Paint correction in Clinton Township, MI: Swirls out. Gloss back.
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes swirl marks, light scratches, oxidation and water spots from your clear coat. We do it indoors at our Clinton Township shop, under controlled lighting. A one-step polish is from $344.99 for a coupe or sedan in average condition. Heavier paint is quoted after we see it.
- Swirls and oxidation polished out
- One-step or multi-stage
- Indoors, under shop lighting
- Valet pickup available
Paint correction, explained
What paint correction is, and what it takes out of your paint.
Paint correction is machine polishing. Swirl marks, light scratches, oxidation and water spots sit in the clear coat, the clear layer over your color. We polish them out of that layer by machine, and the gloss comes back.
Wax sits on top of the paint and washes off in weeks, and the marks under it are still there when it does. Correction does not cover anything up. The marks are polished out of the clear coat. There are three ways to get it:
- One-step polish. A single polishing stage for light swirls and dull paint. Sold as a package with a starting price.
- Multi-stage correction. More than one stage, for heavier swirls and oxidation. Quoted per vehicle after we see the paint.
- With a ceramic coating. Paint correction is included in every coating package, done right before the coating goes on.
Under the light
See what the inspection light sees.
Swirl marks hide in the shade and show up in the sun. Move the light across the paint, then step through a one-step polish and a multi-stage correction.
The straight version
What correction fixes, and what it cannot.
Polishing works on the clear coat that is there. Here is where the line sits, so you know what to expect before you book.
Polishes out
Swirl marks and wash marks
The fine scratches that years of washing leave behind, easiest to see on dark paint in direct sun. They sit in the clear coat, which is the layer a machine polish works on.
Will not polish out
Rock chips
A chip is a spot where the paint is gone. Polishing cannot put paint back, so a chip will still be there after correction.
Polishes out
Light scratches
Scratches that are in the clear coat and have not gone through it. The one-step polish in Polish & Protect removes roughly 60 to 70% of light swirls and scratches. A multi-stage correction goes further.
Will not polish out
Scratches through the clear coat
A scratch that has cut through the clear coat is deeper than polishing reaches. We point these out when we inspect the paint, before any work starts.
Polishes out
Oxidation and water spots
Dull, faded paint and the marks water leaves when it dries on a panel. The 2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD in our photos came in with heavy oxidation and water spots. Both polished out.
Will not polish out
Failed clear coat
When the clear coat itself has failed, there is nothing sound left to polish. Correction is not repainting, and we will say so plainly if that is what we find on your vehicle.
Correction pricing
A one-step polish has a price. Heavier correction gets a quote.
Starting prices are for a coupe or sedan in average condition. SUVs and trucks are quoted for their size. Heavier paint is quoted after we see it, because a price list would be a guess.
Light swirls and dull paint
One-step polish
A single polishing stage that removes light swirls and brings the gloss back. Book it as an exterior package or as part of a full detail.
- Polish & ProtectExteriorfrom $344.99
A full decontamination wash, a wheel and tire deep clean, then a one-step machine polish that removes roughly 60 to 70% of light swirls and scratches. Sealed for 6 months.
About 4.5 to 5 hours
- Luxury RefreshInside and outfrom $439.99
A full interior and exterior detail, everything in our Signature Refresh, plus a one-step machine polish to remove light swirls.
About 7 hours
Heavy swirls and oxidation
When one step is not enough
More than one polishing stage, for paint a single stage will not clear. You may hear us call it a 2 step correction.
- Matt, our lead technician, handles the heaviest correction work
- Quoted after we see your paint, not off a list
- Multi-stage correctionQuoted per vehicle
Priced on the size of the vehicle and the condition of the paint. Send us photos and we will give you a real number.
Polish & Protect and the Luxury Refresh are two of our auto detailing packages. If you are planning a ceramic coating, you do not need to book correction separately: it is included in every coating package.
The process
Six steps from free quote to corrected, protected paint.
The polisher is only one part of the job. Here is what happens, in order.
Start with a free quote
Tell us what you drive and send photos of the paint. A one-step polish has a starting price. For heavier paint we build a real number for your vehicle.
Photos help
Drop-off or valet pickup
Correction is shop work, done by appointment in Clinton Township. Bring the vehicle to us, or ask about our pick-up and drop-off valet service: we pick it up and bring it back.
Shop only
Inspection under shop lighting
We look over your paint under shop lighting and note the swirls, scratches and any existing damage. You hear which marks will polish out and which will not before we touch the car.
Before any work
Wash and decontamination
A full decontamination wash: iron and tar removal, then a clay treatment to pull out the embedded grit a normal wash leaves behind.
Clean paint first
Machine polish
Swirls, light scratches and oxidation are machine polished out of the clear coat. Light defects get a one-step polish. Heavier paint gets a multi-stage correction, and Matt, our lead technician, handles the heaviest of it.
