More Than Just a Car Wash
Professional Exterior Detailing Services Near Bristol, CT
Your vehicle puts up with a lot. Give it the care and attention it deserves with a professional exterior detail from Carrier Auto Care. Whether you’re preparing for a special event, getting ready to sell, or just want to feel that new car excitement again, we’re here to help. We want you to experience all the benefits that come with a professionally detailed vehicle.
Ditch the Drive-Thru. Your Car Deserves Better.
Why Choose Professional Exterior Detailing?
Let’s be honest, running your car through the automatic wash is convenient, but it’s not a service that is doing your paint job any favors. Those spinning brushes can leave behind swirl marks, and the harsh chemicals often miss the most stubborn grime. An exterior detail is different. It’s a comprehensive process designed to utilize the right tools and products to clean every inch of your vehicle’s exterior.
At Carrier Auto Care, our exterior detailing service goes far beyond the average at-home detail. We remove the dirt you can see and the contaminants you can’t, leaving your vehicle with a clean, smooth, and brilliant finish. This isn't just about making your car look good for a weekend; it’s about preserving its condition and protecting your investment.
PRICING
Exterior Detailing Packages
SILVER
Silver Package
Starting At $80
Turnaround: 1 - 1.5 hours
This Package Includes:
- Two bucket hand wash
- Foam cannon wash
- Hand wash wheels and tires
- Spray wax
CALL 860-877-6629
GET A QUOTEGOLD
Gold Package
Starting At $150
Turnaround:1-2 hours
This Package Includes:
- Two bucket hand wash
- Foam cannon wash
- Hand wash wheels and tires
- Decontaminate paint to remove minor bugs/tar/grime
- Decontaminate remaining impurities with clay-bar
- Apply no-sling tire dressing
- Apply paint sealant
- Apply protectant to exterior trim
- Ceramic sealant spray
- Clean windows inside/outside
- Door jambs
CALL 860-877-6629
GET A QUOTEPRICING
Add-On Services
HEADLIGHT
Headlight Restoration
Starting At $150
Our professional headlight restoration service restores clarity and brightness, improving both the look of your vehicle and your safety on the road. We achieve this through 1500/2000/3000 grit sanding, followed by a 2-step paint correction to eliminate oxidation and hazing. We then apply a protective coat of MAX G+ 10 Year, which cures in just 2 hours, ensuring your headlights perform at their best and stay clear for years to come.
CALL 860-877-6629
GET A QUOTE
ENGINE
Engine Detailing
Starting At $35
Our engine detailing service goes beyond aesthetics. We use a waterless wash to safely remove dirt, grease, and buildup, which helps improve performance and prolong the life of your vehicle's engine. We carefully clean and apply a plastic dressing to all components, finishing with a spray sealant that cures in just 1 hour. The result is a spotless engine bay that complements the overall condition of your car, without compromising safety.
CALL 860-877-6629
GET A QUOTEIt's an Investment, Not an Expense
Benefits of Regular Exterior Detailing
Thinking of exterior detailing as just an occasional service is a mistake. Regular detailing offers significant benefits that help maintain your vehicle’s value and appearance over the long term. It’s one of the most effective forms of preventative maintenance you can perform for your car’s exterior surfaces.
Protects Your Paint
By removing harmful contaminants, detailing acts as the first step in preventing your paint from fading, oxidizing, and rusting.
Maintains Resale Value
A car with well-maintained paint will always be worth more than one with a dull, neglected finish. Regular detailing is one of the best ways to protect your investment.
Easier to Keep Clean
A properly detailed and protected car is much easier to wash. The slick surface created by sealant means dirt and grime have a harder time sticking, so your paint job looks and feels fresh.
The Nitty Gritty of Getting Grime Free
The Kind of Clean a Car Wash Can’t Match
An exterior detail is where the real work happens. A drive-through wash might knock the dust off, but it doesn’t touch the stubborn stuff like the road film on the paint, the grime in the trim, or the buildup around the rubber. That’s where we come in. We slow down, grab the right tools, and work every last spot the quick washes leave behind. When we’re done, your car doesn’t just shine, it looks like it’s been brought back to life.
Our extensive exterior detailing service typically includes:
- Wheels and Tires: A deep clean of your wheels, tires, and wheel wells to remove stubborn brake dust and road grime.
- Hand Wash: AA gentle hand wash with pH-neutral soap and microfiber mitts that safely clean without risking damage to your paint.
- Decontamination: Removal of embedded contaminants like tree sap, tar, and industrial fallout using a clay bar treatment. This step leaves your paint feeling incredibly smooth.
- Drying: Safe drying methods using plush microfiber towels to prevent water spots and scratches.
- Paint Protection: Application of a high quality sealant to protect the paint and enhance its gloss.
- Windows and Trim:
Cleaning all exterior glass and conditioning plastic trim to restore its color and protect it from fading.
CALL 860-877-6629
How We Make Your Car Shine
The Carrier Auto Care Process
We take our time and do things the right way. Every car gets the same care we’d give our own.
Before we get started, we look over your vehicle to see where dirt and buildup tend to hide. That helps us focus on the areas a regular wash usually misses. From there, we use wash methods that lift dirt without harming your paint, leaving the exterior clean, protected, and looking fresh.
1. Wheels First, No Exceptions:
The detailing service always starts with the dirtiest part of the car: the wheels. We use specialized cleaners to break down baked-on brake dust and road grime that regular soap can’t touch. Tires and wheel wells are scrubbed clean, ensuring every part of the wheel assembly is spotless.
2. The Pre-Rinse and Foam Bath:
Before we ever touch the paint, we give the car a thorough pre-rinse to knock off loose dirt. Then comes the foam bath. We cover the entire vehicle in a thick layer of pH-neutral foam, which clings to the surface and helps lift dirt, reducing the risk of scratching during the wash.
3. The Two Bucket Hand Wash:
This is a critical step. We use the two bucket method: one bucket with our soapy solution and one with clean water for rinsing the wash mitt. This simple technique prevents dirt from being dragged back onto the car, which is a leading cause of swirl marks. We wash from the top down, leaving the dirtiest parts for last.
4. Chemical and Mechanical Decontamination:
After the wash, we remove the contaminants that have bonded to your paint. We use iron removers to dissolve tiny metallic particles and a clay bar treatment to gently pull out things like tar and tree sap. During this process, surface imperfections such as light scratches that affect the clear coat are also removed, restoring a smooth finish. Your paint will feel as smooth as glass after this step.
5. Polishing:
Next, we perform polishing to refine the paint surface, address light scratches and swirl marks, and enhance gloss. This step restores and protects the clear coat, preparing it for further protection. Maintaining a steady hold on the polisher is important for even results.
6. Drying and Final Touches:
We gently dry the vehicle with ultra soft microfiber towels. We then clean the glass, inside and out. For those seeking to increase and advance your car's shine, ceramic coatings are available. These coatings create a perfect, high-gloss finish that lasts for several months.
