HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a car detailer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A car detailing in Ireland costs €100–€600 per detail, typically around €250. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a car detailer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers car detailer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — paint Correction — this service focuses on removing imperfections like scratches and swirl marks from the car's paint.
- How does size of the vehicle change the price?A wide job needs more equipment brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of detailing required change the price?A design of your own costs more than one off the shelf. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services included change the price?The standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Car detailing generally does not cover mechanical repairs or services such as oil changes — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a car detailer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Motor trade insurance covering your car while it is in their custody, which is separate from their public liability; A written estimate before work starts, and a call before any extra work; Whether parts are new, reconditioned or used, named on the invoice; The guarantee on parts and on labour, separately, in writing; Whether diagnosis is charged separately and whether it is credited against the repair; For a pre-purchase inspection, that the inspector is independent of the seller.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers car detailer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — paint Correction — this service focuses on removing imperfections like scratches and swirl marks from the car's paint.
A good answer: A wide job needs more equipment brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A design of your own costs more than one off the shelf. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Car detailing generally does not cover mechanical repairs or services such as oil changes — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a car detailer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody — engine Bay Cleaning — detailers often clean the engine bay to remove dirt and grime, which can help with maintenance.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the car detailer starts, and an itemised invoice after — interior Cleaning — interior detailing typically involves vacuuming, shampooing upholstery, and cleaning all surfaces.
Getting the quote right
- Size of the vehicle — a wide job needs more equipment brought to site.
- Level of detailing required — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf.
- Specific services included — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach.
- Materials used — the parts and products used are added to the bill.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: size of the vehicle — a wide job needs more equipment brought to site
- They will not talk about it: level of detailing required — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf
- They will not talk about it: specific services included — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach
- A price for the car detailer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the car detailer has begun
What a car detailer costs: €100–€600 per detail
The figures are for the job, per detail, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Exterior detailing and Interior detailing each carry their own band. Car Detailing price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Car detailers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSize of the vehicle — a wide job needs more equipment brought to site — that is what the car detailer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLevel of detailing required — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfSpecific services included — the standard you ask for decides how long it takes to reach — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherMaterials used — the parts and products used are added to the bill — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the car detailer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, some products used may have specific safety requirements, so communicate any allergies.
- Exterior Wash and Wax
- This includes a thorough wash of the vehicle's exterior, followed by a high-quality wax application.
- Interior Cleaning
- Interior detailing typically involves vacuuming, shampooing upholstery, and cleaning all surfaces.
- Engine Bay Cleaning
- Detailers often clean the engine bay to remove dirt and grime, which can help with maintenance.
- Paint Correction
- This service focuses on removing imperfections like scratches and swirl marks from the car's paint.
- Exterior Detailing
- Focuses on cleaning, polishing, and protecting the car's exterior surfaces, including paintwork, glass, and wheels.
- Interior Detailing
- Involves deep cleaning of the car's interior, including seats, carpets, and dashboards, to remove dirt and stains.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a car detailer: questions people ask
The cost of car detailing can vary based on the size of the vehicle, the level of detailing required, and the specific services included. Additional factors may include the condition of the car and any special treatments requested.
A typical car detailing session can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the services selected and the vehicle's condition. More extensive detailing, such as paint correction, may require additional time.
While general professionals can perform car detailing, hiring a qualified specialist may yield better results, especially for services like paint correction or headlight restoration. However, detailing does not typically involve regulated work.
Many detailing services offer same-day availability, but this may depend on the service provider's schedule and the level of detailing required. It’s advisable to book in advance to secure your preferred time.
Car detailing generally does not cover mechanical repairs or services such as oil changes. It focuses on cosmetic and maintenance cleaning to enhance the vehicle's appearance rather than addressing functional issues.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
MORE GUIDES