Auto detailing in Santee — by hand, in detail.
A wash gets your car clean. A detail gets it back. Interiors shampooed and conditioned, paint clayed and waxed, trim and glass brought back to where they started — done by the same people who have been detailing on Magnolia Ave for 25+ years.
Detail packages & express mini details.
Live pricing from the shop. Express mini details start at $150 and full details at $200 — condition and vehicle size both matter, so the number is confirmed when we see it.
What detailing actually covers
"Detailing" gets used loosely. Here it means the slow work that a wash lane doesn't have time for — the kind of job you book once or twice a year, before you sell a car, after a road trip, or when the interior has quietly gotten away from you.
Complete Detail Service
The full job, inside and out, in one appointment — the one to book when the car needs to look the way it did on the lot rather than just clean. $300 for cars, $400 for trucks and vans, and it takes most of the working day.
Interior Detail
For interiors that a vacuum won't fix: pet hair, kid aftermath, years of dust in the vents and console, leather that's gone dry. Work is done by hand, seat by seat, and starts at $200.
Exterior Detail & wax
Paint, wheels, tires and trim, with your choice of finish — Dupont Teflon & Carnauba liquid paste wax for a deep traditional shine, or silicon and ceramic wax when you want protection that holds up longer against Santee sun. Each one goes on by hand. An exterior detail starts at $200.
Express Mini Details
The middle ground between a wash and a full detail: an express hand wax, a carpet shampoo, or K-KAR Carnauba paste wax — and every one of them includes a Super Deluxe wash. They start at $150 ($200 for trucks and vans) and run about an hour and a half.
Exactly what's covered varies by package and by vehicle, so the menu above is the current list and the counter is the place to confirm the details. Not sure which one you need? Call and describe the car.
Getting a detailing quote
Wash prices are fixed by vehicle size. Detailing isn't, because condition drives the work — a garage-kept sedan and a work truck with a coat of job-site dust are two different afternoons. Book the service that's closest and the price gets confirmed at the shop, or call (619) 562-0816 and describe the vehicle to get a sense of it before you drive over. Payment happens in person, when the work is finished.
While we work
A full detail is a two-to-four-hour job rather than a wait-in-the-lobby one, so the air-conditioned lounge exists for a reason — indoor seating, cold drinks in the cooler, snacks and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Or drop the car off and come back for it. See directions and hours →
Detailed by hand, in Santee.
From daily drivers to show cars — same hands, same standard.
Detailing questions, answered.
What detailing services do you offer?
Full interior and exterior detailing — Complete Detail Service, Exterior Detail, Interior Detail, Dupont Teflon and Carnauba paste wax, and silicon or ceramic hand wax. There are also Express Mini Details, each of which includes a Super Deluxe wash.
How much does car detailing cost?
Express mini details start at $150 ($200 for trucks and vans) and each one includes a Super Deluxe wash. Full detailing starts around $200 for an interior or exterior detail, and the Complete Detail Service is $300 for cars ($400 for trucks and vans). Condition drives the work, so call (619) 562-0816 and describe the vehicle for a closer number.
How long does a hand wash take?
Washes are usually in the 30 to 60 minute range depending on the package, so many are finished while you wait — though it does depend on the day and the vehicle. Full details are a much longer job, from around two hours up to most of an afternoon. Each service shows its estimated time when you pick it in the booking form, and you can always call (619) 562-0816 to talk through a realistic window for yours.
Do you wash trucks, SUVs, vans and lifted vehicles?
Yes. Large vehicles have their own pricing tier on every package, and 25+ years of hand washing means we’ve handled everything from daily drivers to dually trucks.
Can you wash a Tesla or another EV?
Yes — hand washing is a gentler option than a tunnel for the big flat panels and soft paint most EVs come with. EVs carry a small additional charge, which is shown when you book.
Do you take payment online?
No — booking online just reserves your time. You pay at the wash when the work is done and you’ve seen the car.
More from Magnolia Car Wash.
Hand Car Wash & Prices
Every wash package with live pricing — from a straight hand wash to the Total Look.
Take a look →Book an Appointment
Reserve a detailing slot online. Nothing is charged until the work is done.
Take a look →About the Shop
Hand washing on Magnolia Ave since 1998 — and why we never put in a tunnel.
Take a look →Car Wash Near Me
Coming from El Cajon, Lakeside or La Mesa? Here is how to find us.
Take a look →Book a detail on Magnolia Ave.
Reserve a time online, or call and describe the car and we can talk through which service fits.