I was long overdue for a thorough wash and detail. Jaycen did his thing! Made my 2012 car look shiny and new, both inside and out.
A shop on wheels
The whole shop drives to your driveway.
Most detailing costs you your car and half your day. The van carries its own water, power, lights, extraction, polishers and product, so the whole shop parks wherever your car already is.The van carries its own water, power, lights and equipment, so the whole shop parks where your car already is.
I have never had a shop. You book a time and I drive to you.I have never had a shop. I drive to you.
0trips you make
100%self-contained van
LA + OCservice area
Start here
The simple stuff, priced simply.
These three cover most first bookings. Pick one and I will come to you, with no inspection or quote process first.Pick one and I come to you. No quote process first.
Against the $15 tunnel
What the drive-through leaves out.What the drive-through leaves out.
A drive-through is fast and cheap, and for a lot of cars that works out fine.A drive-through is fast and cheap. Mine is neither.
The van
No brushes touch your paint
Those brushes drag grit from the last hundred cars across your paint, which is how you end up with swirl marks. I wash by hand instead, with fresh water and clean mitts, out of a van carrying its own tank, generator and lighting.Tunnel brushes carry grit from the last hundred cars. That grit puts the swirls in your clear coat. I wash by hand instead.
The person
Insured, uniformed, four years in
If a tunnel scratches your car, you have nobody to call. I have run this full time for four-plus years, one operator start to finish, and I carry insurance on every job and every vehicle. Ask and I will send you the certificate.If a tunnel scratches your car, you have nobody to call. Four-plus years full time, one operator, insured on every job.
The long game
Clean that lasts past Friday
A tunnel gets the dirt off and that is the end of it. I would rather set the car up so it stays easy, with real decontamination, a proper sealant, and a straight answer on whether a ceramic coating suits how you drive. For plenty of cars it does not, and I will say so.A tunnel gets the dirt off and that is the end of it. I set the car up so it stays easy: real decon, a proper sealant, and a straight answer on whether a coating suits you.
Same car, same work
Now compare the day.
9:00 AMDrive to the shop25 min
9:25 AMWait at the intake desk15 min
9:40 AMArrange a ride home20 min
10:00 AMCar is out of your handsall day
4:30 PMArrange a ride back20 min
5:00 PMInspect it in a parking lot10 min
And that is the version where nothing goes wrong and they finish on time.
9:00 AMI arrive at your place0 min from you
9:02 AMWe walk the car together first5 min
9:07 AMYou go back to your day—
12:30 PMI knock when it’s done—
12:35 PMWe walk it again, finished7 min
12:45 PMDone. You never left.—
You were home, or at work, the entire time.
How it works
Scroll through a full visit.
Every job runs this order, whether you booked the $85 wash or the whole thing.Every job runs this order, from the $85 wash up.
You tell me what is bugging you
010203040506
01
You tell me what is bugging you
Book online, call, or text me a couple of photos. You do not need to know the name of the service. Describe the problem and I will tell you the cheapest thing that fixes it.Call, book online, or text me photos. Describe the problem and I will tell you the cheapest fix.
02
The van shows up loaded
Water, power, lights, extraction, polishers, product. I park next to your car, run my lines, and set up a full working bay on the spot. Nothing is borrowed from your house.Water, power, lights, polishers, product. I set up a full working bay next to your car. Nothing borrowed from your house.
03
Exterior comes first
Two-bucket hand wash, wheels and barrels, then chemical and mechanical decontamination if the paint needs it. By the end of this the paint feels smooth again.Two-bucket hand wash, wheels and barrels, then decontamination if the paint needs it.
04
Then the inside
Full vacuum, every surface by hand, vents and seams and door jambs. Mats come out and get treated separately. Extraction on the carpets and seats when a wipe-down will not cut it.Full vacuum, every surface by hand, mats treated separately. Extraction when a wipe-down will not cut it.
05
Protection goes on last
A sealant on most jobs, a real ceramic coating if we agreed it suits how you drive. This step is the one you will see three months from now.A sealant on most jobs, a ceramic coating if it suits you. You will see this step three months from now.
06
We walk it together
I knock, we look at the car in daylight, and you point at anything you are not happy with before I pack up. Then I am gone and your day continues.We look at the car in daylight and you flag anything before I pack up.
What it costs
The three people book most.The two people book most.
Published prices. The range moves with vehicle size and condition, and I confirm the number before I start, never after.Published prices. I confirm the number before I start, never after.
Most booked
Wash + protect
Clay N’ Seal
$180–$240About 2.5 hoursA wash gets the dirt off. This gets the bonded contamination off, then locks the paint down for months.Gets bonded contamination off, then locks the paint down for months.
