San Diego’s Premier Paint Correction Specialists
Bring Back Your Paints Shine and Remove Scratches and Imperfections
Eliminate Swirls and Reveal the Full Gloss and Clarity of Your Paint
Uncover your paint’s potential with our Level 2 paint correction service. Designed to remove roughly 80% of swirls, scratches, and imperfections, the intensive two-step correction process guarantees the most gloss and clarity for your paint.
Depending on the condition, especially for older vehicles, some scratches might not entirely disappear. This is especially true for older cars with deep scratches or thinning clear coats (we’ll measure paint thickness before beginning). That’s why we continually measure and asses the paint before doing anything.
Here’s where we assess and make the right call about what we can safely remove from your paint. It’s not just about removing every imperfection but also about knowing when to stop to maintain the paint’s health and integrity.
Believe it or not, a new car fresh off the lot, only 4 months old, might still need a 2-step correction. Despite its short ownership period, the vehicle has been handled by various people through different locations.
During this time, the car undergoes movement, washing, transportation, storage, and more. We see cars just a few months old that are brought in for a paint correction.
The decision to go for Level 2 paint correction is a commitment to your vehicle’s aesthetic. To retain that shine, it’s essential to maintain the car properly post-service. Skipping the proper car wash and dry routine could lead to swirls and scratches reappearing after a few washes.
Are you selling your vehicle and want to make the paint shine for potential buyers? Consider our Level 1 polishing or Wash and Wax. For durable protection that lasts for years, explore our Ceramic Coating Options.
EXCELLENT Based on 152 reviews Vik M2025-08-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris from TopShine did a stellar job doing an exterior detail on both my cars. He did an exterior detail and wax polish + interior clean on my wife’s car. Excellent attention to detail, very professional, very friendly and knowledgeable. He showed up right on time at my workplace and got to work, wrapped it up all in time for me to head home. Chris really knows his way around detailing and has a real passion for his work. I was so happy that I decided to get a ceramic coating for my own car. Once again a brilliant job, both cars feel factory fresh and gleaming. He even threw in a complimentary follow up wash for both cars. Thanks Chris! mucho casas2025-07-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 10/10. Looks better than when I bought it. Sydney Doidge2025-07-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris did a great job with the interior of my car. He was also kind when I flubbed the time for our appointment and gave him a wrong number - whoops. Very easy to coordinate with once he had the right number and we were able to reschedule! Happy with how everything turned out, my car was very clean afterwards! Christopher Rizk2025-07-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris did a fantastic job. Couldn’t be more happy with timeliness, price, and service P2025-07-18Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Recently moved to a new area and needed a nice hand wash and detailing for my Mazda so I gave TopShine a try after seeing them detail another car 2 weeks ago. I booked an appointment and Chris was punctual, communicative and he did a phemonemal job! Chris went above and beyond and I couldn't be more grateful. He was an absolute pleasure to work with and the price for the services rendered was more than reasonable! Give TopShine a try, I highly recommend their services; you will not regret it and it was worth every dollar! 💯 Casey Bullock2025-07-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris does amazing work. His work is meticulous and he takes great care to treat your vehicle as though it was his own. I was planning on selling my vehicle and I’m convinced that the detailing work got me top dollar! I would highly recommend TopShine Mobile Detailing! Nikhil Murgai2025-07-10Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had an amazing experience with this car detailing service! Chris was right on time, which I really appreciated, and kept me updated throughout the process with clear and professional communication. The detailing itself was absolutely fantastic — my 2015 BMW looks better than it did when I drove it off the lot. Every corner, crevice, and surface was spotless. You can tell that they take real pride in their work. Highly recommend if you’re looking for someone reliable, responsive, and truly skilled at what they do! Jerry Zhao2025-07-03Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris did a great job! He was very considerate, kind, and even gave me a nice discount! Highly recommend, and tell your friends! Danielle Nadeau2025-06-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A friend found Top Shine Mobile and after reaching out over the website, I got a courteous call from Chris, with all the details I was looking for. I was able to schedule service, quickly and easily within a week. Chris did an exceptional job on my 16yo car. As far as I know, it's never been detailed. I had significant wear from my 10years of ownership, multiple moves and trips across the country, and a fair amount of staining. The before and after on carpet and headlights alone is stunning (and you gotta get the headlight service!). Chris even got off all the stickers from parking garages and deep into crevices of cup holders. The fabric roof trim was spotless and after only a few hours, the car feels brand new to me. Highly recommend Top Shine Mobile, not only for the amazing detail service, but also for the great customer support and experience. Sau2025-06-18Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Car detailing was professional. The interior was spotless. Exterior was polished. Pricing was fair for the service!

Our Paint Correction Process
Interested in our paint correction process? While this provides a detailed glimpse, it doesn’t cover every step involved.
1) Examine the vehicle: We’ll measure the paint all around, gauging the clear coat we have to play with. Looking at the wheels, tires, and paint, we pinpoint any specific areas that might need special consideration—be it for precise taping or a little extra care during the polishing stage.
2) Deep clean and detail the wheels, tires, and wheel wells: We’ll start with a good rinse for the wheels, tires, and wells, then apply our wheel cleaner, ensuring we reach all those hard-to-reach areas with various brushes. Finally, we’ll finish with a thorough rinse.
3) Clean the vehicle: Begin by rinsing away any loose debris. Follow up with a foaming session using a pressure washer, then transition to our towel-wash method. Employ proper wash techniques, applying light pressure, moving side-to-side, and regularly flipping the towel sides for optimal results. Finish by thoroughly rinsing down the vehicle.
4) Paint Decontamination: Now, we apply the iron remover and clay bar treatment to eliminate any lingering above-surface contaminants that weren’t removed during the wash. This step leaves the paint with an exceptionally smooth feel, and it’s crucial to ensure optimal paint correction results.
