Certified Phoenix E.O.D & Feynlab Installer · (904) 478-1697 · 7 Days a Week · 8am–8pm

Paint Correction

Machine polishing to remove swirls, scratches, oxidation, and other paint defects. Restore your vehicle’s finish to better than showroom condition.

Quick Paint Correction Quote

Choose your vehicle and jump into a correction quote without retyping the basics from scratch.

What Is Paint Correction?

Paint correction is the process of permanently removing imperfections in your vehicle’s clear coat using machine polishers and professional-grade compounds. Unlike fillers or glazes that temporarily mask defects, true paint correction removes them entirely.

Common defects we correct include swirl marks from automatic car washes, light scratches, water spots, oxidation, and haze. The level of correction depends on the severity of the defects and the result you want to achieve.

Paint correction is also the recommended preparation step before applying a ceramic coating, ensuring the coating locks in a flawless finish.

Paint correction before and after result by Flagship Detailing

Paint Correction Packages

Choose the level of correction your paint needs. Not sure which one? We’ll assess your vehicle and recommend the right approach.

1-Step Machine Polish

$599 starting at
Estimated turnaround: 1 Day
  • Decontamination wash + iron remover
  • Clay bar treatment
  • Single-stage machine polish
  • Removes light swirls and haze
  • Restores gloss and clarity
  • 60–75% defect removal
  • Ideal for newer or well-maintained paint

Coupe/Sedan: $599
Small SUV/Truck: $699
Mid-Size SUV/Truck: $849
Full-Size SUV/Truck: $999

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2-Step Machine Correction

$1,099 starting at
Estimated turnaround: 1–2 Days
  • Decontamination wash + iron remover
  • Clay bar treatment
  • Compound stage to cut defects
  • Polish stage to refine finish
  • Removes moderate to heavy swirls
  • 85–95% defect removal
  • Best balance of correction and value

Coupe/Sedan: $1,099
Small SUV/Truck: $1,199
Mid-Size SUV/Truck: $1,349
Full-Size SUV/Truck: $1,499

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Severe / Wet Sanding

$1,500+ quote only
Estimated turnaround: Quote Required
  • Decontamination wash included
  • Wet sanding with fine-grit abrasives
  • Multi-stage compound and polish
  • Removes deep scratches and orange peel
  • 95–99% defect removal
  • For severely neglected or damaged paint

All vehicles: Quote required
Price based on condition and size

Request a Quote

All prices shown are starting rates. Final pricing is determined by vehicle size, paint condition, and technical complexity. A detailed quote is provided before any work begins.

Wet sanding and paint correction process by Flagship Detailing

About Wet Sanding

Wet sanding is the most aggressive form of paint correction available. It involves carefully sanding the clear coat with ultra-fine grit sandpaper (typically 2000–3000 grit) followed by multiple stages of compounding and polishing to restore a mirror-like finish.

This process physically removes clear coat material, which is why it carries inherent risk and requires expert technique. An inexperienced hand can burn through the clear coat, causing irreversible damage that requires a respray.

The pricing for wet sanding reflects the skill, time, and risk involved. Each panel must be carefully measured with a paint depth gauge and sanded with precision. It is quote-only because the scope of work varies dramatically from vehicle to vehicle.

We only recommend wet sanding when standard compounding cannot achieve the desired result — typically for deep scratches, severe orange peel, or heavily neglected paint.

Who This Service Is For

Paint correction is usually the right move when the finish looks dull, swirled, or nowhere close to its real potential.

Best Fit

Vehicles marked up by tunnel washes

If the paint looks hazy or covered in circular marring in direct sun, correction is often the service that makes the biggest visual difference.

Best Fit

Owners planning to add ceramic coating

Correction before coating is the cleanest way to avoid locking in a finish that still has obvious defects.

Best Fit

Cars you want to fall back in love with

A good correction can change how a vehicle looks every time the light hits it, which is why this service is so popular with enthusiasts and resale prep jobs.

Why People Book Paint Correction

Most correction clients are not looking for hype. They simply want the finish to look cleaner, deeper, and more cared for again.

Common Goal

The usual starting point is a vehicle that still has good paint underneath but looks tired because swirls, haze, or wash marks are hiding the finish.

Recent Booking

Correction is often booked right before ceramic coating so the paint can be improved first and protected second.

Why It Matters

This is one of the few services that truly changes the look of the paint instead of just cleaning around the problem.

Paint Correction FAQs

Helpful answers for drivers comparing gloss improvement, defect removal, and correction levels.

What is paint correction?

Paint correction is the process of removing defects from the clear coat with machine polishing. Instead of hiding swirls and haze, it levels out the finish so the paint looks clearer, deeper, and glossier.

How do I know if I need a 1-step or 2-step correction?

A 1-step machine polish is usually the right choice for lighter swirls, haze, and gloss improvement on paint that is in decent shape. A 2-step machine correction is better when the paint has more obvious defects and you want a more dramatic result. We can assess the vehicle and recommend the right fit.

Will paint correction remove every scratch?

Not always. Many swirls and lighter defects can be removed or greatly improved, but deeper scratches may be too deep to safely polish away completely. We focus on the best result that is safe for the paint.

Should I get paint correction before ceramic coating?

Yes, in many cases. Ceramic coating locks in the condition of the paint, so correction is often the best way to improve gloss and remove defects before the coating goes on.

What is wet sanding and when is it necessary?

Wet sanding is a more aggressive correction method used for deeper defects, orange peel, or heavily neglected paint. Because it removes more material and carries more risk, it is only recommended when standard polishing will not achieve the right result.

Can paint correction be done at my home?

Yes. Flagship is a mobile service and can perform paint correction on-site when the working conditions are appropriate. We will confirm the setup and service expectations before the appointment.

Find Out What Your Paint Is Capable Of

Not sure which level of correction your vehicle needs? Send us a few photos and we’ll recommend the right approach.

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