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Written by Jay Bridges, Vehicle Protection Specialist at On Track Detailing, with over 15 years of hands-on experience.
Originally published April 2026. Updated September 2026.
All starting prices below include VAT. Your final quote depends on the vehicle’s size, condition and any additional work or protection selected.
Our One Day Detail is an accessible starting point if you want cleaner paintwork, improved gloss and easier maintenance.
It includes a thorough exterior clean, decontamination, light gloss-enhancing machine polish, a two-year ceramic coating and a quick interior valet. Drop your car off in the morning and collect it later that day.
This is a gloss-enhancing service. If removing visible swirl marks and scratches is your priority, one of our paint correction packages will be more suitable.
Our New Car Protection Detail prepares and protects a newly delivered vehicle.
The paintwork is cleaned, decontaminated and inspected before machine polishing and ceramic coating. Even a new car can arrive with contamination or light marks from transport, storage and dealership preparation.
This package is priced around the preparation a new vehicle requires. Larger vehicles or paintwork needing additional correction may cost more. We inspect the finish and explain any recommended work before proceeding.
For a used car with swirl marks, light defects or reduced gloss, our single-stage package provides more correction than the One Day Detail.
Following cleaning and decontamination, the paintwork receives a single-stage machine polish before a three-year ceramic coating is applied. Most vehicles require two to three days.
The improvement achievable depends on the paint type, its condition and the depth of the defects. We inspect your car first and explain what you can realistically expect.
A two-stage correction suits paintwork that needs a separate cutting and refining process.
The first stage tackles more noticeable defects. The second refines the finish before ceramic protection is applied. It is a suitable option when a single-stage polish would leave more defects than you want.
The additional polishing time is an important part of the price difference between these packages.
Multi-stage correction allows more time to address extensive defects and refine the finish before ceramic coating.
This option suits owners seeking a more thorough improvement in the paintwork. The work is tailored to the vehicle, with the condition and thickness of the paint considered throughout.
The final price depends on the preparation and correction agreed following inspection. Specialist work, such as wet sanding, is assessed separately.
You can compare the options on our paint correction service page.
Much of the cost comes from preparing the paintwork.
A small, well-maintained car may need relatively little polishing. A larger vehicle with heavy swirl marks, water-spot etching or previous poor polishing can require considerably more time before it is ready for protection.
Your choice of coating also affects the price. Different products have different application procedures, curing requirements and durability ratings. Additional protection for wheels, glass or interior surfaces can increase the total.
When comparing quotes, check which preparation stages, coating and surfaces are included, whether VAT is included and what aftercare is offered. Two packages described as “ceramic coating” can involve very different amounts of work.
It can be, because new paintwork often needs less correction. However, a new registration does not guarantee defect-free paint.
Dealership washing, transport and storage can leave light swirl marks or contamination. These should be assessed before a coating is applied.
Our New Car Protection package starts from £650 including VAT. We inspect the paint before recommending additional work, so you understand what your car needs and what you are paying for.
If your priority is improved gloss and easier washing, the £499 One Day Detail with its two-year ceramic coating may be enough.
If you want visible swirl marks and defects reduced before protection is applied, consider a paint correction package. For a newly delivered vehicle, start with New Car Protection.
You do not need to choose the polishing process yourself. Send us a few photographs or arrange a free inspection, and we will explain the suitable options.
Explore our ceramic coating services, or contact us for a personalised quote.
The One Day Detail includes a two-year ceramic coating. For owners seeking longer-term protection, we also offer three, five and seven-year coating options, depending on the package and product selected.
We recommend a coating based on how you use the vehicle, where it is parked, how long you plan to keep it and how it will be maintained.
Included with our One Day Detail, this provides an accessible option for owners who want improved gloss, easier washing and protection against everyday contamination.
It suits customers looking for a one-day service without the more extensive polishing involved in our correction packages. Regular safe washing and appropriate maintenance remain important.
A three-year coating offers longer-term protection for prepared paintwork, with easier washing, improved surface slickness and resistance to everyday contamination.
It is included with our single-stage paint correction package. This combination suits owners who want visible paint defects reduced before protection is applied.
Our five-year coating is a popular choice for daily-driven vehicles. It offers a balance between price, durability and ease of maintenance.
The coating creates a slick, water-repellent surface that helps reduce how firmly dirt bonds to the paint. For owners keeping their car for several years, it provides another option for longer-term protection.
Our seven-year option suits owners planning to keep their car for the longer term.
The system we offer combines a base coat with a separate top coat. Applying both takes additional time, which is reflected in the price. We explain the product’s application and care requirements when discussing your options.
A longer durability rating does not automatically mean a glossier finish. The condition of the paint and the preparation carried out before coating have a major influence on its appearance.
Ceramic coating cannot remove swirl marks, scratches or water-spot etching. Those defects need to be addressed during preparation if you want a clearer, more even finish.
We begin with a careful wash, followed by chemical and physical decontamination where required to remove bonded contamination. The paint is then inspected and receives the level of machine polishing agreed for your package.
Before applying the coating, we use a suitable panel wipe to remove polishing oils and residues. This leaves the surface ready for the coating to bond.
