Welcome to mobile detailing in Winston Salem!

My name is Joseph Combs owner and operator of Drive by Detail. In the information section of this website, I hope to help you become an informed consumer of detailing services and help you take your car to the next level with tips from the pros. The detailing world is filled with miss information so I have created this section with the intent to offer a voice of reason and simplicity in the midst of the detailing world.

What is mobile detailing?

By definition, mobile detailing - is the act of performing a thorough cleaning, restoration, and finishing of a motor vehicle, to produce a show-quality cleanliness and polish. Mobile detailing can be performed on a vehicle's exterior and/or interior. 

Mobile detailing is exactly what it sounds like. It is a professional service that brings the car wash to you. Mobile detailing has become more popular over the years as many people have increasingly hectic lives and use this service to exchange a little more money for a lot of time saved.

What it takes to be the best mobile auto detailer in Winston Salem

A HIGHER STANDARD - I don't intend to boast, but our quality of work is leagues above your typical car wash. If you have ever had the experience of going to one of these places it is all too often you find water dripping from mirrors, doorjambs, and seams. On top of that, there are streaks on the glass, tire dressing unevenly spread across your wheels and tires, and if you look hard enough you will find a spot they missed. If your looking for a fast and cheap option the those are great. But Drive by Detail holds itself to a higher standard. 

WHAT TO EXPECT - Drive by Detail is not the detailer to call when you want a cheap detail. We only focus on quality and value and you should only contact us if you want the job done right the first time. If you call me, you can expect me to show up on time and do exactly what I promised. I usually ask a few questions about the car before I get started so I can determine what you want to be done or if any areas need extra attention.

WIN-WIN BUSINESS MODEL - I try to run my business differently than most mobile auto detailers. I use a win-win business model where I try to build professional relationships with my customers and give them exactly what they want. In doing this I aim to build a repeat customer base and if I am lucky a referral or two. It is important to note that I do not charge based on the time it takes, but rather the results I produce. In saying that, my goal is to show up and do the best job imaginable. In running a mobile car detailing business, I want to be the one you call when you want your car detailed correctly. I know as well as anybody else that detailers are disposable. If they do not meet the standard people will find someone else. I want to make myself indispensable to you.

MOBILE DETAILING DIFFERENCES - There are many differences between a mobile detailer and a traditional auto detailing shop. Besides the differences listed above, one thing that sets us apart is our careful product selection. We pay very close attention to the line of products we use on our customer's vehicles. From pH neutral shampoos to natural boar's hair detailing brushes we make sure every chemical and tool we use is not only safe but highly effective. Another difference between us and many others is our pricing. If you have looked through our website you will know we are not the cheapest, but we are the best. Mobile auto detailing is a premium service that is meant to save you time. You exchange a few extra dollars for a massive amount of time saved. Instead of leaving your car in a shop for the whole day you can have the same service completed in a few hours for a much better value.

EXPECTATIONS - As a mobile detailer a customer's expectations is something that I frequently battle with. Often times a customer will expect a completely new looking car with a basic wash, this is not realistic. I often find my self trying to convey that I am not a miracle worker (sort of) to an excited customer. While it is true I can make your paint look better than how it looked on the show room floor, it comes at a price that most people are not willing to pay. To completely transform a car to perfection can take 25 - 50 man hours and gallons of product, hundreds of microfiber towels, and touch-up paint. I understand that most people do not care about the tiny scratch on their car's emblem or the embedded contaminates on the wheel barrels. So I do not focus all of my time or energy to those areas. While I do clean them, I focus my time on places that customers care about most, like the paint.

Our Wash Process

Although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to properly wash a car it does take a skill and professionalism to make sure the job is done right the first time all of the time. There are some areas of the car we wash that most people would never even notice. But we wash these areas because we know they need to be cleaned and we have a standard for perfection so we make sure it gets done. 

We have an in-depth guide on how to wash your car and how we wash our customer's cars. Click here to read more.

EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR

With an exterior-only wash, we only focus on the outside of your car. We will wash your car, windows, tires and rims, and other areas leaving the exterior of your car looking showroom ready. But the interior will be exactly the way you left it. If you already keep the interior of your car clean this is a great option. 

However, if your car interior can get out of hand you should consider an interior detail. If the kids make a big mess in the back that you don't want to clean up call us. We will meet you at a predetermined time get to work. Expect a transformation of your interior including cup holders, and air vents to be cleaned. Additionally, floorboards, seats, floor mats, buttons, dials, switches, and glass to be cleaned. All plastics and leather will receive the appropriate conditioner and UV protectant to keep your car looking great.

If both of these sound great, you could choose a detailing package. This gives you the best of both worlds, combining an interior and exterior detail. With this, we will transform your car into something that looks like new. If you have any other concerns about your car, you should choose a specialty detail. Specialty details are just services that are not common, not needed often, or a step above normal details. Things like paint correction, engine bay detail, or headlight restoration. You can check out our services here or you can view them on our homepage.