Should You Tip Car Detailers?

car detailing technician reflecting light on the car to look for any defects

If you’ve ever used a car detailing service, then you know how amazing it is to walk out of your garage in a newly-detailed car. It’s like seeing your baby for the first time—but without all the pain and suffering that childbirth entails. After using a car detailing service, I never want to go back to driving around in an unkempt vehicle. And while there are plenty of reasons why you might want to get your car detailed (e.g., it’s dirty), another reason is because of how much nicer it makes other people think you are when they see your clean ride parked outside their house or apartment window. If this sounds like something that could benefit your social life as well as make life easier for yourself (after all, who wants to spend time cleaning up after themselves?), then read on!

Tipping car detailers

The general consensus appears to be that you should tip car detailers if you’re happy with their work. Most experts recommend $10 to $30, depending on the level of service you received.

It’s not mandatory—you don’t have to tip at all—but it’s nice if you choose to do so. Tipping has become common practice even in the most casual jobs such as car detailing, because it lets employees know that their hard work is valued by customers and encourages them to keep up their good work.

What Is a Car Detailing Service?

A car detailing service is a business that specializes in cleaning, polishing and waxing cars. They clean the inside and outside of a vehicle, paying special attention to wheels, tires and rims. They also clean windows (inside and out), engine compartment, undercarriage and interior surfaces.

How Much Do You Tip a Car Detailer?

A tip is a way to say “thank you” for good service or quality work. The amount of the tip is up to you, but it should be based on three things:

  • The length of the job
  • Quality of the work performed
  • Quality and price of products used in your car cleaning

What to Tip a Car Detailer for Particular Services

How much should you tip a car detailer? That depends. Car detailing services can range from a full wax and buff to just a wash, so it’s not always clear how much is standard.

Here are some guidelines for tipping the right amount:

Full detailing service: $50 and up. If your car has never been detailed before or if it hasn’t been cleaned in years, tipping around $50 is appropriate—especially if there’s extensive rust and other damage that needs to be dealt with. If you’re requesting an interior clean as well as an exterior one, add another $10–15 on top of that amount.

Car wash only (no waxing): $5–10 per person working on it; $15–20 for the company itself (if applicable). A thorough washing of your vehicle will take about 45 minutes—so figure out how many people worked on it and calculate accordingly. You could give them each $5 or if they’re part of an auto detail company where multiple cars are being worked on at once, go ahead and tip them all together at once instead of individually!