How to prepare your vehicle for a mobile detail appointment

Mobile detailing is mostly hands-off for the customer, but a quick prep before the detailer arrives makes the whole appointment smoother and protects you from the rare accidental-loss scenario.

• Remove valuables — phones, change, wallets, sunglasses, important paperwork. Especially from glove box and centre console.
• Clear obvious trash — fast food, water bottles, receipts. The vacuum step is dramatically faster on a clear cabin.
• Pull out child seats if possible — detailers will detail around them, but pulling them lets the entire underlying area get cleaned.
• Empty the cargo area / trunk — anything bulky. Detailers will work around it but the result is better with the area clear.
• Make sure the driveway is accessible — no blocking vehicles. In winter, salt and clear ice from the work area.

You don't need to vacuum first. You don't need to wipe anything down. You don't need to provide water, power, or supplies. The mobile setup is self-contained — water tank, generator, all equipment on board.

Leave the keys somewhere accessible — inside the vehicle is most common, or pre-arranged with the detailer. Make sure the vehicle's accessible from the street so the rig can park nearby.

Photo your vehicle's interior right before the appointment if there's anything pre-existing (a scratch, a tear) you want documented.

Written by Levi Kisslinger, Owner & Lead Detailer at Clean Cut Auto Care.