Mobile car valeting packages come in all shapes and sizes, from a simple exterior wash to a mini valet, a full valet, or a maintenance valet. With so many options, it can be tricky to know which one to book.
In this guide, I’ll break down the most common mobile valeting packages and what they usually include, so you can pick the best one for your car.
1. Exterior Valet
- Prewash, snow foam, and hand wash
- Wheels, tyres, and mirrors cleaned
- Exterior-only quick refresh
An exterior valet is the most basic package and usually includes a prewash, snow foam, hand wash and dry, along with cleaning the wheels, tyres, and mirrors. It’s perfect if you just want a quick refresh for the outside of your car without going into a full interior clean.
In most cases, an exterior wash takes between 30 minutes and an hour to complete, which also makes it a convenient option for anyone with a tight schedule or limited time.
Price
The cost of an exterior wash varies depending on the valeter, your location, and whether it includes the wheels, mirrors, and windows. On average, you can expect to pay around £10 to £20.
2. Interior Valet
- Vacuuming, rubbish removal, and surface wipe-down
- Optional: carpet, seats, pet hair, odour treatment
- Basic interior refresh only
An interior valet focuses entirely on the inside of your car, giving it a fresh and tidy feel. It typically includes vacuuming, rubbish removal, and cleaning the dashboard and console.
For a more thorough result, many valeters offer extras such as carpet shampooing, seat cleaning, pet hair removal, and odour elimination.
This option is ideal if you want the interior spruced up without committing to a full valet. It’s also a great choice for pet owners who need regular professional cleaning to keep hair and odours under control.
Price
An interior valet can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or more to complete. It usually costs around £20 to £30 and involves more manual labour than an exterior wash.
3. Mini Valet
- Exterior wash with prewash, snow foam, rinse, and dry
- Interior vacuum and light wipe-down
- Excludes detailed wheel, mirror, and carpet cleaning
A mini valet usually includes a quick exterior wash and a light interior clean. This often involves a prewash, snow foam, rinse, and dry, along with an interior vacuum and basic wipe-down.
It generally skips the finer details, such as deep wheel brushing, specialist mirror or window cleaning for extra shine, and interior extras like carpet shampooing.
Price
You can expect to pay around £40-£50 for a mini valet which takes around 1-2 hours to complete. Again, however, this depends on the valeter, your location, and the duration.
4. Full Valet
- Full exterior wash including wheels, windows, and door sills
- Interior vacuum, shampoo, and window cleaning
- Detailed clean of vents, buttons, and crevices
A full valet is the complete works, covering every part of your car inside and out. It includes a thorough exterior wash of the bodywork, wheels, brake calipers, mirrors, windows, and door sills, along with a deep interior clean.
This mostly involves vacuuming, shampooing, interior window cleaning, and polishing all the hard-to-reach areas like air vents, buttons, and trim. A lot of valeters also offer steam cleaning for seats.
In short, a full valet is far more detailed and time-intensive than a mini valet, delivering a showroom-quality finish.
Price
Full valets can range from £50-£80 or more depending on exactly what’s included with the package.
5. Maintenance Valet
- Light clean to maintain shine between full valets
- Recommended within 4–6 weeks of a full valet
- Often discounted for existing clients only
A maintenance valet is designed for cars that have recently had a full valet, usually within the last 4 to 6 weeks. It’s a quick service to refresh the car and top up the shine before dirt has a chance to build up again.
These valets are often offered at a discounted price and are typically reserved for existing customers, as it takes much less time to clean a car that has already had a full valet previously.
Price
Maintenance valets usually cost around £30–£40, or even less if you sign up for a regular schedule, such as once a month. Discounts for ongoing bookings are usually available, since these cars are quicker to clean and require less intensive work.
6. Valeting Extras
- Optional add-ons like waxing, polishing, clay bar, pet hair, and odour removal
- Separate services so you only pay for what you need
- Customise your valet for extra care and finish
Most valeters also offer extras and add-ons, including waxing, polishing, clay bar treatment, pet hair removal, and odour elimination. These are separate services, allowing you to pick and choose only the ones your car needs.
Extras like these are popular because they can give your car a better finish and tackle issues a standard valet doesn’t address, such as stubborn smells or paint imperfections.
Price
Extras like pet hair removal can be as little as £10. It often depends on the size of your vehicle.
7. Detailing Packages
- Machine polishing and paint correction
- Engine bay cleaning
- Headlight restoration
- Waxing, sealing, and protective coatings
- Removal of scratches and imperfections
Depending on who you ask, mobile valeting and mobile detailing are two completely separate services. Mobile detailing goes far beyond a standard clean, focusing on deep cleaning and restoration to bring your car as close to showroom condition as possible.
It often involves specialist products and advanced tools, such as machine polishers, steam cleaners, and protective coatings. Services can include engine bay cleaning, headlight restoration, polishing, waxing, sealing, and applying long-lasting protective treatments.
Detailing not only removes scratches and paint imperfections but can also significantly boost your car’s resale value.
Price
Mobile detailing can range from £100 to £250 or more, depending on the level of service and how long the job takes. A premium detail that includes all the extras can often take an entire day to complete, reflecting the time, care, and attention to detail required to achieve the ultimate finish.
What valet package is best for a quick wash?
An exterior valet or mini valet is your best bet if you just want a quick, no-fuss car wash. Both are affordable options that provide a noticeable refresh without taking up much of your day, usually no longer than an hour or two to complete, sometimes less.
What valet package is best for selling a car?
If you’re selling your car, a full valet is the best choice. It includes a thorough exterior wash and detailed interior clean that can boost your vehicle’s resale value, make your listing photos stand out, and removing any odours or traces of pets.
What valet package is best for luxury vehicles?
A full valet or complete detail is the top choice for luxury vehicles because it covers everything needed to make your car look like new. If you have the budget, it’s definitely worth investing in advanced services like clay bar treatment, machine polishing, and headlight restoration.
Conclusion
From a quick exterior wash to a full valet, most car care professionals offer a wide range of mobile valeting packages to suit different needs.
Whether you want to just freshen up your car for summer or improve its appearance before selling, hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the various types of mobile valets and the best option for your needs.
