Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a full valet cost?
A full valet starts at £100 for a normal-sized car in normal condition. That covers a two-stage wash with snow foam, proper hand wash, wheels, arches, door shuts, full interior vacuum and wipe-down, and a one-month sealant on the paint. Larger vehicles, and cars that need more work than a standard valet, are quoted before I start, so the figure you agree is the figure you pay. Full breakdown on the prices page.
What’s the difference between valeting and detailing?
Valeting is cleaning. Detailing is correcting.
A valet gets the car properly clean — inside and out — and puts a layer of protection on top. It does not remove swirl marks or scratches, because nothing applied on top of paint can remove a defect that’s in the paint.
Detailing means machine polishing to physically level the clear coat and take the defects out, then sealing that finish with a ceramic coating. It takes days rather than hours, which is why it costs from £380 rather than from £100.
If the car is dirty, you want a valet. If the car is clean and the paint still looks hazy or scratched in sunlight, you want detailing.
How long does a full valet take?
Usually 2–3 hours for a normal-sized car. A deep clean is more like 4–6 hours because of the extractor work on the seats and carpets, and because the decontamination stage can’t be rushed. Paint correction and ceramic coating run 2–6 days depending on the level.
Do you come to me?
Yes — home or workplace, whichever suits you. Tell me where the car will be sitting and when it’s free, and I’ll work around that. If parking is tight, mention it when you message and I’ll plan for it.
Paint correction and ceramic coating are the exception: those are done indoors at the unit in Whitburn, because coatings need controlled lighting and a dust-free space to cure.
What areas do you cover?
Whitburn, Livingston, Bathgate, Armadale, Blackburn, Fauldhouse, West Calder, Broxburn, Uphall and Linlithgow regularly, and I travel across West Lothian, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Full list on areas we cover. If you’re not on it, ask anyway.
Can you get pet hair, sick or spilt drinks out of the seats?
Usually, yes — that’s what the deep clean from £180 is built for. Cleaning solution is worked into the fabric, agitated, and then the dirty moisture is pulled straight back out with an extractor, rather than left to soak in and smell later. Pet hair gets lifted before any of that starts.
I’ll be honest with you if something won’t come out. Old dye transfer, bleach marks and burns generally won’t, and I’d rather tell you before you book than after.
Is ceramic coating worth it, and how long does it last?
It’s worth it if you’re keeping the car and you care how it looks. A professional FEYNLAB coating lasts 3–5 years, sheds water hard, and makes routine washing far easier because dirt struggles to key to the surface.
It is not a force field. It won’t stop stone chips and it won’t stop scratches from a bad wash technique. And it should only ever go on corrected paint — coating over swirl marks just locks them in for the next three years, which is why the correction is the expensive part, not the coating.
Do you valet in the rain? What about winter?
Yes to both. Rain doesn’t affect the wash or the interior work, and the sealant still bonds fine. Winter is arguably when a car needs it most — road salt is corrosive and sits in the arches and under the sills where nobody looks.
The exception is ceramic coating, which needs controlled conditions. That’s done indoors at Whitburn anyway, so weather never comes into it.
Still not sure? Call or WhatsApp 07510 141510.