Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3: Which Detail Is Right for Your Car?
By Jaisen Ostrom
Hey! One of the most common questions I get is some version of "Which package should I book?" It's a fair question. Three levels can look like good, better, best, and it's easy to assume you need the top one.
Honestly, that's not how I think about it. Each level does a different job. The right one depends on what your paint looks like now and how long you plan to keep the car. Here's how I'd break it down.
The quick version
Level 1 is a full clean, inside and out, with a layer of wax or sealant on the paint.
Level 2 is everything in Level 1, plus a 1-step polish to take out small scratches and a 1-year ceramic coating.
Level 3 Ceramic is the full paint correction (a 3-step cut, compound, and polish) and a ceramic coating with 3 to 5 years of protection.
All three are fully mobile. I come to your driveway or office around Kirkland, Bellevue, and the rest of the Eastside. Current prices for each are on my pricing page (tax not included).
Level 1 Full Detail: a great all-around clean
What's included
On the outside, I hand wash the car and debug the front end and mirrors, remove surface spots, do a clay bar treatment, and apply one layer of wax or sealant by hand to the whole exterior. Rims get degreased and cleaned, tires get dressed, and the windows get cleaned inside and out.
On the inside, it's a detailed vacuum, upholstery clean, vacuumed leather, and the dash, steering wheel, console, door panels, and door jambs all cleaned. Plan on about 4 hours.
Pricing on the site right now is $300 for a sedan or coupe, $340 for an SUV or truck, and $400 for an XL truck.
Who it's for
Level 1 is the right call when the car is basically in good shape and just needs to be brought back to clean. Think: it's been a while, the interior feels lived-in, and the paint has picked up the usual road film from I-405 and SR-520.
The honest trade-off
Wax looks great and makes the paint slick, but it only lasts a few months. It also won't remove scratches. A wax can hide some light marks for a while, but once it wears off, they show again. If you're happy with how your paint looks and just want it clean and protected for now, that's totally fine. Just plan on a maintenance detail every few months to keep something on the paint.
Level 2 Full Detail: clean plus a real step up for the paint
What's included
Everything in Level 1, plus:
A 1-step compound and polish on the exterior paint to remove small scratches and bring back depth and color
A 1-year ceramic coating applied to the exterior paint and plastics
Rain repellent on the exterior windows
Sap and tar removal
Pricing is $500 for a sedan or coupe, $600 for an SUV or truck, and $700 for an XL truck.
Who it's for
This is the one I end up recommending a lot around here. If your paint has light swirls or looks a little dull, the polish makes a visible difference. Then the 1-year coating locks that in and makes the car way easier to wash, which matters when it's raining for half the year.
Sap and tar removal is a nice bonus if you park under trees, and the rain repellent helps a lot on dark, wet commutes.
The honest trade-off
A 1-step polish is great for small scratches and dullness, but it's not a full correction. Deeper swirls and heavier marks need more than one step. And the coating is a 1-year coating, so it's protection for a season or so, not for years.
Level 3 Ceramic Detail: full correction and long-term protection
What's included
Everything in Level 2, plus a 3-step cut, compound, and polish for a true restoration of the paint. This is the step that brings back that mirror-like finish. Then I apply a ceramic coating with 3 to 5 years of protection. It also comes with a complimentary microfiber cloth and air freshener.
Plan on about 9 to 12 hours. Pricing is $1500 for a sedan or coupe, $2000 for an SUV or truck, and $2500 for an XL truck.
Who it's for
Level 3 makes the most sense if:
You're planning to keep the car for a while
The paint has swirls, haze, or scratches you're tired of looking at
You just got a new car and want to protect it from the start
You want washing to be quick and easy for years, not months
The coating goes on almost every surface: paint, plastics, glass, headlights. Water beads up, dirt doesn't stick as easily, and the gloss is honestly my favorite part. If you want the full rundown, I wrote a post on whether ceramic coating is worth it in the Pacific Northwest, and there's more on my ceramic coating page.
The honest trade-off
It's the biggest investment of the three, and it's the most time. If you're selling the car soon or you just want it clean for a weekend, Level 3 is probably more than you need. I'd rather you book the right detail than the biggest one.
How I'd choose, in plain terms
Here's the simple way I talk people through it:
Start with your paint
Walk around the car in daylight. If it looks good and you just want it clean, Level 1. If you see light swirls or it looks a bit flat, Level 2. If you see scratches and haze that bug you every time you walk up to it, Level 3.
Then think about how long you're keeping it
Short term, Level 1 or 2 is usually plenty. If you're keeping it for years, the Level 3 coating starts to make a lot of sense.
Do the water test
A good test is to spray some water on the paint and see if it makes tight beads. If it sheets out flat and just sits there, whatever protection you had is mostly gone. That's a good sign it's time for a fresh layer, whether that's wax, a 1-year coating, or a full ceramic.
Think about winter
If you're heading over the pass a lot this season, more protection is better. I covered that in my post on protecting your paint on winter pass trips.
Still not sure? Just ask
If you're stuck between two levels, that's completely normal. Send me a couple of photos or tell me a bit about the car and I'm happy to take a look and give you my honest take. Sometimes the answer is the cheaper option, and I'll tell you that.
Here's my booking link: calendly.com/exhibitautodetailing. If it's easier, feel free to call or text me at 206-963-7984, or email info@exhibitautodetailing.com. Whatever works best for you!
Jaisen Ostrom Exhibit Auto Detailing