Is Mobile Detailing Worth It in Florida? Pros and Cons

Mobile detailing in Florida (or anywhere else, for that matter) is a service that many vehicle owners take advantage of. But, the million-dollar question is… 

… How does it compare to on-site car detailing? 

Can a service done at your home or place of work truly compare to an expert provider giving your precious ride the loving touch that you know it gets when you get it done in-shop?

The simple answer is… Maybe.

OK, OK, we know that doesn’t really help. But bear with us. Because it all depends on what you want the detailing to achieve. And to know that we need to put the two head-to-head.

Mobile vs. In-Shop Detailing

When you consider what mobile detailing offers, its greatest asset has to be convenience. Your provider rocks up to your chosen location, you hand them the keys, and a few hours later… Boom! Your beloved set of wheels sports a shine to rival the best cars on Florida’s roads.

For day-to-day detailing that doesn’t require extensive paint correction or the installation of any permanent paint protection products, then this is a great option. But… And this is a big but. Even the best mobile detailing service has some limitations, such as:

• The detailing team needs room to work: If your ride is parked nose-to-jowl in a parking lot or on street, they might not have the best access to get into all the nooks and crevices.
• The weather will play a role: Rain (OK, maybe precipitation isn’t such a Florida-centric issue), but wind and even bright sunlight can make detailing that bit harder. 
• Many service providers don’t have high-end, portable equipment: After all, there’s only so much machinery you can get in a van. For specialized detailing work, or a vehicle that needs extensive paint correction, it’s unlikely that a mobile provider will have the advanced kit that rivals what you’d find in a dedicated detailing workshop.

Moving on to the pros and cons of an in-shop service, the positive aspects include:

• Your vehicle will (most likely) be detailed inside, in a temperature-controlled environment: Such a semi-sterile location is essential for precision paintwork correction and, vitally, the ultimate installation of paint protection film and/or ceramic coating.
• Heavy-duty, commercial-grade, specialist equipment: Many of the ultimate detailing tools aren’t designed to be mobile—they’re meant to remain in-situ. This is especially relevant if your vehicle needs any intricate cleaning and/or correction, such as tough stains, mold, or other issues that need to be addressed.
• The weather and/or temperature are no issue: Whether the latest tropical storm is blowing in dust and debris or the sun is doing her best impression of a high-temperature oven, your vehicle can be detailed inside a dedicated workshop and without any worries from environmental issues.

Of course, no comparison is relevant without the negatives. In the case of in-shop car detailing, these are:

• You need to take the car to your provider: And, depending on the level of detailing being performed, potentially leave it there for more than a day (in cases of paintwork correction and ceramic coating installation).
• You may be without your car for a few hours or a couple of days: Although some high-end detailing services may offer a courtesy car.

When it comes to comparing the two, it’s not really down to one being better than the other. It’s more a case of choosing the service that best suits your needs. If you want to take advantage of the convenience of a mobile service and your vehicle doesn’t require anything too intensive, then this could be the answer.

However, for more intensive work, like more major paint correction and advanced paint protection products, then nothing comes close to taking your vehicle to an in-house service.

As one of (if not the!) best detailing services in South Florida, Auto SuperShield now offers a Boca Raton mobile car wash and detailing service in addition to all our on-site paint protection and precision cleaning services.

Find out more at https://www.autosupershield.com/services/auto-detailing and call us today to see how we can make your vehicle gleam…