Exterior Car Detailing in San Jose, CA
Professional-grade restoration delivered to your driveway. We remove years of damage—oxidation, contaminants, swirl marks—and restore your paint to showroom brilliance. No shop visit needed.
Your Paint Deserves Better Than a Drive-Through Wash
Your car's exterior tells people who you are. Yet every day, your paint faces relentless attacks—UV rays fade the finish, environmental contaminants bond to the surface, and water spots reveal years of neglect. By the time you notice the damage, it's too late for a basic wash.
Showtime Auto Detailing doesn't just clean your car. We restore it. Using professional-grade clay bar treatments, iron decontamination, and premium protective coatings, we remove what a car wash can't touch and protect what matters. Emmanuel and his team have spent 6+ years perfecting this process for San Jose drivers who refuse to settle. We come to you—at home, at work, wherever—with everything we need. One detail changes everything.
Exterior Detailing Pricing
Scratch-free hand washes, paint decontamination, and lasting protection — delivered to your driveway anywhere in San Jose, CA.
Standard Wash
Essential Clean
- Scratch-Free Detailed Hand Wash & Foam Bath
- Bug & Tar Removal
- Deep Cleaning of Wheels & Tires
- Wheel Wells Cleaned
- Dressing Applied to Tires
$49 – $69
*Pricing depends on vehicle size
Clay & Wax
Decontaminate & Protect
- All Services From Standard Wash
- Clay Bar Treatment
- Paint Decontamination
- 6–8 Month Ceramic Sealant
$110 – $150
*Pricing depends on vehicle size
Buff & Wax
Polish & Shine
- All Services From Clay & Wax
- Paint Enhancement Polish (Light Swirl & Oxidation Removal)
- 6 Month Carnauba Wax
$249 – $399
*Pricing depends on vehicle size
Not sure which package fits your car? Get a free quote.
Call (408) 753-7923How We Detail Your Vehicle's Exterior — Step by Step
SAFE PRE-RINSE
We start with a gentle rinse and premium foam bath that lifts surface dirt without scratching. Nothing touches your paint until contaminants are safely loosened and floating away.
DEEP DECONTAMINATION
Industrial iron spray and our clay bar process remove bonded brake dust, fallout, and embedded grime that invisible to the eye but destroy your clear coat. Your paint becomes perfectly smooth.
COMPLETE EXTERIOR CARE
Every detail matters. Wheel wells degreased, tires dressed to shine, rims polished, door jambs cleaned, trim restored. We treat the whole vehicle, not just the painted surfaces.
PROTECTION & SHINE
A precision air-dry followed by your choice of protection—Brazilian Carnauba Wax for 6 months of beading, ceramic sealant for 6-8 months of durability, or professional ceramic coating for years of defense.
Want your car to shine like new again?
San Jose Auto Detailing Reviews
Exterior Car Detailing FAQs
What does exterior detailing cost?
You get what you pay for. A basic hand wash runs $49-$69. Our Clay & Wax package—which removes bonded contaminants your car wash missed—is $110-$150. For complete paint restoration with polish and 6-month protection, Buff & Wax is $249-$399. Larger vehicles cost more. Call (408) 753-7923 for a quote on your specific vehicle.
How long does an exterior detail take?
Most exterior details take 1-4 hours depending on your vehicle’s size and condition. A Standard Wash takes 1-2 hours. Clay & Wax and Buff & Wax Polish take 2-3 hours. Same-day mobile appointments are available.
What's the difference between Standard Wash, Clay & Wax, and Buff & Wax?
The Basic Wash is a quality hand wash, dry, glass, and wheel cleaning — ideal for maintained vehicles. The Premium Wash adds a foam bath, iron decontamination, clay bar treatment, chrome polishing, plastic dressing, degreased tires/rims/fender wells and door jambs, and a spray wax finish.
Will an exterior detail remove scratches from my paint?
An exterior detail removes contamination and adds deep gloss, but it doesn’t remove scratches or swirl marks embedded in the clear coat — that’s paint correction. Ask us about adding paint correction, and we’ll assess your paint and recommend the right option.
How often does my car need professional detailing?
We recommend a full exterior detail every 3–4 months, with basic washes in between. Regular detailing protects your clear coat and preserves resale value.