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Detailing Vice Academy

Auto Detailing Courses Miami FL

Detailing Vice Academy

The best way to understand why great detailing is difficult is to try it yourself. The Detailing Vice Academy was built on that belief — that real, hands-on training from experienced practitioners produces better outcomes than any tutorial, course platform, or YouTube channel. Whether you're a classic car owner who wants to care for your own vehicle properly, an aspiring professional looking to build a foundation, or a hobbyist who's serious about the craft, the Academy is where that knowledge transfers.

"Real knowledge transfers only from people who practice it daily on vehicles that don't forgive mistakes."

What Is the Detailing Vice Academy?

In-Person. Hands-On. Real Vehicles.

The Academy is a structured, in-person training program based at Detailing Vice in Miami, FL. Courses are taught by the same technicians who work on the shop's most demanding vehicles — classic cars with original paint, seven-figure exotics, concours-level restorations. This is not classroom theory delivered by instructors who learned it from other instructors. This is applied knowledge from people who practice it daily on vehicles that don't forgive mistakes.

Courses range from half-day introductions appropriate for complete beginners to multi-day immersive programs covering advanced techniques. All courses include hands-on work on real vehicles — not training cars — under the direct supervision of experienced technicians.

Courses Offered

The Curriculum.

01

Paint Correction Fundamentals

The foundation of everything in professional detailing. This course covers machine types (DA vs. rotary, when to use each), pad selection and pad priming, compound and polish chemistry, paint thickness gauges and how to use them, defect identification under proper lighting, and working safely on real paint. Students will perform correction work on a real vehicle under instructor supervision.

Learn more about our paint correction services →
02

Ceramic Coating Application

Coating application is more technical than it appears — surface preparation, application environment, flash time management, leveling technique, and cure management all determine whether a coating bonds correctly and performs as advertised. This course covers prep-to-application workflow, coating chemistry basics, product selection for different paint types, and the critical post-application care window. Students apply coating product under supervision.

Learn more about ceramic coating →
03

Paint Protection Film Installation

PPF installation is a skill that takes significant practice to master. This course introduces film types and their differences, surface preparation for film, squeegee technique, edge wrapping and trimming, handling complex curves, and troubleshooting common installation issues. Students complete partial film installation on real panels.

Learn more about PPF →
04

Full Detailing — Exterior and Interior

The comprehensive detailing course covers the complete detail workflow: wash chemistry and two-bucket method, clay bar decontamination, exterior paint care, glass polishing, rubber and trim care, interior material identification, cleaning products matched to material type, leather care and conditioning, fabric extraction, and the final inspection process. This course is the most appropriate starting point for complete beginners.

Learn more about our detailing services →
05

Vinyl Wraps

An introduction to vinyl wrap installation covering film types, surface preparation, squeegee and application technique, heat gun use, edge wrap and relief cut techniques, panel film fitting, and removal. Students work on practice panels and progress to vehicle sections.

Learn more about our wrap services →
06

Paintless Dent Removal (PDR)

PDR is one of the most technically demanding skills in the field. This introductory course covers PDR tools and their applications, reading a panel under PDR lighting, identifying appropriate PDR candidates, basic tab glue and push-down techniques, and recognizing the limits of PDR vs. traditional repair.

Learn more about our PDR services →
07

Classic Car Detailing Specialty

A dedicated course focused entirely on the unique challenges of detailing classic and vintage vehicles. Covers single-stage paint chemistry and correction, chrome polishing techniques, aged rubber and vinyl care, period-appropriate product selection, engine bay approaches for vintage vehicles, and the philosophy of preservation versus cosmetic restoration. This course is unique to the Detailing Vice Academy and reflects our core specialty.

Who the Academy Is For

Owners, Enthusiasts, Professionals.

Classic car owners who want to care for their own vehicles properly without risking damage from incorrect techniques or products. Automotive enthusiasts who want to detail their own vehicles to a professional standard. Aspiring professional detailers building foundational skills before entering the industry. Existing detailing professionals adding specific skills — ceramic coating, PPF, classic car care — to their service offering. Car collectors and show participants who want to understand the processes being applied to their vehicles

Classic Car Owners Automotive Enthusiasts Aspiring Professionals Existing Detailers Car Collectors Show Participants

Why Learn from Detailing Vice?

Working Pros, Not Career Trainers.

The instructors in the Academy are not career trainers who moved from vehicles to classrooms. They are working professionals who spend most of their time on the shop floor. The knowledge they teach comes from live experience — including the mistakes, the problem-solving, and the specific techniques developed for South Florida's climate and the specific vehicles that come through these doors.

Beyond the instruction itself, Academy students gain access to the shop environment, the product knowledge our technicians have developed over years of testing, and a direct connection to a professional network in the South Florida detailing and classic car community. Our car show presence means Academy graduates have immediate exposure to the show community where their work will ultimately be evaluated.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions.

Don't see your question? Contact our studio.

Do I need any prior experience to enroll in Academy courses?

No prior experience is required for introductory courses. The Full Detailing course and the Classic Car Detailing Specialty course are specifically designed to start from the beginning. Advanced courses in coating and PPF are more accessible to students with some prior detailing exposure, but motivated beginners are welcome — just let us know your experience level when you inquire.

What vehicles are used for hands-on training?

Students work on real vehicles — including vehicles belonging to the shop and, where arrangements allow, client vehicles that are in for service. This is intentional: working on vehicles where the outcome actually matters is a fundamentally different experience from working on a designated "training car" where mistakes have no consequences.

How many students are in each course?

Courses are kept small intentionally — typically four to six students maximum. This ensures each student gets direct instructor attention and adequate time on the vehicle. We don't run large group sessions where half the time is spent watching other students work.

Do you offer private or custom training sessions?

Yes. Private one-on-one training sessions and custom course formats for groups, corporate clients, or individuals with specific learning goals are available. Contact us to discuss your specific training needs and schedule.