Are cheap valets any good?
We often see Facebook posts advertising valet services starting from as little as £8 for an exterior wash, or £15–£20 for a full inside-and-out clean.
On the surface, that sounds like a great deal — and who doesn’t love a bargain? But when you factor in the cost of cleaning products, fuel, travel time, labour, and other overheads, the numbers begin to tell a different story. After expenses, the valeter might only be taking home £10 to £15 per job. At that rate, can they really afford to take the time needed to do a thorough job? Chances are, they’ll be rushing through to make it financially worthwhile — and that often shows in the end result.
Another common frustration is the vague pricing. Many simply respond with “DM me” when asked about costs. At Shineworx Valeting, we believe in full transparency. All of our prices are clearly listed on our website — no hidden fees or guesswork. And if there’s a service you can’t find or something custom you need, we’re always happy to discuss and provide a quote directly — no need for cryptic messages.
When we wash a vehicle’s exterior, it can take up to an hour or more — because we take the time to do it properly, using the right tools and techniques. Interiors, depending on their condition, can take anywhere from one to three hours to clean thoroughly. So when someone offers a full valet for £20 (or closer to £15 after costs), it’s fair to question whether they’re truly delivering a high-quality service. Realistically, it’s just not possible to do a proper job in under 1–2 hours.
The hand car washes you see at old petrol stations often operate on a “quick in, quick out” system with several staff handling different stages. While cheap, this approach rarely offers the attention to detail you get from a dedicated professional valeter. Yes, a premium service costs more — but in our opinion, and the opinion of many of our happy customers, it’s worth every penny.
In the end, you have to ask yourself: is that “cheap” valet really a good deal — or are you simply getting what you pay for in terms of time, effort, and results?