HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mobile car wash in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mobile car wash in Ireland costs €15–€60 per wash, typically around €30. 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 mobile car wash in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers mobile car wash work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Services — many mobile car washes offer extras such as tire cleaning, rim polishing, and headlight restoration.
- How does size of the vehicle change the price?A bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does level of service requested change the price?The choice of style changes the skill the job needs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the services requested change the price?A design of your own costs more than one off the shelf. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Engine Bay Cleaning — engine bay cleaning removes grease and dirt from the engine compartment — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile car wash 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 mobile car wash work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — additional Services — many mobile car washes offer extras such as tire cleaning, rim polishing, and headlight restoration.
A good answer: A bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The choice of style changes the skill the job needs. — 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: Engine Bay Cleaning — engine bay cleaning removes grease and dirt from the engine compartment — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile car wash 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 — interior Detailing — interior detailing involves vacuuming, shampooing carpets, and cleaning upholstery.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mobile car wash starts, and an itemised invoice after — exterior Cleaning — this includes a thorough wash of the vehicle's exterior, removing dirt, grime, and road salt.
Getting the quote right
- Size of the vehicle — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything.
- Level of service requested — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs.
- Complexity of the services requested — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf.
- Materials used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given.
- 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 bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything
- They will not talk about it: level of service requested — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the services requested — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf
- A price for the mobile car wash 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 mobile car wash has begun
What a mobile car wash costs: €15–€60 per wash
The figures are for the job, per wash, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Exterior wash and Interior detailing each carry their own band. Mobile Car Wash 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
Mobile car washs 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 bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything — that is what the mobile car wash is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLevel of service requested — the choice of style changes the skill the job needs — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the services requested — a design of your own costs more than one off the shelf — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherMaterials used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mobile car wash is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, mobile car wash professionals should have relevant certifications and experience in vehicle care.
- Exterior Cleaning
- This includes a thorough wash of the vehicle's exterior, removing dirt, grime, and road salt.
- Interior Detailing
- Interior detailing involves vacuuming, shampooing carpets, and cleaning upholstery.
- Engine Bay Cleaning
- Engine bay cleaning removes grease and dirt from the engine compartment.
- Additional Services
- Many mobile car washes offer extras such as tire cleaning, rim polishing, and headlight restoration.
- Exterior Wash
- A thorough wash of the vehicle's exterior, including wheels and windows to remove dirt and grime.
- Waxing and Polishing
- Application of wax or polish to protect the paint and enhance the vehicle's shine.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mobile car wash: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the size of the vehicle, the level of service requested, and the condition of the vehicle. Additional services such as detailing or engine cleaning may also increase the price.
The duration of a mobile car wash can range from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the services chosen. Basic washes are quicker, while detailing services take longer due to the thoroughness required.
Generally, a general professional is sufficient for standard mobile car wash services. However, for specialised tasks like paint correction or engine cleaning, a qualified specialist may be recommended.
Many mobile car wash providers offer same-day service, but availability can depend on demand and scheduling. It's best to check with the provider to confirm if they can accommodate urgent requests.
Yes, many mobile car wash services allow you to book multiple related jobs, such as exterior and interior cleaning together. Bundling services can often lead to discounts or package deals.
Services such as mechanical repairs, paintwork restoration, or any work requiring significant disassembly of the vehicle are usually out of scope for mobile car wash providers. Always clarify the services offered before booking.
MORE GUIDES