Car valeting slot lengths: size, condition and level

A valeting day runs on time when each slot matches the real job. Three things decide the length: the service level, from a quick exterior wash to a full valet; the size of the vehicle; and its condition, from tidy to covered in dog hair or mud. Offer a few clear levels, price larger vehicles separately, ask about condition at booking, and leave a buffer between cars for drying and setting up. Drivers then book a slot that fits, and the next car is not kept waiting.

A city car and a seven-seat people carrier do not take the same time, especially inside. Create separate services by size, or a size add-on with its own price and extra time. Condition matters as much: sand, pet hair, child seats and food crumbs can make an interior job much longer. Ask in the service description for the driver to mention pets, children's seats or heavy soiling, and price a condition add-on clearly so nobody is surprised.

Shampooed seats and carpets need time to dry, and a car washed outside in cold or damp weather takes longer to finish properly. Build drying time into the slot for shampoo services, and tell the driver whether they can use the car straight away. If you work outdoors, agree a rule for rain days: move the booking or switch to an interior-only service.

Moving cars, refilling water, changing towels and dealing with a driver who arrives late all eat into the day. A short buffer after each slot keeps the schedule realistic. Time your jobs for a few weeks and adjust the slot lengths to what you see.

Short exterior washes suit drivers who wait. Full valets work better as a drop-off with a collection time. If you work as a mobile valeter at homes or offices, add travel between bookings, check access to water and power, and ask where the car will be parked. Group mobile bookings by area on given days to keep travel short.

A driver who has the car washed every two weeks or every month is easier to plan than a one-off valet. Offer a maintenance wash for regular customers, shorter because the car never gets very dirty, and book the next one at handover. For businesses with several vehicles, agree a fixed day and book the cars one after another.

Ask about special surfaces before the day: matt paint, ceramic coatings, Alcantara or delicate leather need specific products and sometimes more time. Note them in the booking so you bring the right kit.

Walk round the car with the driver at handover: show the finished interior, point out marks you could not remove, and mention anything you noticed such as a worn wiper or a tyre that looks low. It builds trust and sometimes leads to a maintenance booking.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create one service per level and size, describe what is included and how long the car stays with you, and publish slots that repeat weekly. Each slot belongs to one service and sits within a single day, and with one place per slot a booked slot no longer appears on your public page. Drivers book with their name, email and phone and can add the car model and its condition in the optional note, which you read in your new-booking email. For a fleet or a regular customer, you can book their cars yourself from your calendar.

Durations and prices are examples: set your own. If a booking has to move, change it from your bookings list and tell the driver yourself, as Book does not email clients when a booking is rescheduled or cancelled. Book costs €5/month, all-inclusive: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no commitment.