How Long Does a Car Valet Take? Blue Horizon's Honest Guide

It is one of the most common questions we get asked before a booking: how long will it take? It is a fair question — you need to know if your car will be available for the school run, or whether you should plan to work from home for the day.

Here is the honest answer, broken down by service.

Maintenance Valet — 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Our Maintenance Valet (from £80) is designed for vehicles that are already in good condition and just need a regular, thorough clean. That includes exterior hand wash and rinse, wheel clean and tyre dress, interior vacuum and wipe-down, window clean, and door shuts. On most standard cars, this takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Larger vehicles — Range Rovers, Q7s, Sprinters — typically take closer to 2.5 hours.

Maintenance Plus — 2 to 3.5 hours

The Maintenance Plus (from £110) adds deeper interior work — fabric or leather conditioning, boot clean, engine bay tidy, and a wax protection layer on the exterior. This typically runs 2 to 3.5 hours depending on vehicle size and interior condition.

Deep Clean — 4 to 8 hours

The Deep Clean (from £180) is a full day's work on most vehicles. Interior strip and deep clean, carpet and fabric steam clean or extraction, leather treatment, full exterior decontamination wash, clay bar, glass clean, and full wheel arch and door shut detail. Smaller vehicles at 4 hours, larger SUVs or heavily soiled interiors at 6-8 hours.

We never rush a Deep Clean. If it takes longer because the interior is particularly dirty, we take the extra time. The result is what matters.

Enhancement Detail — 6 to 8 hours

The Enhancement Detail (from £495) includes a full decontamination wash, clay bar, single-stage machine polish for swirl reduction and gloss enhancement, IPA wipe and inspection, quality sealant or wax, and a full interior clean. A full day's work — typically 6-8 hours depending on vehicle size.

Paint Correction Packages — 1 to 2 days

Our Refined Correction Package (from £595) and Flawless Finish Package (from £745) are multi-stage polishing processes that require one to two full days depending on paint condition, vehicle size, and the degree of correction required. We use paint thickness gauges throughout to ensure we are working safely within the limits of the clear coat.

What Can Affect the Time?

A few things can extend the time beyond the typical range:

• Heavily soiled interiors — especially vehicles with children, dogs, or significant food and drink spills
• Larger vehicles — SUVs, pick-ups, vans always take longer than hatchbacks
• Paint in poor condition — more passes required during machine polishing

All Blue Horizon services are delivered mobile across Warwickshire — Rugby, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth, Southam and beyond. We come to you. Request a quote and we will confirm timings based on your specific vehicle and chosen service.