Frequently Asked Questions

There is not an industry standard as to what auto detailing really is. To Classic Elegance Fine Automotive Detailing, auto detailing is a systematic, thorough cleaning of a normally soiled vehicle, using dedicated professional grade products and tools.

Car detailing has been around, almost as a long as cars themselves. Many people have different thoughts as to what a detail is or isn’t. To some it is just a generic label for car cleaning itself, not more than washing and vacuuming. To others car detailing is the process of thoroughly and meticulously washing, cleaning, polishing, waxing and shampooing a vehicles interior and exterior surfaces, leaving them as close to like new as possible.

Auto Detailing is about the cosmetic maintenance of your vehicle and should be thought of as a maintenance program for your vehicles many different surface finishes, a way to keep them in a like new condition. Just like you maintain the mechanical portions of your car to keep it from failing on you; you should detail your vehicle to keep the cars finishes from failing on you. A well maintained vehicle has a higher value placed on it, a car in that is rated in an excellent condition vs. Fair or Poor, will have considerably more value at the time of resale.

There is no definitive answer to this question, except for when it needs it. There are so many variables involved, what is the environment? Your detailing schedule would be different if you lived in New York, Miami, or Southern California. How is the vehicle stored when not in use? Is it garaged, or does it live outside under the palm tree? How much time to you spend inside the vehicle? Do you drive 10 minutes to work or are you on the road constantly throughout the day out visiting clients and vendors? These are all variables to consider when choosing your automotive detailing schedule.

On the day prior to your appointment you will receive a call confirming our appointment.

On the day of the appointment Classic Elegance Fine Automotive Detailing will arrive on time to our appointment, we value your time and ours so we ask that you be on time as well.

If we did not have a pre-appointment in person consultation, we will go over your entire vehicle with you, to ensure that the package and services that you selected, will meet your needs and expectations.

We will fill out a vehicle inspection form, listing vehicle condition and any visible prior damage, package and services that you have selected and the price. We will then have you sign the form, giving your authorization to start the process.

When your detail is finished, we will present your detailed vehicle to you, go over your vehicle with you and advising you of any concerns or recommendations that we may have. You will be asked to sign off on the inspection form, indicating that the services were completed.

We collect payment for services rendered.

We do not offer any package using the terms full or complete detail. The reason for this is because these terms are vague and mean many different things to many different people. Our packages list out what will be done in that particular package. Classic Elegance Fine Automotive Detailing also has a comprehensive list of additional services that we can provide. If you do not see a package that you feel will suit your needs, please give us a call or send us an email, and we will be more than happy to create a custom package especially for you.

You will want to remove all personal items from your vehicle, empty all cubby holes, door pouches, seat pouches, glove compartment, center consoles, this includes trash as well. Glove boxes and storage compartments are considered personal space and WILL NOT be cleaned if personal items are left in them.

If you want to maximize you value and dollar spent with Classic Elegance, you should have your vehicle washed no more than 48 hours prior to our appointment. Yes, you read that right, in this way, you pay us for what we do best and that is professional detailing not the grunt work of washing your vehicle. Surface dirt will have to be removed from your vehicle prior to any detailing work performed and having your vehicle washed is not a requirement, but a mere suggestion on how you can get the most value for your money. We do not see the value in paying car detailing rates for the wash. This does not need to be anything fancy, take your vehicle to your local touch-less wash and pay them $10-$15 for their basic wash and vacuum.

No we do not offer weekly, biweekly or monthly car washing plans. We are detailers, not car washers. If you are looking for mobile washing services, we are not the choice for you.

This depends on several variables. Stains can be protein based, tannin based, petroleum based, dye based and bleached or any combination of these. The length of time that the stain has been there is a variable, whether or not someone has attempted to remove the stain before is another variable. Stains that are dyes or bleaches will not be able to be removed. With these types of stains, the fibers of the material have had their colors physically changed. With the other types of stains we have had great success in removing them or reducing their appearance to an acceptable level. If stains cannot be removed, there is the option of having an interior specialist re-dye the fabric.

We take all of the major credit card and debit cards. We accept cash. We do not take checks from first time customers, the few have ruined it for the many.

For the most part I only make house calls. Over the last several years it has become very difficult to comply with all the varied city ordinances, within the same cities. It always seems like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing which makes difficult to work within the rules and laws of any particular city. The rules and laws tend to be different within the residential neighborhoods making them easier to comply with. There can be exceptions to rules, so if your particular business location is a good fit, I can schedule an appointment at your office. Each office location is different so these will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Many of the property management companies will not allow auto detailing for one reason or another.

We also have shop space available for higher end and multi day jobs.

Just like people, no two cars are the same. You can have the exact same make, model and color car owned by two different people and each car will be different in its level of cleanliness. One may have received regular detailing from the day it drove off the dealers lot and the other may just be getting its first detail ever. The car that has never had a detail is going to take longer to clean properly and therefore, it will cost more. Also most people, some knowingly and others just because they do not know any better, mis-represent the condition of their cars. When a person states, “It’s not that bad” or “it just needs a good wax” these terms set off red flags that the car is not being represented accurately. It is for these reasons that we have “starting at…” prices.

All three are designed to do the same thing, which is to provide a sacrificial barrier between you cars painted surfaces and the elements.

Carnauba wax is a natural substance. Carnauba comes from a particular type of Brazilian palm tree. This wax is then blended with oils and other waxes to become what we know as carnauba car wax. Wax is susceptible to heat and soaps, which will shorten the life of your wax. Here in San Diego, we would be lucky if a true carnauba wax lasted four weeks in the summer time, even less on a black vehicle. One benefit to Carnauba wax is richness or depth that it provides on properly prepped paint.

Sealants are manmade synthetics waxes and are blended in a lab to create very specific properties. Sealants polymerize and bond, making them a more durable choice of protection. Some sealants can last in our climate for up to six months as they are not as susceptible to heat and detergents. One drawback to paint sealants is they do not have the same richness or depth that a traditional carnauba wax does.

Nano-Ceramic Paint Coatings, are manmade in a lab, most with nano particles of Silcadioxide (sio2) these coatings permanently bond to the painted surfaces of your vehicle providing protection that is measured, not in days, not months, but years. On a properly prepared surface these nano-ceramic coatings provide a glass like shine to your vehicle. The coatings are not susceptible to heat, many are rated to handle temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of the coatings available are hydrophobic, water beads up into tight beads and can easily be blown off the vehicle, or they are hydrophilic, where the water sheets right off of the paint.