Frequently Asked Questions

Motor Valets is a mobile service covering Penarth, the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff. If you’re just outside these areas, send us a message with your postcode and we’ll confirm if we can visit.

You can book online using our booking system or send us a message with your preferred date, time and location. We’ll confirm availability and send you a booking confirmation.

Weekends and evenings tend to go first, so booking 1–2 weeks ahead is recommended. If you need something sooner (for a sale, photos or a special occasion), contact us and we’ll see what we can do.

Yes. If you’d like a regular valet (for example every 4 or 8 weeks), we can reserve repeat appointments so your vehicle stays clean all year.

For most visits we use your outdoor tap and a standard 3-pin socket. This allows us to work efficiently and safely. If you don’t have easy access to either, let us know when booking so we can discuss alternatives.

Yes, as long as it’s safe, legal and we can reach the vehicle with our equipment. Please mention if your car is in an underground car park or tight space so we can plan accordingly.

Remove personal belongings and any valuable or fragile items from the interior and boot. Child seats can stay fitted unless you specifically want them removed and cleaned.

Interior focuses on seats, carpets, plastics, glass and cabin areas. Exterior covers wash, wheels, tyres, door shuts and paintwork protection. Complete combines both in one visit for a full reset inside and out.

It depends on the package, vehicle size and condition. As a guide, interior or exterior-only services are typically around 1.5–2.5 hours, and complete valets around 2.5–4 hours. We work carefully rather than rushing, so we’ll always prioritise quality over speed.

Yes. If you don’t see exactly what you need, we can tailor a valet to suit your vehicle and how you use it — for example, extra attention on pet hair, family interiors or vehicles being prepared for sale.

At the moment we focus on safe washing, decontamination and light protection. If you’re interested in correction or enhancement work, contact us and we can discuss options or make recommendations.

In some cases, yes. Very heavy dirt, sand, mould, spillages or embedded pet hair can significantly increase the time required. If we expect this, we’ll explain any additional charge before starting so there are no surprises.

We aim for the best result possible, but some stains and odours can be permanent or require multiple treatments. We’ll always be honest about what’s realistic when we see the vehicle.

Yes. We work on most cars, estates, SUVs and light commercial vehicles. If your vehicle has fitted racking, a very dirty load area or specialist equipment, please mention it when booking.

Our website shows clear “from” prices by package and vehicle size. Final pricing depends on vehicle condition and any extras requested. We’ll confirm the price with you before we start work.

We accept card payments and cash on completion. For business customers we can arrange invoicing by prior agreement.

If you need to move or cancel your booking, please give as much notice as possible, ideally 24–48 hours. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be subject to a fee, especially at busy times.

Light rain usually isn’t a problem, but heavy rain, strong winds or extreme cold can affect results and safety. If the forecast looks poor, we’ll contact you to discuss options— continuing as planned, adjusting the service, or rescheduling.

Yes. Motor Valets is fully insured for the work we carry out. We treat every vehicle with care and respect, and work to safe methods and products.

We use reputable, car-safe products and techniques designed to clean effectively while protecting surfaces. If your vehicle has sensitive finishes (for example matte paint or specialist leather), please let us know so we can adjust our approach.

It depends on how you use the vehicle and the weather, but many customers find that a complete valet every 4–8 weeks keeps the car looking fresh and much easier to maintain between visits.

Yes. We’re happy to recommend simple, safe maintenance tips and products so you can keep the vehicle looking good for longer without undoing the work we’ve done.

We sometimes photograph vehicles to showcase our work. If you’d prefer us not to take or use photos of your car, just let us know on the day and we’ll respect that completely.