"Polishing" and "correction" get used interchangeably online, but at HD AutoCare they're two different, clearly priced services. Here's the actual difference and how to tell which one your car needs.
Our Single-Stage Paint Correction ($375) is a single pass that boosts gloss and removes light swirls, best for paint that's already in decent shape. Multi-Stage, 2-Step, and 3-Step Correction ($700 to $1,000) add cutting passes before the final polish, built for paint with real defects, oxidation, or years of automated car washes. Prices shown are sedan pricing, before GST; exotic or soft-paint vehicles (Porsche, Tesla, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, etc.) add 25%.
Our Single-Stage Paint Correction is a single machine pass with a finishing compound. It removes light swirl marks and haze and brings back gloss, but it isn't designed to cut through moderate or heavy defects. It's the right call for paint that's well-kept but has lost some shine, not paint that's visibly scratched or dull in direct sunlight.
Single-Stage Paint Correction: $375, about 5 hours.
Correction adds one or more cutting stages before the final polish, using a more aggressive compound and pad to physically level out the clear coat where defects sit, then refining that surface back to full clarity. Multi-Stage and 2-Step both handle moderate swirls and oxidation across the whole car; 3-Step is the maximum multi-pass version for paint that's been neglected for years or is being prepped for a showroom-level finish. Exotic or soft-paint vehicles (Porsche, Tesla, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, etc.) add 25% to any of these.
Stand the car in direct sunlight and look at the paint at an angle. If it just looks a little flat or slightly hazy, Single-Stage Paint Correction is usually enough. If you can see distinct swirl marks, spider-webbing, or dullness that doesn't wipe off, you're looking at Multi-Stage, 2-Step, or 3-Step territory. When in doubt, we assess it in person before quoting a final price, since paint condition varies more than any photo can show.
Tell us what you're seeing, or send photos, and we'll recommend the right tier. We'd rather quote the correct service than sell you a polish that doesn't fix the problem.
Only very light ones. Anything you can feel with a fingernail needs correction, or in some cases touch-up paint.
Yes, ideally. Correction especially is the right prep step before ceramic coating, since it gets the surface flawless before it's sealed in for years.
In-shop at 8067 14th Ave, Burnaby, where controlled lighting is essential for spotting defects accurately.