Everything in the exterior detailClay bar decontaminationIron and fallout removalDurable paint sealant Book nowLearn more
Inside the car
Interior Refresh
$160–$220About 1 hr 15 minFor the car that has been lived in. Deeper than a vacuum-and-wipe, short of a full shampoo.For the car that has been lived in. Deeper than a vacuum-and-wipe.
Full vacuum and crevice workEvery surface hand-cleanedLight stain and spot treatmentInterior glass and jambs Book nowLearn moreLooking for paint correction or a multi-year ceramic coating? Those get their own inspection and their own page. See ceramic coating or the full price list.Paint correction or ceramic coating? See ceramic or the full price list.
Why people book with me
Why my customers come back.
Hands that have been on exotics
Porsches, Teslas, a Rolls. Your Camry gets the same process.
A car guy doing the work
I like cars. I take my time on the parts nobody checks.
Clients, then regulars, then family
Most of my work is repeat. I learn your car and tell you when not to spend.
Proof
100+ five-star reviews, in two places.
Public profiles you can read end to end, including anything I did not get right.Public profiles you can read end to end.
Would highly recommend Automotive Aptitude for anyone looking to get an amazing job done on their car! They were super professional, nice and did an amazing job with my car. I opted in for interior detailing and they did such a good job. Above and beyond my expectations, some of the best service I've ever got! Highly recommend.
You should definitely book an appointment! I got the clay and seal package, and the outside looked amazing. They did a great job on the inside too. Everything was perfect. They really took their time to make sure everything looked brand new.
Professional, amazing service, and great prices. You can't ask for much when you need a last minute appointment right before a road trip, but Jaycen was able to squeeze me in and knock it out of the park. The guys even showed up early and knocked out a clay bar, seal, and even got rid of a pesky scratch in record time. My car looked like it rolled out of the dealership again. Amazing work!
One satisfied customer here! My first time ever having my car serviced and detailed, and I am definitely going to book again. Jaycen was really professional and very nice, and I was amazed with his service truck too.
Automotive Aptitude took care of my and my roommate's car. After they were done, both vehicles were soooo clean! I did a couple of other quotes for a few different places. Out of the 6 that I contacted, they were the most affordable and provided the most amount of services. One thing to note is that you will need a hose or water source for them to connect to so they can wash your car. Interior shampoo for two cars and a scratch removal for one took about 4 hours. They were really responsive and did a great job with both vehicles. We would reach out to them again when we need our cars cleaned.
Service areas
My service areas across LA and Orange County.My service areas, LA and Orange County.
There is no shop to drive to. Every job happens at your home or your workplace, wherever the car is already parked.No shop, no drop-off. Every job happens where your car is already parked.
Mobile only. The pin below is my registered business address for Google. You cannot drop a car off there. The van comes to you instead.Mobile only. That pin is a registered address for Google. You cannot drop a car off there.
Cerritos · Whittier · Artesia · Bellflower · La Mirada · Buena Park · Norwalk · Long Beach · Lakewood · Downey · Anaheim · Fullerton · La Palma · Irvine
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need to be home?
No. Plenty of people leave the keys and go to work. I need access to the car and somewhere legal to park the van next to it.
Do you need my water or power?
No. The van carries its own tank and generator. If you would rather I used your spigot I will, but nothing about the job depends on it.
What if it rains that day?
I will call you the morning of and we move it. No fee, no argument. Washing a car in the rain wastes both our time.
Can you do it at my apartment or office lot?
Yes, in most cases. Covered garages and tandem spots get tight, so send me a photo of where the car sits and I will tell you before you book.
How do I pay?
Card, Apple Pay, Zelle or cash, after we have walked the car. Nothing is due up front on these packages.
How far ahead should I book?
A few days is plenty. Weekends fill first. If you need something same-week, call rather than booking online and I will find a slot.
Do you work on trucks, vans and SUVs?
Yes. Larger vehicles sit at the top of the price range rather than getting a separate menu.
What if I am not happy with something?
Tell me during the walkthrough, before I pack up. I would rather spend another twenty minutes on it than have you notice it later.
Where to start
Three ways in. Pick whichever is least effort.
All three come straight to my phone.All three come straight to my phone.
Fastest
Book it online
Pick a service and a time slot. You get a confirmation, and I text you the morning of.Pick a service and a slot. I text you the morning of.
Open the booking page → If you are unsureText me a photo
Send a couple of pictures of the car and I will tell you the cheapest thing that fixes it. No pressure to book.Send photos and I will tell you the cheapest fix. No pressure.
Text (562) 445-1457 → Old fashionedCall me
Faster than any form if you have questions or need a same-week slot.Faster than any form if you have questions or need a same-week slot.
Call (562) 445-1457 →Let's Talk Details
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