The seats need cleaning and the paint looks dull, so you ask for a full detail. One shop means a wash, wax and interior clean. Another includes shampoo and paint decontamination. The name alone will not tell you what you are buying.
So a sedan full detail is $225 at 6th Gear in New Jersey, $249 mobile at MNG in Los Angeles, or from $250 at DetailX in Chicago. The packages and travel terms differ, so those local menu examples need to be compared with their checklists.
I checked the US menus on October 22, 2026. I will show you the vehicle-size prices, what cleaning is included and which extras can change an otherwise attractive quote.
Full Detail Prices by Vehicle Size
6th Gear’s menu separates interior-only work from its full detail, described as interior plus an exterior wash and wax. Mobile service adds $25.
MNG’s full detail includes carpet and mat shampoo, paint decontamination and a sealant. Its advertised mobile price covers its service area without a travel fee; unusual large vehicles need a separate quote.
DetailX describes its Full Detail as a package for vehicles in normal condition. Heavy staining, severe pet hair or neglected interiors may need its Deep Detail instead.
When Interior-Only or Exterior-Only Makes Sense
If the cabin is the only problem, ask for an interior quote before paying for both sides of the car. At 6th Gear, interior service is $125 for a sedan, $150 for an SUV and $175 for a truck.
DetailX’s interior service starts at $160 for a sedan, $180 for an SUV and $200 for a truck. Its exterior detail starts at $100, $120 and $140 respectively.
Those services do not necessarily include the same treatment. Ask whether seats and carpets will be shampooed or extracted, or only vacuumed and wiped. An odor problem also needs a clearer description than a general cabin clean.
A Calculated Mobile Quote With Pet Hair
Using 6th Gear’s published sedan menu, a full detail with mobile service and its pet-hair add-on calculates as follows:
That is a worked example, not an advertised package. Have the detailer confirm the condition of the car and the final amount before you book.
MNG’s sedan pet-hair add-on is $69, with different amounts for larger vehicles. A mobile price that already includes travel should not have a second assumed travel charge added to it.
A Standard Detail and a Restoration Are Different
DetailX’s Deep Detail starts at $360 for a sedan, $380 for an SUV and $400 for a truck. It is offered for heavier use than the normal-condition Full Detail, rather than as an automatic upgrade every car needs.
At MNG, the sedan premium package is $449 and adds a one-step machine polish to the full detail. That is a different scope from ordinary cleaning, which is why it should not be mixed into a basic-detail price comparison.
For deeper paint defects, my paint correction guide covers polishing work. A longer-lasting ceramic coating is another separate service.
Ask what the detailer expects to improve and what will remain. A cleaning package does not promise to remove every scratch, permanent stain or damaged surface.
What One Tesla Owner Paid
On June 19, 2025, Tesla Motors Club member KansasKrow reported paying $200 to have a used Tesla detailed.
The profile gives central Kansas. The post does not include a service checklist or itemized receipt, so it cannot establish whether shampoo, correction, mobile travel or taxes were included.
I would use that dated account as one owner’s bill, not as a target price for every full detail. The published menus above are clearer about what a prospective customer is booking.
Send the Detailer Useful Photos
Show the seats, footwells, trunk, pet hair and any specific stain before accepting a remote quote. Give the vehicle’s exact size and number of seating rows, rather than describing every SUV as the same job.
Have the quote name the cleaning, paint treatment, travel fee and condition extras. Also check booking terms: DetailX requires a 50% deposit, while 6th Gear’s terms include a cancellation fee.
A clear checklist lets you compare the result you want with the service you are paying for. It is more useful than choosing only by the cheapest package called full detail.
Questions Before Booking a Car Detail
Does a full detail always include seat shampoo?
No package name guarantees the same checklist. Ask whether your seats and carpets get shampoo, extraction, spot cleaning or only a vacuum and wipe-down. The menus in this guide describe different service depths.
Is mobile detailing always more expensive?
Compare the complete price. 6th Gear adds a mobile surcharge, while MNG includes travel inside its stated service area. Neither menu establishes a universal mobile premium.
Will a detail remove scratches?
Cleaning and polishing are different jobs. Ask which paint treatment is included. Deeper paint correction is priced separately by these providers and should not be assumed from the word detail.
Why does an SUV cost more than a sedan?
The providers use separate size categories. Give the detailer the exact vehicle and number of seating rows so the quote uses the right category and the actual cleaning needed.
Menus and Owner Account Checked
US menus checked October 22, 2026. The owner’s bill was reported June 19, 2025.
- 6th Gear Auto Detailing: New Jersey vehicle-size prices and add-ons
- MNG Mobile Car Detailing: Los Angeles packages and travel terms
- DetailX Chicago: normal-condition and deep-detail packages
- Tesla Motors Club: KansasKrow’s dated detailing bill
I hope this helps you compare the work inside each package. If you have a recent US detailing quote with its checklist, you can send it to costcheckr@gmail.com.
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