2026-05-20 · 4 min
How often should you detail a daily driver here?
Not quarterly because a package said so. Here is a schedule that matches how Metro Detroit is actually driven.
If you drive it every day
Exterior: a proper detail in April and again in October. Interior: at least once a year, twice if you have kids, dogs, or eat in the car like a person.
Weekly: rinse or a careful wash. We would rather you do a decent rinse than a terrible scrub.
If it is a weekend car
Once a year is enough for most people, plus a coating if it lives outside or sees the lake. Do not let a garage queen sit dirty. Contamination still settles.
If you are selling it
Book the full detail before photos, not after the first showing. Buyers decide in the listing. A $275 detail on a $16,000 car is not a luxury. It is the cheapest price improvement available.