Car valet

valeter car washer car cleaner
Bookmark
Garage services
Support

Career outlook for car valet

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£15,000

Experienced

£21,000


Currently employed in Scotland

6,000

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would make sure that people’s cars are clean inside and out so they look as good as new.

You’d use high-pressured hoses to wash the outside of the car and polish the metalwork with special waxes to make it shiny.

You would:

  • Wash down the outside of the car to remove dirt and mud
  • Polish the windows, wheels, door handles and mirrors
  • Vacuum and shampoo the seats and carpets
  • Wax and polish the surfaces
  • Apply gels and other finishes to bumpers and trims
  • Steam-clean the engine, frame and wheel arches

You might need to collect vehicles and deliver them back to the owners when they have been cleaned.

You could be based in one place or work from a mobile unit which contains water, a generator, a power washer and wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

Working conditions

Hours

Your working hours will usually include weekends. Part-time work and overtime may be available.

Environment

You could work indoors or outdoors at garages, workshops or on customers' premises.

Travel

You will often need a full driving licence. With a mobile valeting service, you would travel from job to job.

UK employment status

Full-time

66%

Part-time

19%

Self employed

15%

Search course options

Thinking about your future? There are lots of courses available that could interest you. Use our course search to explore course options.

Find courses

Search job opportunities

If you're looking for your new career our job search can help you. Discover interesting opportunities and decide your next steps.

Find a job

Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Persevering
  • Cooperating
  • Respecting
  • Attention to detail
  • Concentrating
  • Managing resources
  • Time management

Skills Explorer

Your skills can help you choose the career that's right for you. You can build your skills through work, study or activities you do in your spare time.

Our Skills Explorer tool will help you understand what skills you have and match them to jobs that might suit you.

Use the Skills Explorer tool

Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

No formal qualifications are required though most employers value a good general education.

Useful subjects

  • English
  • Maths

Enterprise and business subjects can also be useful if you are considering self employment.

Helpful to have

Qualifications that demonstrate your employability, skills with cars, customer and/or cleaning such as

  • SQA  Employability Award (SCQF level 3/4)
  • Enterprise & Employability (SCQF level 4/5).

Once in work you can also join the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS) Car Valeting Certificate Scheme.