One-step or multi-stage
Protection
Polish & Protect is sealed for 6 months, and the Luxury Refresh gets a sealant on the paint. With a ceramic coating package, every panel is wiped down and the coating goes on here.
Sealant or coating
Our work
Drag the slider. Same paint, corrected.
Three real vehicles from our Clinton Township shop. Each one was corrected and then ceramic coated. The gloss you see in the after shot comes from correcting the paint first.
- Text us a photo of your own paint and we will tell you straight what it needs.
What customers say
5.0 from 270+ reviews on Google. These three are about paint.
My car looks very good, the ceramic coating made a big difference to it. Josh and his team did a great job.
Norman R.2022 BMW 740i, 2 step paint correction and ceramic coating
Josh did a great job on my Silverado. He did an exterior detailing & ceramic coating. He was promt & professional. Will use him again in the future.
Don P.2026 Silverado 1500, paint correction and coating
These guys did an amazing job with my car, tint is perfect and the paint, it looks better than it would have in the showroom. 100% recommend this shop and the people who work on the car great job. Exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds
Jake M.Google review
Service area
Paint correction for drivers across Macomb and Oakland counties.
Correction is done at our Clinton Township shop, in enclosed bays with controlled lighting. Valet pickup is available if you would rather not make the drive.
Questions
Paint correction questions.
The things people ask us most before booking. If yours is not here, call or text (586) 400-1303.
How much does paint correction cost?
A one-step polish has set starting prices. Polish & Protect, an exterior package, is from $344.99. The Luxury Refresh, a full interior and exterior detail with a one-step polish, is from $439.99. Both are for a coupe or sedan in average condition, and SUVs and trucks are quoted for their size.
A multi-stage correction is quoted per vehicle after we see the paint. Text us photos or use the quote form on this page and we will give you a real number. Financing is available through Affirm and Klarna.
How long does paint correction take?
Polish & Protect takes about 4.5 to 5 hours. The Luxury Refresh, which includes a full interior detail, takes about 7 hours. Larger vehicles take longer.
A multi-stage correction takes longer, and how much longer depends on the paint. We tell you how long when we quote your vehicle. If you would rather not arrange a ride, our pick-up and drop-off valet picks the vehicle up and brings it back when the work is done.
What is the difference between a one-step polish and a multi-stage correction?
A one-step polish is a single polishing stage for light swirls and dull paint. It is what you get in Polish & Protect, where it removes roughly 60 to 70% of light swirls and scratches, and in the Luxury Refresh.
A multi-stage correction, which you may hear us call a 2 step, is for heavier swirls and oxidation that one stage will not clear. It is quoted per vehicle after we see the paint, and we will tell you straight which one your paint needs.
Will paint correction remove every scratch?
No, and we would rather say so now than at pickup. The one-step polish in Polish & Protect removes roughly 60 to 70% of light swirls and scratches. A multi-stage correction takes out more.
Rock chips, scratches that have gone through the clear coat and failed clear coat are outside what polishing can do. Correction is not repainting. We look over the paint under shop lighting before any work starts and tell you which marks will come out and which will stay.
Can you do paint correction at my home?
No. Paint correction is shop work. Machine polishing needs enclosed bays and controlled lighting, and a driveway gives us dust and weather to work against.
If getting to Clinton Township is the obstacle, use our pick-up and drop-off valet: we pick the vehicle up, correct it at the shop and bring it back. Mobile detailing is still available for interior details and Wash & Seal.
Do I need a ceramic coating after paint correction?
You do not need one. Polish & Protect is sealed for 6 months, and the Luxury Refresh includes a sealant on the paint.
A coating is for when you want the corrected finish protected for years, not months. Our ceramic coating packages run 1, 3 and 5 years, and paint correction is included in every one. If you know you want a coating, book the coating and the correction comes with it.
How do I keep swirl marks from coming back?
Mostly by changing how the car gets washed. Brush-style automatic washes put swirls into any finish, corrected or not, and wiping dust off dry paint drags grit across the clear coat. Touchless washes are fine, and so is a gentle hand wash.
A ceramic coating makes washing easier. Grime does not grip a coated surface, so a rinse and a gentle wash does the job.
Free quote
Show us the paint. We will tell you what it needs.
No pressure and no guessing off a price list. Tell us what you drive and send a photo of the paint. We will tell you what will polish out, what will not, and how much correction it takes. Sometimes that is the one-step polish.
Request a free quote
Takes about a minute. We reach out by call or text.
- 33115 Louise Ave, Clinton Township, MI 48035
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. By appointment. Book online any time.
- Financing through Affirm and Klarna: 3 to 24 months, as low as 0% interest.