A standard wash handles dirt and grime on the surface. Detailing goes a lot deeper — and sometimes that's exactly what your car needs.
1. Water stops beading on the paint
If water used to bead up and roll off, but now it sheets flat across the hood, your wax or sealant is gone. That's a sign the paint is exposed and due for a protective detail.
2. The interior smells like... the interior
Spilled coffee, gym bags, fast food wrappers — interiors absorb odors over time that a vacuum alone won't fix. A full interior detail includes steam cleaning and odor treatment.
3. Swirl marks show up in sunlight
Those faint spiderweb scratches you only notice in direct sun are usually from automatic car washes or dirty wash mitts. Paint correction (part of most detailing packages) can polish them out.
4. Headlights look cloudy
Oxidized headlights aren't just cosmetic — they reduce how much light actually reaches the road at night. Headlight restoration is a common detailing add-on worth booking.
5. It's been over 3 months since your last full detail
Even with regular washes, dirt builds up in places a quick rinse can't reach — door jambs, wheel wells, under trim. A quarterly detail keeps everything in check.
Browse detailing packages from vendors near you in the Cahrz app and book the level of clean your car actually needs.