Frequently asked questions
Everything about Valetly, in one page
Real answers to the questions Londoners ask us most. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us.
Pricing & payment
How Valetly's fixed-price model works and when your card is charged.
How much does a Valetly car wash cost in London?
Valetly fixed prices start at £75 for an Express Exterior on a medium car. A Mini Wash is £99, an Interior Wash £119, a Full Wash £169 and a Signature Detail £269. Vehicle size adjusts the total by −£5 (small) to +£25 (van). The full grid lives on the pricing page.
Are Valetly prices really all-inclusive?
Yes. The Valetly price you see at checkout is the price you pay. Products, travel within covered London areas, before-and-after photos and the re-clean promise are all included. There are no surge charges, no booking fee and no tip required.
When is my card charged?
Valetly authorises your card when you book and captures the payment only after the valet has finished and uploaded the after photos. If you cancel more than 24 hours before the slot, nothing is captured. Cancellations inside 24 hours are charged 50%; no-shows are charged in full.
Does Valetly accept cash?
No. Valetly only accepts secure card payments processed by Stripe. Valets do not handle cash and cannot accept tips outside the app — this protects both customers and valets and keeps every job traceable.
Is VAT included?
Yes. All Valetly prices on the website include UK VAT. A VAT invoice is available on request from your account — useful for business customers and fleets billed through /for-business.
Do you offer discounts for repeat bookings?
Yes. Valetly Subscriptions give a 10–15% discount on recurring weekly or fortnightly slots, plus priority booking. Details and plan tiers are on /subscriptions.
Is tipping expected?
No. Tipping is appreciated but never expected at Valetly. You can add a tip in the app after the job is finished, and 100% of the tip goes to the valet.
The service
How Valetly connects you with a vetted valet at your address.
How does Valetly's mobile wash actually work?
A vetted valet comes to your home, office or parking bay. You describe where the car is parked; the valet handles the clean and uploads before-and-after photos when finished. More detail on the mobile car wash service page.
Won't a mobile wash scratch my paint?
Valets on the platform are independent professionals who are expected to work with reasonable care and skill. Every booking includes before-and-after photos so any issue can be reviewed and put right under our satisfaction guarantee.
Is the Valetly service safe for ceramic coatings and PPF?
Valets are independent professionals who choose their own products and method. If your car has ceramic coating or PPF, mention it in the booking notes and the valet can confirm whether their method is suitable before starting.
Who supplies the products and equipment?
Each valet is self-employed and brings their own products and equipment. We verify ID, insurance and references before they can take jobs, and every booking includes before-and-after photos.
Can you clean a very muddy or salty car?
Yes. Valets choose the approach that suits the condition of the car and the parking context. For heavily soiled vehicles we recommend the Full Valet so the valet has enough time allocated.
Booking & access
Booking windows, rescheduling and how the valet reaches your car.
How far ahead can I book a Valetly slot?
Valetly's booking window is 14 days. Same-day slots are sometimes available in central London if a valet is already on a nearby job. Subscribers get priority booking and a 21-day window.
Do I need to be there during the wash?
No. Many Valetly customers leave their key with a porter or in a key safe and go to work. The valet takes before-and-after photos that are pushed to your phone in real time, so you can see the result before paying.
How do I reschedule a booking?
Open the booking in your Valetly account and choose a new slot. Free reschedules are allowed up to 24 hours before the original time. Inside 24 hours a £10 admin fee applies to cover the valet's lost slot.
What if it rains?
Light rain is fine, but heavy downpours interrupt the photo audit. If the forecast shows persistent heavy rain in your postcode, Valetly proactively reschedules at no charge the evening before. You can also reschedule yourself for free until the valet arrives if the weather turns.
How long does a job take?
An Express Exterior is around 45 minutes, a Mini Valet 75 minutes, an Interior Valet 90 minutes, a Full Valet 2.5 hours and a Signature Detail up to 4 hours. Valetly sends a precise ETA the evening before.
Can I book multiple cars at the same address?
Yes. Add each vehicle to your Valetly account and book them on the same arrival slot — the valet will do them back-to-back. Households with 3+ cars get an automatic multi-car discount at checkout.
Parking & locations
Where Valetly can clean your car — and where the regulations need a workaround.
Can Valetly wash my car on a London residential parking bay?
Yes, on residential bays and CPZ bays where parking is permitted. Valets carry insurance documents if a warden asks.
What about red routes and double yellows?
Valetly cannot wash a vehicle parked on a red route or double yellow — those bays do not permit parking long enough for a wash, regardless of method. If your usual spot is restricted, Valetly will suggest the nearest legal bay during booking.
Do you work in underground or multi-storey car parks?
Yes — and underground bays are ideal because they shelter the job from rain. Valetly valets carry a portable LED rig and the building manager only needs to allow access. For managed buildings, see /residential-car-wash-london.
Which London areas does Valetly cover?
Valetly covers 90+ London neighbourhoods grouped into 12 borough hubs from Kensington & Chelsea through to Tower Hamlets. The full map and the list of micro-areas is on /coverage.
Can you clean a car parked at my office?
Yes. Valetly's office and while-you-work services are designed exactly for that: cars are cleaned in your workplace car park during the working day, with no need to move the vehicle. Suitable for individual employees or as a corporate perk.
Valets & vetting
Who actually shows up to clean your car, and how Valetly checks them.
Who are Valetly's valets?
Valetly valets are self-employed professionals who pass a six-step vetting process before taking a solo booking: photo ID, right-to-work, references, public liability insurance (minimum £1m), method training and a chaperoned trial wash. Most have prior valeting experience. Full breakdown on /how-we-vet-washers.
Are Valetly valets insured?
Yes. Every Valetly valet carries public liability insurance with a minimum £1m cover, verified annually. The certificate is stored on the platform and can be shown to building managers, fleet operators or wardens on request.
Can I request the same valet next time?
Yes. After a job you can save your valet as a favourite, and Valetly will try to allocate them on future bookings if their schedule allows. Subscriptions automatically pin a single valet to the recurring slot wherever possible.
What happens if I'm not satisfied with the wash?
Valetly's re-clean promise: if a finished area doesn't match the photo standard, flag it within 48 hours and a valet returns to re-clean the area free of charge. It is a re-clean commitment, not a money-back guarantee — Valetly's job is to deliver the standard.
Can my dog be in the car during the interior valet?
No. Valetly valets cannot start an interior job with pets or children in the vehicle. Pet hair removal is a paid add-on (£15) and you must remove the pet before the booked slot. The exterior wash can proceed normally.
Business & fleets
How Valetly works for companies, fleets and managed residences.
Do you offer invoiced billing for businesses?
Yes. Valetly offers monthly consolidated invoices for fleet, office and concierge accounts, with optional cost-centre breakdowns and VAT recovery. Set-up is handled through /for-business and a named account manager.
Can Valetly handle a multi-site fleet contract?
Yes. Valetly currently serves fleets ranging from a handful of pool cars to multi-depot operations across Greater London. Each site gets a fixed schedule, a primary valet and a backup, and centralised reporting on photos and audit results. See /fleet-car-wash-london.
Can residents in my building book individually but be billed as a service?
Yes. Valetly offers concierge-coordinated washes where the building books slots for residents, and residents can also book directly. The building can either pay centrally or pass the cost through to the resident — both flows are supported.
Is there a minimum number of cars for a fleet contract?
No hard minimum, but Valetly's fleet pricing tier starts to make sense above five recurring vehicles per week. Below that, Valetly Subscriptions are usually a better fit because they keep individual pricing while offering the recurring discount.