Mobile car detailing vs. traditional detailing shops — which do you prefer and why?
I’ve been going back and forth on this for a while and I’m curious how others feel. Do you prefer mobile car detailing or going to a traditional detailing shop? I used shops for years, but lately I’m wondering if the convenience of mobile services really holds up in terms of quality. My interior takes a beating from winter boots, coffee spills, and dog hair, so I care more about results than speed. Would love to hear real experiences, good or bad.
I used to be firmly in the “shop only” camp because I thought mobile detailing was kind of a shortcut. Then last year I tried a mobile interior detailing service after a rough Calgary winter, mostly because I didn’t have time to drop the car off and arrange rides. Honestly, I was surprised. The tech came to my place, worked right in my driveway, and spent more time on the interior than most shops ever did. Carpets were properly cleaned, leather didn’t feel greasy, and they actually dealt with salt residue instead of masking it.
One thing I liked was being able to see what they were doing and ask questions. It felt more personal, not rushed. This page explains the interior process pretty clearly if you’re curious: detaily — it matched closely with what I experienced.
That said, I think shops still make sense for heavy exterior work or paint correction. For interior-only jobs though, especially if you work from home or have kids/pets, mobile just fits better into real life.