5) Next, we dry and blow out the vehicle using compressed air. We want to ensure the car is completely dry before our next step. We’ll get the paint, wheels, and trim all nice and dry using a drying towel and a blower.
6) Prepare the panels: We’ll remove each panel using a wax/grease remover. Ensuring a clean surface is key—we aim for it to be completely “naked” during the polishing stage. Any polish or wax residue could interfere with the correction process, so we pay close attention to this part.
7) Tape off vulnerable areas: Returning to step 1, we carefully tape off sections that need to be protected—whether it’s trim, chrome, glass, or other materials. This will be different for each car, but the core objective remains the same: preventing any compound or polish from reaching surfaces it shouldn’t.
8) Time to correct the paint: Now we’re getting into the real deal—removing most imperfections from the paint using the correct method. It’s the first step in a two-part process to bring out the best gloss and clarity. Despite sounding brief here, this part of the job can take some time, usually around 6 to 8 hours.
9) Time for polishing: The paint is smoother and looks much better once we remove imperfections in the correction phase. But we take it further with some polishing to bring out the shine. It might seem counterintuitive—correction does the heavy lifting but leaves a bit of micro-hazing. Now, enter polishing, the step that brings out that show-car shine and removes leftover micro-hazing.
10) Unmask and prepare the paint: After correcting the paint and ensuring the desired results, we’ll remove the tape and prep the paint again. This step involves eliminating any lingering polish residue from the correction process.
11) Time to protect the paint: After all the prep work and paint correction, it’s time to protect that beautiful paint. We have options: go for a durable ceramic coating for years of defense or opt for the classic wax or sealant for a good six months of protection.
12) Finishing touches: It’s time to give those tires, wheel wells, and wheels some love, wipe down those door jambs, clean up the exterior glass, and take care of any other details that will bring your car together.
And that’s a wrap! Just a heads up, the time we spend working on your vehicle can vary (usually 11+ hours), depending on its size and condition. That’s why we prefer you drop it off at our shop—we like having it here so we can keep a close eye on all the details, big and small, to ensure optimal results.
Paint Correction Pricing
Prices depend on size, condition, and the type of clear coat. The figures listed below are general ranges. Call us or request a quote for more specific pricing.
Small Sized Vehicles
(Miata/Bolt)
$400-$600
Medium Sized Vehicles
(Accord/Explorer)
$525-$800
Large Sized Vehicles
(Trucks/Large SUV)
$700-$1100
Restore and Enhance Your Vehicle’s Paintwork Like Never Before!
At TopShine Mobile Detailing, our goal is to eliminate unexpected surface defects that can mar your car’s exterior. Whether it’s light scratches from crowded parking lots, swirl marks from poor hand washes, or even garage mishaps like falling tools, we’re here to restore your vehicle’s flawless appearance.
Our paint correction packages are crafted to undo these annoying defects, leaving you with a flawless vehicle finish. Often, hidden imperfections are only visible under an LED or natural direct sunlight, revealing the actual state of your paintwork.
With extensive training in the safest and most effective paint correction methods, our auto restoration team can remove even the most demanding defects and enhance your finish with a beautiful deep gloss through buffing and polishing. We understand that each vehicle is unique, and we value your car as much as you do. That’s why the time required to perfect your paintwork is customized to your specific vehicle.
Perfect and correct Your New Car’s Paintwork
Is paint correction on a new car necessary? At TopShine Mobile Detailing of San Diego, we think so, and we cut, compound, and polish new vehicles weekly! If you believe a new car is flawless, here’s why you should reconsider:
Dealerships make their cars appear super clean and shiny to entice buyers, and to the untrained eye, they appear perfect. However, professional detailing reveals numerous swirl marks from abrasive hand washing at the dealership and light scratches from vehicle transit.
Hiring us to correct your new car’s paint is an investment in revealing its authentic, flawless finish, something even dealerships may overlook. Every new vehicle has imperfections from the assembly line, but TopShine Mobile Detailing can help achieve that perfect finish!
Looking For Other Detailng Services?
TopShine Mobile Detailing features a variety of services tailored to your vehicle’s needs. Our objective is to deliver top-notch service and remarkable results. Here are some of our most sought-after services:
Frequently Asked Paint Correction Questions
Yes, it does! If you have visible defects, the improvement will be noticeable. Even if your paint looks perfect, paint correction can enhance it further by adding a deep gloss through buffing and polishing, resulting in a finish that surpasses the typical factory clear coat.
Cutting, which includes heavy and medium stages, removes defects by leveling the paint around imperfections. This step ensures a smooth, even surface. Polishing is the finishing step, clearing any remaining residues from the cutting process, resulting in an enhanced, glossy finish.
Both options offer great benefits! A ceramic coating applied by our team is highly hydrophobic, enhancing your finish and making it look fantastic while providing a layer of protection. Meanwhile, a paint protection film (clear bra) is a self-healing film that resists future defects. Both provide a sacrificial layer to protect your pristine paintwork from future damage. You can read more about our Ceramic Coating Services here.
Certain defects call for repainting an automobile, as opposed to paint correction packages offered here at TopShine. Prior to paint correction, we determine what can be corrected and what actual issues must be repainted.
We’re mobile, so we come to your location.
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Have questions, comments, or special requests? Don't hesitate to reach out to us. Your input is valuable, and we'd love to hear from you. Have a fantastic day!
Email chris@tsautodetails.com
Mon – Sun 7:00am – 8:00pm
TopShine Mobile Detailing
San Diego
- 7265 Charmant Dr Unit 615, San Diego, CA 92122
- 858-224-2382
Proudly serving the San Diego area — based in the La Jolla Colony district. We bring premium mobile detailing directly to your driveway or office.