Quick answer: A wash and vacuum cleans. A wax polish adds shine and a thin protective layer. Rubbing and polishing removes swirl marks and light clear-coat scratches. Interior dry cleaning deep-cleans seats, roof and carpets. Anti-rust underbody coating protects metal below the car. In our catalog these start at ₹799, ₹1,199, ₹1,699, ₹999 and ₹2,999 respectively for small cars.
Walk into any car spa and the menu reads like a puzzle, and the easiest mistake is to pick the most expensive option and hope it is the right one. This page works the other way round: start with what bothers you about your car, and the job picks itself. It also gives you four tests you can do at home in two minutes, the prices by car size so you can budget honestly, and the myths that waste owners’ money. Ceramic coating and paint protection film are not in our listed catalog for these jobs, so they are not covered here; our ceramic vs wax guide explains that topic.
Not sure which cleaning job your car needs? Call or WhatsApp Autoport — open 24x7 at Desai Naka.
Evergreen offer: every booking at Autoport gets a FREE 25-point checkup and up to 15% OFF labour. No code needed, no expiry date — it is the standing offer, not a festival deal.
Start with what bothers you — the job picks itself
Forget the menu for a minute and describe your car in one sentence. “It is just dirty” — dust, mud, loose dirt inside — means washing and vacuuming. “It looks dull, but it is clean” means wax polishing: the paint needs a shine layer, not more washing. “I can see circular marks in the sun” means rubbing and polishing: those swirls live in the clear coat and only a machine polish levels them. “It smells, or the seats are stained” means interior dry cleaning: no wash reaches stains and damp smells inside the fabric. “I am worried about rust underneath” means anti-rust underbody coating, done before the monsoon, not after the rust has already taken hold.
That one-sentence test also stops the most common overspend: buying a polish for a car that only needed a wash, or buying a wax for paint that actually needed correction first. Protection on top of uncorrected paint simply locks in the scratches and dullness, so the order matters — clean, then correct, then protect. If your sentence contains two problems, say a dull exterior and a smelly cabin, do both jobs in the same visit; the car is already here, and the interior needs drying time anyway.
The five jobs side by side, with prices by car size
Here is the honest comparison, including how often each job is normally needed:
| Job | What it fixes | What it does not fix | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washing & vacuuming | Dust, mud, loose dirt inside | Swirls, stains, dull paint | Every 1–2 weeks as needed |
| Washing & wax polishing | Dull look, adds water beading | Scratches you can feel | Every 2–3 months |
| Rubbing & polishing | Swirls, oxidation, light clear-coat scratches | Deep scratches, dents | Once or twice a year |
| Interior dry cleaning | Seat stains, smell, sticky dashboard, mould | Torn upholstery | Every 6–12 months, or after the monsoon |
| Anti-rust underbody coating | Protects underbody metal from water and salt | Existing deep rust holes | Before monsoon, as advised |
And the listed prices by car size, from the booking catalog. Your exact price shows in the booking form after you pick your car; nothing is paid online.
| Service | Small car (Swift, i20, Tiago) | Compact sedan (Dzire, Verna) | Mid-size sedan (City, Ciaz, Amaze) | SUV / MUV (Creta, Nexon, Ertiga) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washing & vacuuming | ₹799 | ₹899 | ₹999 | ₹999 |
| Washing & wax polishing | ₹1,199 | ₹1,599 | ₹1,899 | ₹1,899 |
| Rubbing & polishing | ₹1,699 | ₹2,399 | ₹3,199 | ₹3,199 |
| Interior dry cleaning | ₹999 | ₹1,599 | ₹2,499 | ₹2,499 |
| Anti-rust underbody coating | ₹2,999 | ₹3,499 | ₹3,999 | ₹3,999 |
A general check-up and body foam wash starts at ₹499, and a deep scratch or panel paint job is quoted after inspection. For example, the listed Basic Service price is Swift petrol ₹2,099, Creta petrol ₹2,499, Nexon petrol ₹2,179, Wagon R CNG ₹2,249. Spare parts are billed at actuals.
Four tests you can do at home in two minutes
You do not need a workshop to know which job your car needs. The fingernail test: run your nail across a scratch. If it does not catch, rubbing and polishing will usually remove or soften it. If it catches, it needs paint, not polish. The sunlight test: look at the bonnet in the sun. Circular swirl marks mean rubbing; a dull but even finish means wax polish. The smell test: a musty smell after the rains means interior dry cleaning — and an AC check, because a damp cabin and a dirty AC filter often arrive together. The water test: splash water on the bonnet. If it spreads flat instead of beading, the wax layer is gone. And one more — look behind the wheels and under the doors for orange rust spots before the monsoon; that is the underbody check, and it is the one that saves the most money if caught early.
Seasons, car age and fuel type: when the answer changes
Monsoon: mud and water collect under carpets and in the underbody. Interior dry cleaning after the rains and anti-rust coating before them are the two jobs that matter most. Summer: sun fades paint and dries dashboards; a wax polish adds a protective layer. Dusty Kalyan-Shilphata Road driving means more frequent washes, but avoid wiping dust dry, which causes swirls — rinse first, always.
New cars rarely need rubbing; a wash and wax is enough, because the clear coat is at its best. Older cars gain the most from rubbing, which can bring back gloss that years of dusty cloths and sun have taken away. Fuel type does not matter for these jobs; in EVs and CNG cars, keep water away from charging ports and the CNG filling valve during washing. And after heavy waterlogging, washing alone is not enough — read our underbody coating guide for the checks that matter after a flood drive.
