Exterior Detailing Packages Explained: Premium Wash vs. Clay & Seal vs. Gloss Enhancement
Intro
You know your car needs some love. But when you look at a detailing menu, it's hard to tell what actually separates a $125 wash from a $250 service. Is the pricier one worth it? Would the basic one be enough?
We hear these questions all the time here in Napa Valley, so we put together a straight answer. Below you'll find what's included in each of our three exterior detailing packages, how long the protection lasts, and exactly which one fits your car right now.
Quick note before we dive in: every package is fully mobile. We come to your home, office, or wherever your car is parked across Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Sonoma, Vallejo and surrounding areas. Some cities outside of Napa County may be subject to a travel fee.
The Quick Comparison
Premium Wash | Clay & Seal | Gloss Enhancement | |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting price | $125 | $175 | $250 |
Protection | Spray sealant, up to 3 months | Paint sealant, up to 6 months | Liquid paint sealant, up to 12 months |
Decontamination | No | Clay bar + iron remover | Clay bar + iron remover |
Polish | No | No | Light polish |
Best for | Regular upkeep | Rough, contaminated paint | Dull paint, events, selling |
Each package builds on the one before it. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Premium Wash: Starting at $125
The one for: keeping a car that's already in good shape looking that way.
This is a lot more than a drive-through wash. We pre-treat the exterior to loosen dirt before a mitt ever touches your paint, then give it a soft hand wash that won't leave swirl marks behind. Wheels and tires get a deep clean, and we finish with a spray sealant that protects your paint for up to 3 months.
What's included:
Exterior pre-treatment
Deep clean of wheels and tires
Soft exterior hand wash
Spray sealant application (up to 3 months of protection)
Tire dressing
Streak-free exterior glass cleaning
Choose Premium Wash if: your car gets detailed regularly and you just want to keep it clean and protected between deeper services. It's also a great fit for our maintenance plan customers.
Clay & Seal: Starting at $175
The one for: paint that feels rough even right after a wash.
Here's a quick test. Wash your car, then slide your hand across the hood inside a plastic sandwich bag. Feel grit? That's bonded contamination: brake dust, road grime, tree sap, and industrial fallout stuck to your clear coat. A regular wash can't remove it.
Clay & Seal does. We use a clay bar to physically lift those contaminants, plus an iron remover to dissolve metal particles chemically. The result is paint that's smooth as glass. Then we lock it in with a paint sealant that lasts up to 6 months, twice as long as the Premium Wash.
What's included:
Everything in the Premium Wash, plus a deep clean of the wheel wells
Manual decontamination (clay bar)
Chemical decontamination (iron remover)
Paint sealant application (up to 6 months of protection)
Tire and trim dressing
Choose Clay & Seal if: it's been a few months since your last detail, you park under trees or near vineyards, or your paint fails the sandwich bag test. It's our most popular exterior package for good reason.
Gloss Enhancement: Starting at $250
The one for: bringing back that showroom shine.
Over time, Napa sun and everyday washing leave paint looking flat. Light oxidation, haze, and minor surface defects dull the finish even when the car is clean. Gloss Enhancement fixes that.
You get the full Clay & Seal treatment, then we machine-polish the paint to remove minor defects and restore depth and clarity. We finish with a liquid paint sealant rated for up to 12 months, our longest-lasting exterior protection.
What's included:
The complete Clay & Seal package
Light machine polish to remove minor defects and oxidation
Enhanced gloss and depth
Liquid paint sealant application (up to 12 months of protection)
Choose Gloss Enhancement if: your paint looks dull, you have a wedding, car show, or special event coming up, or you're getting ready to sell or trade in. A glossy car photographs better and can bring more at resale.
Still Not Sure? Match Your Car to a Package
If your car... | We'd recommend |
|---|---|
Was detailed recently and just needs a refresh | Premium Wash |
Is on a regular maintenance schedule | Premium Wash |
Feels rough to the touch after washing | Clay & Seal |
Hasn't been detailed in a few months | Clay & Seal |
Parks under trees or drives vineyard roads | Clay & Seal |
Looks dull or hazy even when clean | Gloss Enhancement |
Is headed to an event or going up for sale | Gloss Enhancement |
Still on the fence? Just ask. Diego will take a look at your paint and tell you honestly what it needs. No upselling, just a straight answer.
Ready to Book?
Whichever package you choose, we bring everything to you: water, power, and professional-grade products. You don't have to drive anywhere or wait around at a shop. Your car gets detailed while you get on with your day.
With 2,500+ vehicles detailed, 100+ five-star reviews, and back-to-back Best of Napa County wins in 2024 and 2025, we've earned the trust of drivers across the valley. We'd love to earn yours.
[Book your exterior detail today]
Driven Auto Detailing: Premium mobile detailing, delivered to your driveway.
Driven Detailing is a licensed and insured mobile auto detailing company owned by Diego Barboza and serving Napa Valley and surrounding areas, including Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Sonoma, and Vallejo. Services include exterior and interior detailing, ceramic coating, paint correction, and maintenance plans. A two-time Best of Napa County winner, Driven Detailing has detailed more than 2,500 vehicles and earned 100+ five-star reviews.
