Overview
Detailing quotes are sold by package, but the upsell is where the trade lives
Car detailing customers book a package: a basic wash-and-vac, a full interior and exterior, a paint correction, a ceramic coating. The headline price is the package. The detailer's margin is in the upsells: pet hair removal that adds an hour, leather conditioning, engine bay clean, alloy wheel restoration, glass polishing, headlight restoration. A flat 'full detail, $250' quote sells the customer one product and absorbs the upsells as a loss when the dog has been in the back for three months. The quote that wins is the one that lists the package clearly and lays out the optional add-ons the customer can accept or decline on the same record.
QuoteGenio gives detailers a quoting shape built for packages plus add-ons. Base package with the inclusions listed (interior vacuum, dashboards wiped, exterior wash, wheels and tyres), then optional add-ons as their own lines (paint correction by stage, ceramic coating by tier, leather treatment, headlight restoration, pet hair surcharge). Send via WhatsApp from the bay with photos of the worst patches, let the customer tick the add-ons before drop-off, take a deposit on bigger jobs, and the final invoice closes against the actual package delivered. The customer pays for what was done, not for what was assumed.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for detailing operators offering wash packages, paint correction, and ceramic coating.
The problem
The quoting headaches every detailer knows
Detailing customers are quality-focused and price-sensitive. A vague chat-message quote loses to the detailer who sends a clear, branded package quote in seconds.
Quotes typed in chat windows
Customers ask for a price on Instagram or WhatsApp and you're typing it freehand every time. It's slow and looks unprofessional.
No package structure on the quote
When silver, gold, and platinum tiers aren't clearly written out, customers default to silver and you lose the upsell.
Premium jobs lost to clearer detailers
Customers booking a R 4,500 ceramic coating want a clean, professional quote. A scribbled chat message loses every time.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A clean workflow for detailing quotes. Quote by vehicle size and service tier, present packages clearly, and let customers see the value of an upgrade.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for detailing work
Line items per service tier, per vehicle size, with optional add-ons for ceramic, leather treatment, and engine bay.
Works from your phone
Quote in 60 seconds when the customer messages you on Instagram or WhatsApp. Send a branded link, not a typed message.
Quote in under 60 seconds
Templates per vehicle size (small, mid, SUV, double cab) and tier (basic, premium, full) get you from request to sent quote in seconds.
Track repeat customers
See which customers have booked which packages and follow up for the next service. Repeat detailing pays your bills.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how car detailing services actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Car Detailing Services choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Car Detailing Services build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Car Detailing Services job pricing
A rough guide to what detailers charge for common services. Pricing varies by vehicle size, paint condition, and the depth of service. Use these as a baseline when building your own per-tier, per-size rate card.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Mini valet (small car, exterior wash and interior vacuum) | R578 - R1,240 |
| Standard detail (mid-size, wash, polish, interior) | R1,570 - R3,636 |
| Full detail (SUV / double cab, all surfaces) | R3,636 - R7,933 |
| Paint correction (single stage, mid-size) | R6,280 - R14,048 |
| Paint correction (two stage, mid-size) | R14,048 - R29,749 |
| Ceramic coating (mid-size, 2 year) | R29,749 - R74,372 |
| Engine bay detail | R1,570 - R4,628 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Detailing is quoted by vehicle size (small, mid, SUV, double cab) and service tier (basic, premium, full). Mobile detailers add a call-out fee covering travel within a standard area. Most detailers charge a 25 to 50 percent uplift for SUVs and double cabs versus a small car for the same tier of service.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use fixed pricing per package for almost everything. Detailing customers want certainty. Use hourly (R744 to R1,570 per hour) only for custom or odd jobs (vomit clean-up, water damage, smoke removal) where time depends on the condition. Always quote add-ons (ceramic, engine bay, leather treatment) as separate optional lines so customers can build their own package.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised detail quote looks like. Notice how each step is on its own line so the customer sees what they're paying for, and add-ons like the engine bay and sealant are clearly priced. Customers approve premium quotes faster when every line answers a question.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Full detail with paint correction, mid-size SUV
