Why an SUV Costs More Than a Sedan to Detail: Reading the Price Sheet

Jonesy Auto Detailing publishes its prices on a single page, sorted by vehicle class. There are no Bronze, Gold or Showroom packages to decode, and no price that appears only after you call. There are three services (exterior, interior and complete) and six vehicle classes. That is the entire menu, and it is meant to be simple.

Still, people ask the same question about it: why does my SUV cost more than my neighbor's sedan, and why does the minivan cost so much more inside than outside? Here are the numbers, and the general reasoning behind them.

The exterior prices

These are the published prices for an exterior detail only, which includes the wash, paint decontamination, clay bar and chemical treatment, wheels and tires, bug detail and the ceramic wax sealant:

• Sports/Compact Car: $175
• Sedan: $190
• SUV/Jeep: $200
• Truck: $210
• Minivan: $230
• XL Van: $250

The interior prices

These are the published prices for an interior detail only, which includes the vacuum, shampoo, steam cleaning, stain treatment, pet hair and sand removal, leather care and protection:

• Sports/Compact Car: $180
• Sedan: $200
• SUV/Jeep: $220
• Truck: $240
• Minivan: $275
• XL Van: $300

A complete detail bundles the exterior and interior services together, and the lowest published price for it is $210. Jonesy calls these average prices, and the easiest way to be sure of yours is to call and describe the car.

Why size changes the price

In general, detailing is paid in labor and materials, and both scale with the vehicle. A bigger vehicle has more paint to wash, decontaminate with clay and cover with sealant. More surface means more time on every step, and more product used. An XL van simply has far more side panel than a compact coupe.

Look at the exterior sheet: the spread from a sports or compact car at $175 to an XL van at $250 is $75. The jump from a sedan at $190 to an SUV or Jeep at $200 is only $10, which tells you the work is close. The jump from a sedan to a minivan, $190 to $230, is bigger, because a minivan is a much taller, longer vehicle.

Why the interior climbs faster

Now compare the interior. A sedan is $200 and a minivan is $275, a gap of $75, while the same two vehicles differ by $40 on the exterior. The interior prices rise faster as vehicles get bigger, and the reason is easy to picture. A minivan has more rows of seats, more carpet, more door panels, more glass and more places for a crumb or a sand grain to hide. Each of those is something to vacuum, shampoo, wipe and protect by hand.

The family vehicles also tend to be the ones with the toughest interiors: car seats, snacks, sports gear, pets. That's not a rule, but it helps explain where a minivan interior lands on the sheet. The XL van tops out at $300 for the same reason, with the most cabin to cover.

Choosing between exterior, interior and complete

Start with what bothers you when you look at the car. If the paint feels rough, looks dull or has water spots and bugs, you want the exterior detail, described on the Exterior Car Detailing page. If the car looks fine outside but the carpets, seats or smell are the problem, you want the interior detail. If both need attention, the complete detail bundles them and starts at $210.

Please don't try to work out the complete price from the other two. The published complete detail price is from $210, so the honest answer for your vehicle is to call and ask what a complete detail costs for your vehicle. Brandon Jones says answering pricing questions is what he does.

What the price does not include

Two things are worth knowing. First, these are average prices. If your car has heavy pet hair, deep stains or a long neglected finish, say so when you call, before the appointment. Second, there are no tiers hiding extra features behind higher prices. Whichever service you pick, the full list of what it covers is on the service page.

Getting your number

Find your vehicle class on the Pricing page, pick the service, and compare it with the complete detail if you want both. Then call (941) 713-2088 and tell Brandon what you drive and what's bothering you. He will confirm the number, tell you what is realistic for your car, and offer a day when he can come to your driveway in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch or Sarasota.