The whole point of a mobile valet is that you don't go anywhere. No queueing at a hand car wash, no dropping the car off and killing two hours in a retail park, no rearranging your day. The van comes to your driveway, your street or your office car park, and you carry on with whatever you were doing. But most people booking for the first time have the same practical questions — so here are the honest answers.
Does a mobile valet need your water and electricity?
A properly equipped mobile valeting van should be completely self-sufficient. That means it carries its own water tank, its own pressure system and its own power. You shouldn't be asked to run a hose out of your kitchen window or trail an extension lead across the pavement.
This matters more than it sounds. If a company needs your outside tap, they can't work at an office block, a flat, or a car park — and they're passing their running costs onto your water bill. Always ask before booking: "Do you bring your own water and power?" If the answer is anything other than a clear yes, keep looking.
Where can they actually park and work?
Houses and driveways
The easiest scenario. A driveway or off-street space is ideal — the van parks nearby, and the valeter needs roughly a metre of clear space around the car to work comfortably.
On-street parking
Perfectly workable across most of West London, and it's what we do every day. The one thing worth checking is whether your road has permit or timed restrictions that would stop the van parking close by for an hour or two. If in doubt, mention your street when you book and we'll tell you if it's an issue.
Flats, estates and shared car parks
Usually fine, with one caveat: some managed developments and estates have rules about "trading" on site. It's worth a quick word with your building manager. In practice, a compact eco-friendly setup with no mess and no runoff is far less of a problem than a jet-wash operation, and most managers have no objection.
Office car parks
One of the most popular options — you hand over the keys at 9am and drive home in a spotless car. Larger sites often want a nod from facilities first, and some companies arrange a regular monthly slot for staff. If several colleagues book together it makes the whole visit more efficient.
How long does it take?
It depends entirely on what you've booked, but as a rough guide:
- Exterior wash and tidy-up — around 45 minutes to an hour
- Mini valet (inside and out, sensible level of detail) — 1.5 to 2 hours
- Full valet — 3 to 4 hours
- Interior deep clean with steam — 3 hours plus, depending on condition
- Machine polishing or coating work — most of a day
You don't need to stand and watch. Most customers hand over the keys, go back inside or back to their desk, and get a message when it's done.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain genuinely isn't a problem for a wash — the car is getting wet anyway, and the finish is unaffected once it's dried properly. What does need dry conditions is protection work: waxes, sealants and especially ceramic coatings need a dry, stable surface to bond correctly.
Heavy or persistent rain is usually a reschedule, and any decent company will offer that without fuss rather than rush a poor job. Interior work carries on regardless.
A two-minute checklist before the van arrives
- Clear personal items from the seats, boot and door pockets — it saves time and nothing gets moved that shouldn't be
- Take out child seats if you want the seats underneath cleaned properly
- Say if there's a specific problem — a spilled coffee, a pet-hair situation, a scuff you're worried about. It changes the approach
- Mention parking quirks — a tight mews, a permit zone, a barrier code for the car park
- Flag any damage you already know about, like a loose trim piece or a cracked mirror
Is it more expensive than a car wash?
Per visit, usually yes. But you're not comparing like with like. A £6 hand wash is a queue, a rushed pass with a shared brush, and a real risk of swirl marks in your paintwork. A mobile valet is your time back, a proper method, and products that won't strip your protection. For a lot of our customers the deciding factor isn't the price at all — it's the hour they didn't lose on a Saturday.
If you want the full breakdown of what different services cost and what's included at each level, our valeting service page lists everything, and there's a detailed car valet cost guide in the Journal.
Booking
We cover West London seven days a week, fully mobile and fully self-sufficient — our own water, our own power, an electric van and biodegradable products. Send a photo of your car with your enquiry and you'll get a straight, tailored price rather than a guess. Get in touch for a free quote.
