a set pattern, top to bottom, so dust and debris are pulled out rather than pushed around.
A Pro-level interior starts with vacuuming the floors, seats, and trunk, then moves to the console, cup holders, crevices, and vents. The dash is cleaned and treated with a UV protectant, door panels and pockets are cleaned and conditioned, and leather seats get a deep clean and conditioning to keep them supple. Carpets in the cabin and trunk are shampooed, which works a cleaning solution into the fibers and lifts out embedded grime, food spills, and ground-in dirt. The Elite package goes further with headliner cleaning, cloth seat shampooing, and protective treatments for carpets, cloth seats, leather, and vinyl.
We match products to each material so surfaces keep their original look. That means no greasy, slippery residue on the steering wheel, pedals, or shift knob.
Why Wisconsin Winters Make Interior Care Matter
Wisconsin interiors take a real beating between November and March. Salt tracked in on boots leaves white residue in carpets, wet coats add moisture, and constant heating and cooling cycles add wear. A deep interior clean before and after winter keeps carpet fibers from breaking down early and keeps your cabin smelling fresh.
Exterior Wash and Wheel Cleaning
The exterior wash follows a specific order because a careless wash is one of the most common causes of swirl marks. Wheels and tires are hand washed to remove brake dust and road grime, and a foam cannon wash covers the body in thick foam to loosen dirt before anything touches the paint.
Our Pro and Elite packages then add a two-bucket hand wash. One bucket holds soapy water and the other holds clean rinse water. After each pass across a panel, the wash mitt is rinsed in the clean bucket before going back into the soap, so trapped grit is not dragged back across the paint. A proper wash also moves from the roof down, because the lower panels carry the most grit. It is a small detail that separates a professional wash from a single-bucket driveway job. The exterior is finished with trim dressing and a no-sling tire dressing.
Paint Decontamination and Polishing
Even after a thorough wash, your paint may not be truly clean. Run your hand across the hood. If it feels rough, like fine sandpaper, that is bonded contamination such as iron particles from brake dust, road tar, industrial fallout, and tree sap. Shampoo alone will not remove it.
Every full detail package includes paint decontamination to remove minor bugs, tar, and grime. The Elite package adds clay bar decontamination, which glides across lubricated paint and lifts the remaining bonded contaminants, leaving the surface smooth to the touch. This step matters most before polishing or coating. If contaminants are still on the paint, a polishing pad can drag them across the clear coat and create new defects.
Polishing is what restores gloss and clarity. Our Elite package includes a single-stage polish plus additional cutting and polishing stages, along with glass polishing to remove water spotting. If your paint has heavier swirls, oxidation, or wash marring, our paint correction service goes further. Revive (Level 1, from $225) is a one-step polish that targets 75% or more defect removal, and Restore (Level 2, from $350) is a two-step compound and polish that targets 90% or more.
For Wisconsin drivers, decontamination before winter and again in spring makes a noticeable difference, since salt, sand, and road treatment residue bond to the paint all season.
Protective Coatings and Finishes
Once the paint is clean and corrected, it needs protection. Without it, the contaminants you just removed begin bonding to the surface again. Our Elite package finishes with a paint sealant and an entry-level ceramic coating, plus a wheel coating, exterior trim protectant, and engine bay cleaning and degreasing.
If you want protection measured in years rather than months, a dedicated ceramic coating is the next step. Our Gtechniq ceramic coating packages are rated from 18 months to 2 years (from $750) up to 9 years (from $1,700), and every package includes Level 2 paint correction, so the prep is already built in. For physical protection against rock chips and winter salt spray, paint protection film adds a self-healing barrier over high-impact areas, starting at $2,099 for Full Front coverage.
Whichever you choose, protection performs only as well as the preparation underneath it. Skipping decontamination or polishing before a coating locks existing defects in place.
What a Full Detail May Not Include
A full detail is extensive, but it is not body repair. Scratches that have cut through the clear coat, dents, rust, and chipped paint need a body shop. Our team will tell you what is realistic and will try to soften deeper defects where possible. Torn upholstery, broken trim, and mechanical issues also fall outside detailing.
On our Lite and Pro packages, headlight restoration and engine detailing are add-ons starting at $50 each, while the Elite package already includes engine bay cleaning. A full detail handles most everyday stains and light odors, but long-standing stains or odors may not fully disappear. We review those areas with you before any work begins so expectations are clear.
How Often Should You Get a Full Detail?
Most daily drivers benefit from a full detail once or twice a year, with lighter maintenance in between. In Southeast Wisconsin, the best timing is late fall, before salt season, and again in spring to clear out winter grime. Between full details, an exterior wash (from $50) or an interior detail (from $60) keeps things in shape. Read more in our guide to how often to detail your car in Wisconsin's climate.
Book a Full Detail at Tint Studio in Mequon
Your vehicle is a real investment, and a proper full detail is one of the simplest ways to protect its appearance and resale value. Since 2021, Tint Studio has cared for cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, and RVs for drivers in Mequon and across Southeast Wisconsin, with mobile options available for select services.
Choose the package that fits your vehicle, or tell us about its condition and we will recommend the right level. We confirm your drop-off and pick-up window when you book, so you know exactly when your vehicle will be ready.
Get a Quote or call (262) 278-4003. Our shop is at 10650 North Baehr Rd, Suite A, Mequon, WI 53092, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full car detail take?
At Tint Studio, a full detail takes about 2 to 3 hours for Lite, 3 to 4 hours for Pro, and 5 to 7 hours for Elite. Larger or heavily soiled vehicles can take longer.
How much does a full car detail cost in Mequon?
Our full detailing packages start at $150 for Lite, $250 for Pro, and $350 for Elite. Final pricing depends on your vehicle's size and condition.
What is the difference between a full detail and a car wash?
A car wash cleans the surface. A full detail deep cleans the interior, decontaminates and protects the paint, and reaches areas quick washes skip, such as vents, crevices, door jambs, and seat fabric.
Does a full detail include paint correction?
Our Elite package includes a single-stage polish with additional correction stages. For heavier swirls or oxidation, our dedicated paint correction service offers one-step and two-step options.
Will a full detail remove all stains and odors?
It removes most everyday stains and light odors, especially when they are treated early. Long-standing stains or odors may not fully disappear, and we review them with you before starting.
How often should I get my car fully detailed?
Once or twice a year for most daily drivers, ideally before and after winter in Wisconsin.
Do I need a full detail before ceramic coating or PPF?
Not as a separate booking. Every Tint Studio ceramic coating package includes Level 2 paint correction, and we clean and prep the paint before every PPF installation.