Myths that waste money — and what to ask before booking
“Rubbing is harmful to paint.” Done correctly, it removes a very thin layer of clear coat; the harm comes from overdoing it, not from doing it once or twice a year when the paint needs it. “Wax polish removes scratches.” Wax fills and hides very light marks only; a scratch you can feel needs rubbing or paint. “Dishwashing liquid is fine for washing.” It strips wax; use car shampoo. “Dry cleaning uses no water at all.” It uses foam and extraction, with minimal water — which is exactly why the cabin needs drying time afterwards.
Before you book, ask five questions: will you do a paint inspection and show me which scratches can be removed? What products are used for wax and polishing? How long will interior dry cleaning take to dry? Will the engine bay be washed — we advise care around electricals. And what should I do after the job to keep it looking good? A workshop that answers those plainly is a workshop you can trust with the paint. Tell us what bothers you most when you call — dirt, dull paint, swirl marks, stains or smell — and the team will match the job to the car, not the other way round.
Service prices at Autoport (starting prices)
These are starting prices from our online booking catalog. The listed price for your car depends on its model, fuel and variant, and the booking form shows it before you confirm. Nothing is paid online.
| Service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Basic Service | Starting ₹1,859 |
| Standard Service | Starting ₹2,589 |
| Premium Service | Starting ₹4,869 |
| General check-up + body foam wash | Starting ₹499 |
| Washing & vacuuming | Starting ₹799 |
| Wheel alignment & balancing (rim wheel) | Starting ₹699 |
| Repairs (brake, suspension, clutch, AC, battery) | Inspection ke baad quote |
For example, the listed Basic Service price is Swift petrol ₹2,099, Creta petrol ₹2,499, Nexon petrol ₹2,179, Wagon R CNG ₹2,249. Spare parts are billed at actuals. Anything outside a package is inspection ke baad quote: we check the car, explain the problem and the estimate, and start only after you say yes.
What the service packages include
- Basic Service (about 1 hour): engine oil and oil filter change, air and AC filter cleaning, a 25-point general check-up, and top-up of brake oil, coolant and battery water.
- Standard Service: semi-synthetic engine oil, oil and air filter, spark plug / glow plug check, brake cleaning, exterior wash, interior vacuum and polish.
- Premium Service: synthetic oil, all filters, spark plugs, car scanning, AC check-up, wheel alignment and balancing, wash and polish.
Your owner’s manual decides the interval; we follow it. EV cars are serviced too — ask for the current scope when you call, since EV work and prices depend on the model.
Booking from Dombivli, Kalyan or Thane: call, WhatsApp or book online
- Call or WhatsApp +91 72080 15250, or book online at book.autoport.co.in. Online, you choose the car, the service, the date and a slot. Nothing is paid online.
- Tell us the symptom in your own words — Hindi, Marathi or English, sab chalega. Tell us your building and gate, and whether the car is in basement or podium parking, if a driver needs to collect it.
- Drive in or arrange pick-up & drop — Desai Naka, opposite Croma (SK Plaza) on Kalyan-Shilphata Road. The workshop is open 24x7, so a late-night drop after office is fine; call ahead so someone is ready for your car.
- Inspection and estimate. For a package, you already know the listed price. For a repair, we inspect first, then tell you what is wrong, what is urgent and what can wait, with the estimate. Extra work is done only after your approval.
- Collect and pay at the workshop after the job. Old parts can be shown to you on request.
Autoport India Pvt Ltd: address, phone and hours
Autoport India Pvt Ltd, Plot 140/1, Desai Naka, Opp. Croma (SK Plaza), Kalyan-Shilphata Road, Sagarli Gaon, Dombivli East, Thane, Maharashtra 421204. This is the Croma at Desai Naka on Kalyan-Shilphata Road — not the Croma on Manpada Road.
- Phone / WhatsApp: +91 72080 15250
- Hours: open 24x7, Monday to Sunday
- Book online: book.autoport.co.in
Get directions to Autoport on Google Maps
More guides: Ceramic coating vs wax · Car wash in Dombivli East · Anti-rust underbody coating
FAQs
My car looks dull but it is clean. Do I need a wash or a wax?
A wax polish. A wash removes dirt, but a dull yet clean finish means the shine layer is gone. Washing and wax polishing starts at ₹1,199 for a small car and adds shine plus water beading. If you can see circular swirl marks in the sun, you need rubbing and polishing instead.
Can rubbing and polishing remove a deep scratch?
No. Rubbing removes swirl marks and light clear-coat scratches. A scratch that catches your fingernail has gone through the clear coat and needs paint work, which is quoted after inspection.
How do I know if the wax on my car has worn off?
Do the water test: splash water on the bonnet. If it beads up, the wax is still there. If it spreads flat, the wax layer is gone and a wax polish is due, usually every two to three months.
Does interior dry cleaning really use no water?
It uses foam and extraction with minimal water, not a soak. That is why the cabin still needs drying time afterwards. Plan for the car to stay the day so the seats and carpets dry fully before the car is closed again.
My car is new. Does it need rubbing and polishing?
Rarely. A new car usually needs only a wash and wax, because the clear coat is at its best. Rubbing is for older paint with swirl marks, oxidation or dull patches. Ask for a paint inspection first and let the inspection decide.
When should I get an anti-rust underbody coating done?
Before the monsoon, as advised, when the underside is clean and dry. It protects the floor pan, wheel arches and exposed metal from water and salt. It does not fix existing deep rust holes, so check for orange spots behind the wheels first.
Written by Shivam Kumar (@visionquantech) for Autoport India Pvt Ltd. Published 10 Nov 2026. General guidance only — your car's owner's manual and an in-person inspection come first.