01
In-person inspection happens before final scope or deposit.
Inspection-gatedDrop-off studio
Paint Correction
Paint correction is the process of removing clear-coat defects — swirls, wash marring, light scratches, and water-spot etching — through controlled abrasion (machine polishing calibrated to paint hardness). Every job is inspection-gated: we measure and inspect in person before a deposit is taken.
Request an assessmentTypical shop time: 1–3+ days depending on tier
Studio proof path
01
Inspect
LED and paint-depth review before the number is final.
02
Scope
You get a written fit, timing, and price path before deposit.
03
Work
One vehicle is secured in the bay and checked before release.
Assessment-first process
Each request starts with evidence: what gets checked, when the number is confirmed, and how the vehicle moves through the studio or mobile-fit path.
02
Paint condition, prep level, and timing drive the written proposal.
03
No coating or correction number is treated as final from photos alone.
- Proof style
- inspection, measurement, written scope
- Typical duration
- 1–3+ days depending on tier
- Conversion path
- request assessment
What's Included
- Full exterior decontamination before any polish touches the panel — iron remover, clay, and tar removal
- Paint inspection with LED lighting and paint-thickness-gauge readings (non-destructive measurement of remaining clear coat) to map defect depth and establish correction headroom
- Multi-stage machine polishing calibrated to paint hardness, defect severity, and panel curvature
- Refinement polish to remove any residual micro-marring and bring the finish up to final clarity
- IPA wipedown (isopropyl alcohol pass that strips polishing oils so the true finish is visible before coating or release)
Pricing
Prices are starting points. Final scope is confirmed after the request review or inspection path.
Enhancement
Single-stage polish. Removes roughly 50–70% of light defects. Appropriate for paint in good condition that needs a freshening pass before coating. About one day.
Coupefrom $625
Sedanfrom $675
Mid-SUVfrom $775
Full-SUVfrom $950
Truckfrom $900
Correction
Two-stage correction — compound first to remove the heavier defects, refining polish second to bring the finish back up. Removes roughly 85–95% of defects. The default for enthusiast and collector paint. About two days.
Coupefrom $1250
Sedanfrom $1350
Mid-SUVfrom $1550
Full-SUVfrom $1900
Truckfrom $1800
Show Correction
Three-stage, multi-pass, per-panel finishing. Re-inspected under different lighting conditions between stages. Defect-free under direct sun and LED inspection. Minimum three days.
Coupefrom $2250
Sedanfrom $2450
Mid-SUVfrom $2800
Full-SUVfrom $3400
Truckfrom $3250
Paint condition determines final scope. We confirm the number before any deposit.
Is This the Right Service?
Good fit when
- The paint has swirls, wash marring, light scratches, water-spot etching, or haze that improves under polishing.
- You are preparing for ceramic coating and want defects corrected before protection is locked in.
- You value an inspection-first quote based on LED inspection and paint-thickness readings, not photo guessing.
Not the right fit when
- Scratches have broken through clear coat into base coat or primer.
- The concern is rock chips, factory orange peel, peeling clear coat, or body-shop repair work.
- You need a quick gloss pass instead of a measured multi-day correction process.
Paint correction is always inspection-gated. The quote is finalized in person before any deposit is requested.
Start with the assessment.
Free in-person inspection, no deposit required. We confirm fit, scope, timing, and final number before you commit.
What to Expect
Typical duration: 1–3+ days depending on tier
- 1Upload four to eight photos of the vehicle — front three-quarter, rear three-quarter, a sunlit panel, and anything you want us to look at specifically
- 2Free thirty-minute in-person paint inspection at the shop
- 3Written proposal with final scope, timing, and price — no deposit before this
- 425% deposit to schedule the work once the proposal is accepted
- 5Multi-day work window with the vehicle secured in the detailing bay; we do not share the bay with other jobs
Available Add-ons
Wheels-Off Ceramic Coating
Wheels removed, every face coated including the inside of the barrel where brake dust corrodes fastest, cured, reinstalled to torque spec.
$499
Glass Coating
Hydrophobic coating on windshield and front side glass. One to two years of function; noticeably better visibility in monsoon season.
$175
Trim Restoration
Oxidized plastic trim — common on older luxury — restored and sealed.
from $150
Frequently Asked Questions
Paint condition is too variable to price accurately from a photo. We measure clear-coat thickness and inspect under LED before quoting so the scope reflects the actual paint, not a guess — and so you are not committing a deposit to a number we haven't earned yet.
Yes. PPF (paint protection film — a clear urethane layer applied over the paint) is correctable and can be coated. Ceramic-over-PPF is a legitimate stack, and we will tell you directly when it is the right call and when it is not.
Scratches deep enough to break through the clear coat into the base coat or primer are not correctable through polishing. Factory orange peel and rock chips are also outside the scope of correction. We identify these at inspection and quote them separately if they can be addressed by a different process.
Paint correction improves the finish by leveling clear-coat defects through polishing. Ceramic coating protects the corrected finish after prep is complete. If the paint has swirls, haze, or water-spot etching, correction comes first; coating is the protection layer, not the defect-removal step.
Sometimes. Mineral spotting and light water-spot etching can often be reduced or removed, but spots that have cut too deeply into the clear coat may remain visible or may not be safe to chase. The inspection determines how much correction headroom the paint has.
Related Services and Buyer Guides
ServiceCeramic CoatingProtect the corrected finish after prep and inspection confirm the right coating tier.ServiceComplete DetailStart here when the vehicle needs interior recovery and exterior decon before correction decisions.GuidePaint correction vs ceramic coatingPlanned buyer guide explaining defect removal, coating prep, and protection timing.