New cars need inspection too. Transport, storage and dealership preparation can leave contamination or light defects that should be addressed before protection is applied.
Mobile detailing can be convenient, but outdoor application introduces variables that need careful management. Airborne dust, changing temperatures, humidity and available lighting can all affect preparation and application.
Our work takes place indoors, where we can inspect the paint under specialist lighting and manage the application and curing conditions. The car stays protected from the weather while the coating receives the curing time required by the product.
We have three individual work bays, each equipped with a ramp and specialist lighting. This allows us to work around the vehicle, inspect the finish carefully and prepare each surface properly.
Our One Day Detail is completed in one day. More extensive preparation and correction packages take longer, with the turnaround confirmed when we assess your vehicle and agree the work.
The expected lifespan depends on the coating fitted and how the car is used and maintained.
Our One Day Detail includes a two-year ceramic coating. Other packages offer longer-rated coatings, with the specific product and maintenance requirements explained when you book.
A car that covers high mileage and stays outside faces different conditions from one that is garaged and driven occasionally. Road grime, environmental contamination and the products used during washing all influence how the coating performs.
Regular safe washing helps prevent contamination from building up. Suitable maintenance can also help preserve water behaviour and ease of cleaning. Neglect or unsuitable cleaning methods can reduce performance, even with a longer-rated coating.
We explain the expected lifespan and care requirements of the specific product fitted to your car, rather than applying the same estimate to every coating.
We work with established coating brands including Labocosmetica, Apex Coatings, Gyeon and Gtechniq. This gives us a choice of products for different surfaces, finishes and protection requirements.
We select the coating around the vehicle and the package you choose. The brand is one part of the process. Careful preparation, correct application, suitable curing conditions and ongoing maintenance all contribute to the outcome.
If you want easier washing and protection for well-prepared paintwork, ceramic coating can be a worthwhile investment. We use it on our own vehicles for those reasons.
A coating helps reduce how firmly dirt bonds to the surface, making routine cleaning easier. It can also enhance the appearance of prepared paint and provide resistance to everyday environmental contamination.
Your car will still need washing, and the coating will not make it scratch-proof. Its value comes from helping you maintain the finish over time.
The right package should reflect your car’s condition and your expectations. If you mainly want improved gloss and easier maintenance, extensive correction may not be necessary. If visible defects bother you, the preparation deserves as much attention as the coating itself.
Ceramic coating and Paint Protection Film serve different purposes. Ceramic coating improves surface slickness, adds chemical resistance and makes the car easier to wash. It does not provide a physical barrier against stone chips.
PPF is a protective film applied over the paint to help absorb damage from stone chips, road debris and light scratches. Self-healing films can also recover from fine surface marks when exposed to suitable warmth, although deeper damage will not disappear. The film still needs careful washing and maintenance.
You can combine the two. One option is PPF on exposed areas such as the front bumper, bonnet and wings, with ceramic coating on the remaining paintwork. A compatible coating can also be applied over the film to make maintenance easier.
Read our guide to Paint Protection Film and how it works, or explore our PPF installation service.
Our studio is in Finchampstead, near Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell. Preparation, polishing and coating application are carried out indoors.
We also welcome customers from Basingstoke, Andover, Slough, Guildford and elsewhere across the South East. Some travel from further afield for our preparation work, personal service and aftercare.
If you are travelling to us, contact us before booking so we can discuss the work, expected turnaround and arrangements for dropping off and collecting your car.
Yes. All starting prices shown in this guide include VAT. We confirm the total price and the work included before you book.
It includes a thorough exterior clean, decontamination, light gloss-enhancing machine polish, a two-year ceramic coating and a quick interior valet.
It is designed to improve gloss and ease of maintenance. More extensive swirl mark and defect removal requires a paint correction package.
The preparation depends on the package. Our One Day Detail includes light gloss enhancement, while our paint correction packages include more intensive polishing before ceramic coating.
We explain the level of correction included in your quote and the improvement you can realistically expect.
Vehicle size, paint condition, preparation time and the coating selected all affect the price. Additional protection for wheels, glass or interior surfaces can also increase the total.
Ceramic coating does not make paint scratch-proof or prevent stone chips. Careful washing is still essential to minimise wash marks.
If physical protection is your priority, we can discuss suitable PPF coverage.
Yes. The coating reduces how firmly dirt bonds to the surface, but regular washing is still required to maintain the finish.
We explain how to care for your coating when you collect the car.
Yes. A newly delivered vehicle is a good opportunity to prepare and protect the paint before regular use begins.
New cars still need inspection because transport, storage and dealership preparation can leave contamination or light defects.
Yes. The preparation required depends on its condition.
Over time, paintwork can collect bonded contamination, swirl marks and scratches from everyday use and washing. We assess these first and recommend the level of correction needed to achieve the finish you want before applying protection.
A well-maintained used car may need relatively little correction. Others benefit from a more extensive polishing process.
Tell us your car’s make, model, age and condition, along with what you would like to improve. We will explain the suitable packages and confirm the price, including VAT.
You can also arrange a free inspection at our Finchampstead studio, near Reading and Wokingham.
