Fleet managers in the UK face a familiar dilemma: vehicles need regular cleaning and maintenance to protect their value and represent the company well, but the logistics of achieving this across a dispersed fleet are time-consuming and expensive.
This guide sets out everything you need to know about implementing a professional mobile fleet valeting programme.
The State of Fleet Care in the UK
According to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), there are over 5 million fleet vehicles on UK roads. Despite this, fleet care remains an afterthought for many organisations. Vehicles are cleaned reactively — before an important meeting, before a lease return, or when a complaint is received.
This reactive approach costs more in the long run through accelerated depreciation, lease-end damage charges, and inconsistent brand presentation.
What Professional Fleet Valeting Includes
A professional fleet valeting programme is not a car wash. It is a managed service that combines vehicle care with fleet intelligence:
Vehicle Cleaning and Protection: Exterior and interior valeting using waterless technology with ceramic protection (PureShield SiO₂) that extends the interval between services and preserves surface condition.
25-Point Vehicle Inspection: Each valet includes a structured condition check covering lights, tyres, wipers, fluid indicators, bodywork damage, and interior wear. Issues are flagged immediately rather than discovered at MOT or lease return.
Digital Condition Reporting: Every service generates a timestamped digital record. Over months, this builds a comprehensive condition history for each vehicle — invaluable for lease negotiations, insurance claims, and resale.
ESG Data and Compliance Reporting: Water savings, chemical avoidance, and carbon reduction metrics are tracked automatically and compiled into reports suitable for board-level sustainability disclosures and Scope 3 emissions documentation.
Procurement Considerations
Fleet valeting is typically procured through facilities management or fleet operations. Key procurement criteria include:
Insurance and Liability
Any provider working on company vehicles must carry adequate public liability insurance. The industry standard for corporate fleet work is £5 million. Verify this before shortlisting.
Personnel Vetting
Technicians will be working on your premises, often unaccompanied, with access to vehicle interiors. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks should be mandatory, not optional.
Environmental Compliance
If your provider uses water, they may create trade effluent on your premises. Under the Water Industry Act 1991, this requires consent from your local water company. Waterless providers eliminate this concern entirely.
Data and Reporting
The value of fleet valeting extends beyond clean vehicles. Ensure your provider offers digital reporting that integrates with your fleet management processes.
Contract Flexibility
Fleet sizes change. Sites open and close. Service frequencies need adjustment. Your contract should accommodate these realities without penalty.
Choosing the Right Service Level
Basic Valet is suitable for pool vehicles and high-rotation fleet cars where frequency matters more than depth. A weekly or fortnightly basic service keeps vehicles presentable.
Full Valet is appropriate for company cars assigned to individuals, particularly client-facing staff. A monthly full valet maintains both appearance and interior hygiene.
Ultimate Valet is reserved for executive vehicles, pre-lease-return preparation, and annual deep treatments. It includes leather conditioning, engine bay cleaning, and extended ceramic protection.
Implementation Best Practice
Start with an audit: A good provider will assess your fleet before proposing a solution. This should include site visits, vehicle counts, parking logistics, and stakeholder interviews.
Run a pilot: Trial the service on a subset of vehicles — typically one site or one department — before committing to a full rollout.
Communicate to employees: If valeting is offered as an employee benefit, ensure staff know how to access the booking portal and what to expect.
Review quarterly: Assess service quality, utilise condition data, and adjust frequencies based on actual fleet usage patterns.
The MMCC Difference
MMCC delivers corporate fleet valeting across London and the Home Counties. Our technicians are DBS-checked, insured to £5 million, and trained in waterless valeting with PureShield ceramic protection. We provide digital condition reporting, automated ESG metrics, and an employee self-service booking platform — all with zero water usage and zero trade effluent.