Pre-wash, foam wash, and contact wash
Single-stage paint correction (machine polish)
Wheel and tyre detail (deep clean and dress)
Interior detail (vacuum, leather clean and condition, glass)
Engine bay detail (clean, dress, protect)
Sealant and finishing wax (6 month)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-wash, foam wash, and contact wash | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Single-stage paint correction (machine polish) | 1 | R9,586 | R9,586 |
| Wheel and tyre detail (deep clean and dress) | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Interior detail (vacuum, leather clean and condition, glass) | 1 | R3,636 | R3,636 |
| Engine bay detail (clean, dress, protect) | 1 | R2,975 | R2,975 |
| Sealant and finishing wax (6 month) | 1 | R1,983 | R1,983 |
| Subtotal | R21,320 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R2,132 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R23,452 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Pre-wash and decontamination, wheel arches, glass treatment, leather conditioner, the second visit if a coating needs a top-up, and a follow-up wash credit. Add these to your tier templates once so they're built into every quote and stop coming out of your time.
Peer snapshot
How Car Detailing Services actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Car Detailing Services on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
15
Quotes sent per month
53%
Average quote acceptance
5 min
Median time to send quote
R23,452
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Car Detailing Service jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of detailers. The same tier and size mistakes come up again and again. Fix these and your hourly rate will actually reflect the time you spend on each car.
Mistake: One price for all vehicle sizes
Better: SUVs, double cabs, and 4x4s take 30 to 50 percent longer than a small car. Build a price grid by size for every tier so you're paid for the actual time on the panel.
Mistake: No tier structure on the quote
Better: Always offer silver, gold, and platinum (or basic, premium, full) on the quote. Customers default to the middle and you sell more of your high-margin tier.
Mistake: Add-ons hidden in the package
Better: Engine bay, leather treatment, and ceramic should be optional lines the customer can choose. Hiding them in a package leaves money on the table.
Mistake: No mobile call-out fee
Better: If you're driving to the customer, that's real time. Quote a mobile call-out as a separate line with your standard area defined and per-kilometre rate beyond it.
Mistake: No condition uplift
Better: A neglected car takes twice as long to detail. Add a 'condition uplift' line for cars in poor condition (heavy contamination, pet hair, smoke) so you're paid for the extra hours.
Mistake: Verbal upsell at handover
Better: Always quote the upsell in writing. If you suggest a ceramic top-up at handover and the customer agrees, send a quick variation quote via WhatsApp so it's accepted in writing before you start.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 14 day validity. Material costs and your booking diary move, and you don't want to honour a month-old quote when the diary is full.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote car detailing jobs
Classify the vehicle by size before you price (small car, mid-size sedan, SUV, double cab or 4x4) because each size carries a 25 to 50 percent uplift on the last for the same service. Inspect the paint for swirls, oxidation, and defects under a halogen lamp or in direct sunlight, because paint correction pricing depends on whether it is single-stage or two-stage. Open the doors and photograph the interior condition: pet hair, food stains, smoke residue, and water damage all need a condition uplift. For ceramic coating enquiries, confirm the paint is in coating-ready condition (clay, decontamination, and at least single-stage correction are prerequisites). For mobile jobs, check for water access, electrical power, and shade. These observations at the inspection are the difference between quoting a 5-hour detail and working 9 hours on the car.
Itemise wash, polish, paint correction, interior detail, engine bay, and protection as separate lines. Offer silver, gold, and platinum tiers (or basic, premium, full) per vehicle size so customers default to the middle tier and you upsell more of your high-margin top tier. Add-ons like ceramic coating at $ 1,800 to $ 4,500, leather treatment, and engine bay at $ 95 to $ 280 should be optional lines the customer can choose rather than hidden in a package. For paint correction, specify single-stage or two-stage with a brief description of what each removes. For mobile jobs, add a call-out line with your standard area defined and a per-kilometre rate beyond. Apply a condition uplift (typically 30 to 50 percent) on neglected cars so you are paid for the extra hours.
