A car valet, also known as valeter, cleans the inside and outside of cars. It takes a few hours to give a car a full valet.
The Work
You could be:
checking the car with the customer to agree what should be done
using a high pressured washer to clean the outside of the car
steam cleaning the car engine, wheel arches and the vehicle frame
cleaning the windows
vacuuming and shampooing the upholstery
waxing and polishing car surfaces, perhaps using a polishing or buffing machine
collecting and returning cars
travelling to customers in order to clean cars on their premises
keeping a daily work log.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organization you work for
the demand for the job.
Starting pay is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW).
As of 1 April 2023 the National Minimum Wage is £5.28 an hour for workers under 18, £7.49 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20 and £10.18 an hour for workers aged 21 to 22. The National Living Wage for those aged 23 and over is £10.42 an hour. Overtime and bonuses can increase your pay.
Recently job postings have advertised salaries of around £20,000 to £30,000 a year, and rates of around £9.00 per hour.
Conditions
You will probably have to work in the evenings and weekends to get work done on time, and meet the needs of the customers.
You will probably be working on a forecourt and will usually work outdoors.
At first you will work with an experienced car valet until you are able to work on your own.
The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) offer a course in Car Valeting which covers the correct knowledge and procedures involved in working in workshops and external areas.
Getting On
After gaining experience, you could move on, for example to self-employment.
More Information
For more information please see organisation below:
2022
