Service Warranty

At Richie's Auto Detailing, we stand behind our work. This page outlines the warranty coverage for our ceramic coating and paint protection services, including what's covered, what's excluded, and your responsibilities for maintaining coverage.

1. Professional Ceramic Coating Warranty (5 Years)

Our professional-grade ceramic coating applied during the New Car Prep package includes a 5-year warranty against:

• Coating Failure: Premature degradation, peeling, flaking, or delamination of the ceramic coating under normal use conditions.
• Loss of Hydrophobicity: Significant reduction in water beading behavior when maintenance requirements are followed.
• Chemical Resistance: Failure to protect against environmental contaminants including bird droppings, tree sap, and light chemical exposure when promptly cleaned.
• UV Protection: Noticeable oxidation or fading of clear coat protected by the ceramic coating.

2. Ceramic Sealant Warranty (1 Year)

The ceramic sealant applied during the Gloss & Protect package includes a 1-year warranty covering:

• Protection Performance: Maintained hydrophobic properties and surface slickness under normal driving and washing conditions.
• Gloss Retention: The enhanced gloss achieved through paint enhancement polish should remain visible throughout the warranty period.

3. Paint Sealant (3 Months)

Standard paint sealants applied during Exterior Detailing and the Full Reset package provide approximately 3 months of protection. This is a durability estimate rather than a formal warranty, as sealant longevity varies based on:

• Frequency of washing and washing methods used
• Exposure to elements (sun, rain, environmental fallout)
• Parking conditions (garage vs. outdoor)
• Geographic location and climate

4. What Is NOT Covered

The following are explicitly excluded from all warranty coverage:

• Physical Damage: Scratches, chips, dents, or abrasions caused by contact with objects, debris, accidents, or vandalism.
• Improper Washing: Damage caused by automatic car washes (especially brush washes), abrasive materials, or harsh chemicals not approved for coated surfaces.
• Neglect: Failure to wash the vehicle for extended periods, allowing contaminants to etch into the coating.
• Chemical Damage: Exposure to strong acids, bases, industrial fallout, or solvents that exceed the coating's chemical resistance specifications.
• Modification or Repair: Areas that have been repainted, wrapped, or otherwise modified after the coating application.
• Water Spots: Mineral deposits from hard water that are left to dry and etch into the coating surface.
• Normal Wear: Gradual reduction in hydrophobic properties over time is expected and does not constitute coating failure.
• Pre-Existing Conditions: Paint defects, oxidation, or damage present before coating application.

5. Maintenance Requirements

To maintain your warranty coverage, the following maintenance schedule must be observed:

6. How to File a Warranty Claim

If you believe your coating has failed and you have maintained it according to the requirements above:

1. Contact Us: Reach out via phone or email with your warranty card information and a description of the issue.
2. Provide Documentation: Photos of the affected area and any relevant maintenance records are helpful.
3. Schedule Inspection: We will schedule an in-person inspection of the vehicle at no charge.
4. Resolution: If the claim is valid, we will re-apply the coating to the affected area(s) at no additional cost. If the entire vehicle requires recoating, we will work with you on a fair resolution.

7. Warranty Transferability

Our ceramic coating warranty is non-transferable. The warranty is valid only for the original customer who purchased the service and applies only to the vehicle on which the coating was originally applied.

If you sell your vehicle, the warranty coverage does not transfer to the new owner. However, you may provide the new owner with maintenance instructions to help preserve the coating's performance.

8. Other Services

Services not listed above (interior detailing, paint correction without coating, engine bay detailing, etc.) do not carry an explicit warranty but are covered by our satisfaction guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the quality of work, please notify us before we leave so we can address any concerns immediately.

For paint correction services, the results are permanent in the sense that removed scratches and swirls will not return on their own. However, new scratches can occur from improper washing or normal use, which are not covered under any warranty.