Doctor Detail books appointments in 2-3 hour time windows based on the time estimated to complete a particular service. Within these time windows, Doctor Detail wants to ensure that all of our clients receive the best service possible within the allotted time. However, in some instances, our detailing technicians come across a vehicle that requires so much additional time and attention, that it is necessary for our company to assess surcharges based on the condition in order to recoup losses from cancelling or rescheduling subsequent appointments. Vehicles with conditions subject to surcharges require meticulous time and attention, special use of tools and heavy duty products not ordinarily associated with our maintenance and/or multiple, extensive passes with our tools and products. The most common problem vehicles associated with surcharges are family mini-vans and SUVs.

*Client will be notified before or during service if their vehicle is subject to surcharges.

**Payment of surcharges is optional. To decline payment may mean that condition of problem areas will be compromised.

Animal Hair Removal

What it is? -The extraction of potentially hundreds of strands of hair from interior carpeting and upholstery by use of a steam cleaner and/or wet/dry vacuum.

Why do we charge extra? -Due to the meticulous and time-consuming nature of animal hair removal, we need to charge extra  to compensate for the time and labor required by our detailing technicians to perform this service. We also need to charge extra due to the probability that additional time spent on this service may incur our company loss of income due to cancellations of later appointments based on our time constraints or tardiness. This service also preoccupies our detailing technicians and distracts from other important tasks that need to be performed on the vehicle, making our estimated time allotted to any given location between 30-60 minutes longer than anticipated. In addition, the Interior Operation within vehicles is compromised by the prevalence of animal hair because the tendency of animal hair to stick to other surfaces obstructs these surfaces from being cleaned. A minimal flat rate will be charged for the prevalence of animal hair and an additional surcharge will be quoted by a detailing technician for 100% removal.

How is my surcharge determined? -The decision to pay the surcharge is solely at the discretion of the client. Regular interior maintenance, through the Major Surgery or Interior Operation packages, will remove a great deal of animal hair. However,  due to the thickness and frequency of animal hair in the vehicle, there will inevitably still be some remaining animal hair should the client decide not to pay the surcharge. The surcharge, which ranges between $20-$100 (determined by size of vehicle and prevalence of animal hair) will include as many passes as needed with both the steam cleaner and vacuum and will ensure that animal hair will be removed as close to 100% as possible. Surcharge will be quoted by a detailing technician on location prior to commencement of requested service.

Bug Splatter or Tar on Paint

What Is It? –The accumulation of multiple instances of bug splatter or tar on various parts of the vehicle’s paint, front grill, undercarriage, wheel wells, mirrors, front or rear bumpers, etc.

Why Do We Charge Extra? –Even with our high powered pressure wash, instances of bug splatter or tar may still persist after a vehicle has been washed. The only way to successfully remove bug splatter and tar from the fore mentioned areas above is by use of one or more heavy duty products that specialize in tough stain removal and degreasing. Using these products often presents a risk to areas of the vehicle such as the paint. For this reason, it is necessary that our detailing technicians exercise special caution and work at a slower than normal pace to ensure that no damages to the paint are incurred and the stains are successfully removed.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$10-$50 based on the severity, frequency, time and difficulty associated with successful removal of bug splatter and/or tar on the vehicle’s exterior.

Excessive Dirt/Grime In Cup Holders, Door Pockets, Storage Compartments, Etc.

What Is It? –The Prevalence of excessive dirt, grime, food, gum, candies, make-up, crayon wax, etc., in any of the vehicles cup holders, door pockets or storage compartments.

Why Do We Charge Extra? –The only way to thoroughly clean the areas specified above is by use of steam and/or compressed air. These tools, with the prevalence of dirt/grime in the fore mentioned areas often create a much larger mess than there initially was. The end result is usually a clean cup holder/door pocket/storage compartment with dirt, grime and other debris splattered over various other parts of the interior such as windows, dashboard and the interior headliner. Additional time is required by our detailing technicians to correct these inconveniences and we must charge accordingly.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$3-$15 per instance, assessed and quoted by a detailing technician either before or after service has begun.

Excessive Stains In Carpet

What Is It? –Difficult and time consuming stains caused by coffee, soda and other substances that require multiple passes with our steam cleaning brush.

Why Do We Charge Extra? – Multiple passes with our steam cleaning brush risks causing damage to the fabric in the carpet. For this reason, our detailing technicians must exercise caution and pay special attention to the task at a slower than normal pace to ensure no damages are incurred and the stains are successfully removed.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$10-$40 for the entire vehicle’s carpeting based on the severity, frequency and circumference of stains.  Quoted by a detailing technician before or after service has begun.

Excessive Stains In Seats

What Is It? –Difficult and time consuming stains caused by coffee, soda and other substances that require multiple passes with our steam cleaning brush.

*Applicable to vehicles with upholstery seats only.

Why Do We Charge Extra? – Multiple passes with our steam cleaning brush risks causing damage to the upholstery. For this reason, our detailing technicians must exercise caution and pay special attention to the task at a slower than normal pace to ensure no damages are incurred and the stains are successfully removed.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$5-$20 per seat based on severity and circumference of stains.  Quoted by a detailing technician before or after service has begun.

Gum In Carpet

What Is It? –The prevalence of chewing gum or other saps, candies, chocolates, syrups, adhesives, etc., that have bonded to interior carpeting or upholstery and require cautious and repetitive use of the steam cleaner to remove the substance.

Why Do We Charge Extra? –Areas of the interior portion of the car afflicted with adhesives obstruct work from being performed in a timely manner. Because of the possibility that gum and other adhesives may further spread stains to other areas of the carpet and upholstery, it is necessary to exercise special caution with the steam cleaner and charge accordingly to extract the embedded substances.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$3-$15 per instance based on the circumference of the embedded substance and the time/difficulty required for removal.

Odor

What Is It? –The presence of foul odors within the vehicle such as cigarette smoke, milk, gas, vomit, etc that require additional attention to the source of odor and use of odor eliminating products.

Why Do We Charge Extra? – Doctor Detail will not remove tough odors from the vehicle unless requested by the client. If a request is made, special attention will be given to the vehicle to ensure the source of odor is eliminated and the vehicle’s interior carpeting and/or upholstery are enriched with a fresh, clean, and pleasant aroma.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? -$50 Flat Rate.

Black Cars

What Is It? – Vehicles with black paint jobs.

Why Do We Charge Extra? – Vehicles with black paint often present a look of elegance and luxury unparallel to any other paint job. Unfortunately, these vehicles are also the most difficult to work with, require the most frequent routine upkeep and are the most susceptible to noticeable scratches, dents, swirl marks, dirt, grime and other irregularities embedded in the paint. In months of seasonal warmth, these vehicles are especially difficult to shine and buff as waxes and polishes quickly dry upon application, leaving smudges and portions of dried paste on the paint’s surface. All of the problems associated with vehicles with black paint require us to assess an additional fee to compensate for the additional time spent by our detailing technicians to service your vehicle.

How Is My Surcharge Determined? - Based on size of vehicle. Quoted by a detailing technician before service has begun.