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You may have heard both the terms ‘car valeting’ and ‘car detailing’ being used by automotive professionals and car care magazine and websites - but what’s the difference?  Get to grips with the similarities and contrasts with the following insight from Mer car care products.

Car valeting vs car detailing

Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably to mean cleaning and polishing a car both inside and out, car detailing tends to be more involved and produce more dramatic results than car valeting.

For this reason a car detailing is generally more expensive than car valeting and is a service most commonly used by trade dealers preparing vehicles for shows or display on garage forecourts.

What does car detailing involve that car valeting doesn’t?

A standard car valeting service will generally include a wash and wax of the exterior of your vehicle, buffing and polishing of bodywork, mirrors and glass surfaces, vacuuming of upholstery and carpets and the removal of any rubbish or debris.

In contrast, a car detailing service involves the use of an additional range of cleaning and polishing products to provide a more thorough spruce and shine of all exterior elements. This will typically include washing, waxing and treating paintwork, locks, windows, wheels, tyres, trims, mirrors and more.

Inside a vehicle, the attention to detail is greater again, with upholstery steam cleaned to remove any stains, dash board controls thoroughly dusted and polished and all interior areas vacuumed and buffed to a near new standard.

Underneath the bonnet

Some particularly intensive car detailing services may also include the cleaning and polishing of a car’s engine to remove the build up of dirt, grease and debris - something you will not be offered with a typical car valeting service.

High power jet washers and industrial degreasers are employed for this purpose and it can produce dramatic results on the engines of second-hand cars.