A hand wash and wax is the entry package. On the coast it does two jobs: it lifts the dust film that settles within days, and it lays down a barrier against sun and hard water.
This page covers what the wash-and-wax package includes at the published San Diego band of $90 to $175, how often a coastal vehicle needs one, and why an automatic wash is not the same service.
| Job | Published 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Interior detail, sedan | $200 |
| Interior detail, crossover | $260 |
| Interior detail, SUV or truck | $290 |
| Full detail, sedan | $300 |
| Full detail, SUV or truck | $420 |
A hand wash of the body, wheels and tyres, glass cleaned inside and out, door jamb wipe-down, and a wax or spray sealant applied and buffed. It is a cleaning and protection service, not a correction service: swirls and scratches stay where they are.
The work happens where the car is parked. That is the point of the package in San Diego, where a shop visit costs more time than the wash does money.
Published local pricing:
Ask what protection product is used and how long it lasts. A spray wax measured in weeks and a paste wax measured in months sit at different prices inside the same band.
Salt film and beach sand settle on paint within days of a wash, and the coast stays damp with marine-layer dew. Most local detailers suggest a wash every two to four weeks for a car parked outside, and protection reapplied with the seasons.
Hard water is the second reason. Sprinklers and pool splash leave mineral spots that etch into clear coat if they bake on, so glass and panels need attention before the marks set.
Salt air is strongest within a mile of the water: paint film, brake dust and marine-layer moisture all show on dark cars.
La Jolla is inside the City of San Diego, so City of San Diego Public Utilities supplies it with imported water that leaves mineral marks when it dries.
Utility accounts: City of San Diego Public Utilities
The published band is $90 to $175 for an exterior wash and wax detail, with price moving by vehicle size and the protection product used.
A hand wash lets the detailer work around trim, glass and wheels without brushes, and it is done where the car is parked. A drive-through is faster but touches the paint with the same brushes on every vehicle.
Every two to four weeks for a car parked outside, because salt film and beach sand build quickly and the county sees little rain to clear them.