Placeholder image: a dusty car body panel before exterior detailingBeforeAfterIllustrative example
Exterior Transformation
Decontamination and safe hand wash returning depth to the paint.
Toronto & the GTA
Exterior Detailing
A careful outside reset for your vehicle, carried out at your home or workplace across the Greater Toronto Area.
- Estimated time
- 45–75 min
- Estimated for a two-person NOVA crew. Vehicle size and condition may affect timing.
- Starting price
- See current pricing
What this service is
Exterior detailing is a full outside clean: pre-soak, hand wash, wheels and tires, contamination removal where needed, and a soft microfiber dry. The aim is a clean finish achieved without adding new wash marks to the paint.
- A hand-performed wash using pre-soak, two buckets with grit guards and fresh microfiber media for every vehicle.
- Wheels, tires and door jambs are cleaned with dedicated tools kept separate from the paintwork.
- Where the paint feels rough, we discuss decontamination before starting so you know what is involved.
What's included
- Pre-rinse and foam pre-soak
- Two-bucket contact hand wash
- Wheel faces, accessible barrels and tires
- Door jambs wiped down
- Soft microfiber hand dry
- Exterior glass cleaned
- Ordinary bug removal as needed
- Tire dressing
- Basic hydrophobic paint protection
Who it's best for
- Daily drivers that are cleaned regularly
- Vehicles kept outdoors through Toronto winters and road salt
- Owners who want a clean car without automatic brush washes
Benefits
- Removes road film, salt and traffic grime by hand
- Reduces the risk of wash-induced swirl marks
- Makes the finish easier to maintain between appointments
- A sensible first step before polishing or protection work
Optional add-ons
Add-ons are quoted individually once we have seen the vehicle.
- Paint Enhancement
- Enhanced SiO2 Paint Protection
- Headlight Restoration
- Additional Pet Hair Removal
- Odour Treatment
- Engine Bay Detailing
- Wheel Deep Cleaning
Illustrative examples
What exterior detailing is designed to change
The images below are illustrative photography showing the type of change this service targets, not NOVA customer work.
Placeholder image: a dusty car body panel before exterior detailingBeforeAfterIllustrative exampleExterior Detailing questions
Something not covered here? Contact us or read the general FAQ.
- Do you wash the vehicle at my home?
- Yes — exterior detailing is carried out where the vehicle is parked, at your home or workplace, subject to access and conditions on the day. Tell us the address when you book and we will confirm whether the space works.
- Will this remove scratches?
- No. Washing removes dirt, not defects. Swirls and scratches sit in the paint itself and are addressed by polishing or paint correction, which we scope separately after inspecting the finish.
- How often should I book it?
- That depends on where the vehicle is parked and how it is driven. Vehicles kept outside through a GTA winter usually benefit from more frequent washing because of road salt.
Related services
Full Detailing
Exterior and interior in one appointment — the complete reset.
Learn more about Full DetailingPaint Correction & Polishing
Machine polishing that reduces swirls and haze and brings back clarity.
Learn more about Paint Correction & PolishingBrowse all NOVA services, or send photos for a recommendation.
Next step
Book exterior detailing with NOVA
Choose a date and we'll confirm scope and a realistic time window in writing. Not sure this is the right service? Send photos and we'll recommend the most appropriate one.