Set a 14 day validity on detailing quotes. Material costs on polish, ceramic, and sealant move with imports, and your booking diary fills up, so a month-old quote may land when you no longer have a slot. Show VAT as its own line. For ceramic coating jobs, take a 50 percent deposit at booking because the coating product is expensive and opened bottles cannot be returned. Spell out the cure time on the quote (overnight for most coatings, 24 to 48 hours for premium) and whether the customer can drive the car during cure. Note the maintenance wash schedule and any warranty conditions (usually 2 or 5 years on ceramic, conditional on the customer's wash products) so customers know exactly what they are buying.
Send the quote within minutes of the enquiry because detailing leads come via Instagram DM, WhatsApp, and Facebook, and the detailer who replies with a branded PDF link in 60 seconds usually wins. Typed chat-message quotes feel like guesses and lose premium jobs to cleaner paperwork. Build templates per vehicle size and tier so you can send a full package quote while the customer is still scrolling their feed. Follow up after two days with a before-and-after photo of a similar car. On variation orders (the ceramic top-up a customer asks for at handover), send a quick variation quote on WhatsApp and wait for the accept before starting. Repeat detailing is where your margin lives, so send a polite message 3 months after the detail reminding them of the next scheduled service.
FAQ
Common questions from car detailers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Build templates for each tier (basic, premium, full) and each vehicle size. Pick the right combination and send a quote in 60 seconds.
Yes. Build the quote on your phone and share the link via WhatsApp or Instagram. The customer gets a branded PDF instantly.
Yes. Add it as its own optional line item with the durability (2 year, 5 year) on the description. Customers see the upsell clearly and can choose to add it.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. The customer opens it on their phone and clicks accept. No app needed.
Yes. Convert the accepted quote to an invoice with one click from your phone. The customer can pay online from the same link before they collect.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Most detailers use a four-tier size grid: small car, mid-size sedan, SUV, and double cab or 4x4. Each size carries a 25 to 50 percent uplift on the previous tier for the same service, because larger vehicles take longer to wash, polish, and detail. Build the size grid into your templates so you can quote the right price in seconds without recalculating.
Both. Offer it as a standalone service for customers who specifically want swirl removal, and as an upsell line on your premium and full detail packages. Always specify single-stage or two-stage on the quote, with a brief description of what each removes, so customers understand the difference and the price gap.
Quote ceramic as a separate package that includes the prep (single-stage paint correction at minimum), the coating product (with brand and durability), and the cure time. State on the quote whether the cure is overnight or 24 to 48 hours, and whether the customer needs to leave the car. Include the maintenance wash schedule and any warranty conditions so customers know what they're buying.
If you are VAT registered, yes. Show VAT as its own line on every quote and invoice. Customers and businesses both expect to see it broken out. If you are under the VAT threshold, state clearly on the quote that prices are VAT exempt.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Pricing benchmark
What do car detailing services charge in 2026?
Hourly rates by region, common job prices, a worked sample quote, and the FAQs customers actually ask. The complete pricing reference for car detailing services.
Typical hourly
$45-$100/hr
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Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Keeping track of who has paid and who has not used to be a mess. Now I can see everything at a glance and follow up properly."
Jason Petersen
Handyman · Port Elizabeth
"Quoting per head with add-ons for staffing and equipment is straightforward. Clients can see exactly what they are paying for and they stop haggling on the total."
Amira Hassan
Caterer · Dubai
"Quoting used to take me forever. Now I can put something together quickly and send it before I leave the site. Clients respond much faster."
Ryan Cheslin
Painter · Dubai
Guides
Guides for Car Detailing Services
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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