If I need advice, do I have to show what I have already attempted?
You must share what you have already tried or researched when asking for assistance, following the guidelines of {Show Your Work}.
Subreddit guides
r/AutoDetailing rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/AutoDetailing: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 934,481
- Verified
- October 21, 2026
- Category
- Hobby and enthusiast communities
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Be Kind, Be Respectful: Remember the human behind the screen. Focus on sharing your passion for detailing positively and respectfully. Toxicity, harassment, or hate in any form isn't tolerated.
- Focus on Detailing: This community focuses on detailing vehicles like cars, boats, and planes. Detailing is a systematic approach involving thorough cleaning and finishing to maintain or elevate a vehicle's appearance. Discussions should revolve around detailing (which includes cleaning, protecting, and minor cosmetic improvements) as well as products, tools, and outcomes.
- No Repair Work: Note that while detailing includes a range of cosmetic care, it does not extend to repairs (interior, exterior, bodywork, or mechanical.) Posts about crash damage, significant panel repairs, painting, rust treatment, interior trim and fabric repairs, mechanical fixes, and so on all fall outside our scope. For repair advice, consider [this list](https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/wiki/faqs/#wiki_q.3A_what_subreddits_are_for_auto_repairs.3F) of alternative subreddits.
- Utilize Available Resources: Before posting, please utilize existing resources (e.g., [HTAD wiki](https://howtoautodetail.com/), searching the subreddit, Google, etc.) to find answers to your questions. Common questions with easily findable answers will be redirected.
- Show Your Work: When seeking assistance, share what you've already tried or researched. This helps the community provide targeted advice and ensures posts contribute new insights and solutions. For posts showcasing vehicle cleaning results, we require both 'Before' and 'After' images. This allows the community to appreciate the transformation and effort involved. Posts with only 'After' photos, or without a clear comparison, are removed.
- Be Clear, Be Relevant: * Ensure content is unique, accurate, and formatted for easy reading. * Post only high-resolution pictures and videos. * Stay on topic in posts and comments, and avoid threadjacking. * No NSFW content. * No misleading titles, unverified claims, duplicate content, or other low-quality issues.
- No Local or Pricing Questions: Due to this subreddit's size and international nature, we do not allow posts seeking local service provider recommendations or product availability. For local inquiries, use local/regional subreddits. Similarly, requests for pricing evaluations on detailing services are not permitted due to the significant variation in costs based on location and other factors. We recommend contacting local professionals directly for the most accurate and relevant pricing information.
- No Spam, No Selling: Spam and direct sales are prohibited. This includes selling or advertising chemicals, tools, supplies, etc. URL shorteners and affiliate links are not allowed in posts or comments; always use the original URL. However, exceptions are made for: * Community-organized sales events, such as group buys approved by moderators * Use of official URL shorteners by the originating company (e.g., amzn.com for Amazon)
- Responsible Self-Promotion: Self-promotion must be balanced with organic engagement. Read more about Rule 9 in the wiki [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/wiki/index/#wiki_rules).
- No Politics or Political Content: Keep discussions free of political topics, references to political figures, or content that could be seen as politically charged. With mod approval, exceptions may apply to topics directly impacting auto detailing.
- English-Only Content: All posts and comments must be in English to ensure clear communication and accessibility for our community members.
- Moderator Discretion Applies: We acknowledge that not every situation fits neatly within these guidelines. Moderators reserve the right to make rule exceptions based on the content's unique value, relevance, or potential impact on the community. This flexibility ensures our subreddit remains dynamic and responsive to its members' interests and the evolving nature of detailing. We appreciate your understanding that moderation is not always black and white.
Works well
- Showcasing a detailed transformation by posting high-resolution before and after photos of a vehicle.
- Asking specific questions about detailing techniques or product usage after first searching the subreddit and wiki.
- Sharing a small project or outcome while organically mentioning a tool or product you use, ensuring it is balanced with genuine discussion.
- Posting detailed guides or tips on a specific aspect of cleaning or protecting a vehicle's surface.
Avoid
- Posting about crash damage, significant panel repairs, painting, or mechanical fixes, as this falls under {No Repair Work}.
- Asking for local service provider recommendations or requesting pricing evaluations, because of the rule {No Local or Pricing Questions}.
- Posting results without including both 'Before' and 'After' images, which violates the requirement in {Show Your Work}.
- Spamming or directly selling chemicals, tools, or supplies, which is prohibited by {No Spam, No Selling}.
- Posting content that is disrespectful or toxic, which breaks the rule {Be Kind, Be Respectful}.
What r/AutoDetailing Is For
This community is the best place on Reddit for all things detailing. It covers vehicles like cars, planes, and boats. The focus is on detailing, which is defined as a systematic approach involving thorough cleaning and finishing to maintain or elevate a vehicle's appearance. Discussions should cover products, tools, and outcomes related to detailing.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The key rules that will determine if your marketing-adjacent post survives are {Focus on Detailing}, {Show Your Work}, {No Local or Pricing Questions}, {No Spam, No Selling}, and {Responsible Self-Promotion}. You must also respect {Be Kind, Be Respectful} at all times.
What To Post
If you are marketing respectfully, you should focus on sharing high-resolution pictures and videos that showcase your detailing work. When you share results, always make sure to include both 'Before' and 'After' images to satisfy {Show Your Work}. You can also post about techniques or products that relate directly to detailing, making sure any self-promotion is balanced with genuine engagement as required by {Responsible Self-Promotion}.
What To Avoid
You must avoid posts about repairs, which includes bodywork, mechanical fixes, and paint treatment, because of {No Repair Work}. You must also avoid asking for local shop recommendations or pricing information because of {No Local or Pricing Questions}. Furthermore, you must avoid spam or direct sales, which is covered by {No Spam, No Selling}.
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Common questions about r/AutoDetailing
Can I post about fixing a mechanical issue on my vehicle?
You cannot post about mechanical fixes, bodywork, or rust treatment, as these are repairs and fall outside the scope of {No Repair Work}.
Is it okay to ask for a recommendation for a detailing shop near me?
You cannot ask for recommendations for local service providers or request pricing information for detailing services due to {No Local or Pricing Questions}.
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