Exterior car detailing in Pleasant Hill, IA
More than a car wash. Washed by hand, wheels and wheel wells cleaned, bugs and tar removed, and a hand-applied sealant to protect the paint from Iowa sun and salt.
Short answer
An exterior detail from A-1 Auto Detailing starts at $150 in Pleasant Hill, IA. The vehicle is washed by hand with pH-balanced soap, the wheels, tires and wheel wells are cleaned, bugs, tar and road grime are removed, and a hand-applied sealant protects the paint. Nothing touches the paint that could leave swirl marks.
Prices current as of September 2026. Reviewed by Levi Rench, owner.
What is included
- Hand wash with pH-balanced soap
- Wheels, tires and wheel wells cleaned
- Bug, tar and road-grime removal
- Hand-applied sealant for protection
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Tires dressed to a clean finish
- Trim revived
- Door jambs wiped down
Why hand washing matters
Automatic car washes use spinning brushes and recycled water that drag grit across the paint. Over time that leaves fine circular scratches, called swirl marks, that show up around every reflection in the sun.
Every A-1 exterior detail is done by hand, so the paint comes out cleaner and no new swirl marks are added.
Protection for Iowa weather
Road salt in winter, sun in summer, and bugs and tar on the highway all wear down paint. The sealant applied at the end adds a protective layer, so dirt rinses off more easily between washes.
For protection measured in years instead of months, see ceramic coating.
When a wash is not enough
If the paint still looks hazy or covered in swirls when it is clean, washing will not fix it. Paint correction removes that damage; an exterior detail keeps a good finish looking good.
Recent work
Real customer vehicles, phone photos, no filters. See all recent work
Questions
How much does an exterior detail cost?
Exterior detailing at A-1 starts at $150. Trucks and larger SUVs take longer and cost more. Levi quotes each vehicle before any work starts, and the quote is the price.
What is the difference between an exterior detail and a car wash?
A car wash cleans the surface for a few days. An exterior detail is done by hand down to the wheel wells and door jambs, removes bonded bugs, tar and sap, and finishes with a protective sealant.
Can you remove tree sap and tar?
Yes. Bug, sap, tar and road-grime removal is part of every exterior detail.
How long does an exterior detail take?
Most exterior details take a few hours, depending on the size of the vehicle and how much grime is on it.
Related services
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What customers say
“Took my 4Runner in and A1 Auto Detailing knocked it out of the park. The finish on the paint is flawless, deep, mirror-level shine that makes a 10-year-old vehicle look like it just rolled off the lot.”
“Detailed our 2012 RAM 1500 pick-up truck and did an AWESOME job!!! Would HIGHLY recommend, A-1 Detailing to ALL that's looking for a VERY cleaned up version of your vehicle to look NEW once again! Thank you Levi, for your tender care of our truck!!”
