Every booth vehicle at SEMA 2026 has to be in place by 3pm on Monday, Nov 2, and then it sits under bright lights for four days while thousands of people walk past it. Lights show everything: dust in the panel gaps, streaks on the glass, a brake-dusty wheel. Here's the order we'd work through before a car rolls onto the floor.
1. Get the dust off before anything wet touches the paint
A car that came in on a trailer or drove across the desert is covered in fine grit. Wiping it dry, or even with a quick detailer, drags that grit across the paint and leaves fine scratches that show up under show lights.
Start with a proper wash: foam or a pre-rinse first to loosen the dirt, then a gentle hand wash, then blow out the gaps around mirrors, badges, grilles and door jambs so water and dust don't drip out later at the booth.
2. Wheels, tires and the parts people crouch down to see
People photograph wheels up close. Clean the barrels, not just the faces, and get the brake dust out from behind the spokes. Dress the tires with a satin finish rather than a wet, glossy one, because a heavy dressing slings onto the paint and collects dust all week.
If the car will be lifted, tilted or shown with the hood open, the wheel wells, engine bay and door jambs matter too. Those are the spots that get skipped on a normal wash. In the engine bay, wipe, don't spray, and keep water away from electronics.
3. Glass, mirrors and screens
Do the glass last, after any dressings or sprays, so overspray doesn't land on it. Clean inside and out, including the top edge of the windows that hides inside the door seal (lower the window an inch to reach it). Fingerprints on the inside of the glass are the first thing you'll notice once the car is lit.
4. Matte, wrap and PPF finishes need different care
- Matte paint and matte wrap: no wax, no polish and no glossy quick detailer. They fill the texture and leave shiny patches that can't be undone with a wipe. Use a matte-safe cleaner and blot rather than rub.
- Wrap and paint protection film: keep pressure washers away from the edges and seams so they don't lift. Avoid solvent cleaners on the edges for the same reason.
- Ceramic coated paint: a coating makes the car easier to clean, but it still needs a proper wash to get the dust off first. It does not stop scratches from wiping a dusty car.
5. Build a booth wipe-down kit for show days
Even a perfectly prepped car gets dusty and fingerprinted on the floor. A small kit keeps it looking right between show days:
- A stack of clean, soft microfiber towels (more than you think you need)
- A waterless wash or quick detailer that's safe for your finish (matte-safe if the car is matte)
- A soft, long-handled duster for the lightest dust only, and a quick detailer with plenty of lubrication for anything you have to wipe
- Glass cleaner and a separate glass towel
- A tire dressing applicator for touch-ups
Use one towel per panel and fold it often. Never dry-wipe visible grit. If a towel touches the floor, it's done for the day.
6. Know when to hand it to a pro
If you can see swirl marks in the paint now, the show lights will make them worse, and a wash won't fix them. Paint correction, ceramic coating and paint protection film all need shop time and a look at the car first, so those jobs need to come in early, not the day before move-in.
Getting it done before move-in
We're Detailers Of Las Vegas, a detail and paint protection shop at 6565 Spencer St, Suite 104, about 8 miles from the convention center. We work at our shop, by appointment. Here's what we offer before the show, with prices from our booking page:
| Service | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Express Wash | Exterior wash plus windows inside and out, quick interior vacuum and wipe, wheels and tires | $85 (truck or SUV $95) |
| Exterior Detail | Wash, clay bar and iron remover, a 6-month polymer sealant, glass, wheels and tires | $180 to $265 by size |
| Exterior Platinum | Exterior wash plus a one-step polish that brightens the paint (an enhancement, not a correction) | $400 to $490 by size |
Matte paint or matte wrap? Tell us when you book. Polish and sealant services are not for matte finishes.
For the full timeline and what to send us, read SEMA show car detailing in Las Vegas, before move-in. If you want the nose of a build protected before it's photographed all week, see our paint protection film page. For everyday care, see auto detailing.