The main difference between a car wash and a professional car detailing is how in-depth the overall cleaning process is. A car wash is meant to be an exterior washing of your vehicle to keep the exterior surface cleaning from dirt, dust and debris. While an auto detailing is a detail-oriented cleaning of both the exterior and interior of your vehicle. A detailing service can result in a much more thorough clean and will also provide a layer of protection to help extend the life of internal and external components of your car.