When I’m working at our car detailing premises located on the Hampshire and West Sussex border, I frequently get asked… “What’s the difference between detailing and car valeting?”
It’s a popular misconception that they are the same thing. But, there are some distinct differences between car detailing and car valeting.
Car Valeting:
Valeting is the process of giving a car a quick, clean look. Thorough car valeting will generally take no more than a day. The paintwork has its gloss restored by using cost-effective products. Visual results from the process will last from a few weeks to a month.
Car Detailing:
Detailing restores a car to a better than factory fresh condition, (or as close as you can get it to that). By utilising machine polishing and protective ceramic coatings, the process adds great depth and gloss. A showroom finish is achieved by using this ‘correction process’. It permanently removes swirls and scratches without the requirement for any respray work. Car detailers will focus on using high quality products and processes. At my premises close to Petersfield on the Hampshire and West Sussex border, I use ceramic coatings, such as;
- KAMIKAZE Collection Miyabi Coat and ISM – KAMIKAZE Collection is a revolutionary range of high-end boutique car care products designed and manufactured in Japan, the home of ceramic coatings.
- GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum – Combined, these products offer remarkable swirl resistance and water repellency.
I also use Italian made Rupes Bigfoot Polishers, Rupes compounds and polishes and AMMO NYC cleaning chemicals.
Because of the high-quality products and processes used the visible results will last from 2-3 years, and sometimes longer. This also makes the vehicle very easy to clean. Car detailing can take a full week or more depending on the amount of work required.
Key differences between car valeting & car detailing at a glance.
- Quality – The products and processes used in detailing will always exceed those used in valeting, which are generally chosen for cost-effectiveness.
- Time – As the name suggests, it’s all in the details, so you can expect a full vehicle detail to take longer than valeting.
- Durability and Longevity – Detailing gives a permanent or longterm result as opposed to valeting where results will only last for 3 weeks to a month.
- Price – There’s a saying in life that ‘you get what you pay for’. This certainly applies when you compare detailing to valeting. Superior products and processes will inevitably cost more. But, detailing also represents value because the results last so much longer than valeting.