Car Detailer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a car detailer. Feel free to use our car detailer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a car detailer.
Who is a Car Detailer?
A car detailer is a professional automotive cleaner who is trained to clean vehicles thoroughly. Detailing can be done on the car’s interior, exterior, or engine. A car detailer can work for himself or an auto detailing shop or for a car dealer or auction house.
Car detailing requires patience and attention to detail. An auto detailer will not be satisfied if they don’t have these two things. Detailing is different than regular car washing.
The detailer will steam clean and degrease the engine to make it look new. The detailer will clean, polish, and wax your car’s exterior. Special cleaners are used by a car detailer to make your tires look brand new. All stains are removed from the inside of your car and steam cleaned. The windshields and windows undergo a thorough cleaning and are also polished.
Detailing can take several hours. A car detailer who works for a car company will detail cars that have been traded in or bought at auctions. Once one car has been completed, the detailer will move on to the next.
A car detailer who works in a car wash or is self-employed can make arrangements for customers to drop off their cars. Some car detailers provide transportation for customers. A customer can drop off the vehicle at the shop and an employee will drive the customer home or to work. The employee will either deliver the vehicle to the customer or pick it up and bring the customer back to the shop.
To become a car detailer, you don’t need any specialized training. Detail-oriented people who want to detail cars for a living must be meticulous. They must be able to clean the vents using a cotton swab and remove any trim from the edges. They should also scrub areas that are not visible to the public.
The cost of detailing a vehicle can be quite expensive. Car detailing is a significant investment. The car will appear cleaner and better than it would after a regular car wash.
For a clean appearance, detailers use special chemicals and techniques to polish and clean exterior paint and interior surfaces. Detailers are often employed at car wash, car dealerships, or detailing shops.
These are the most common services professional car detailers include in their packages.
Exterior Car Cleaning
- Exterior wash and dry
This washing and drying are done by hand. The detailer will use specialized products to spray the car’s body and wipe it down. Hand washing of the glass, door handles, and rims are also possible.
- Paint Claying
A clay bar is used after a car has been washed to remove contaminants, paint overspray, or other residues. Claying gives you a smoother and cleaner surface and increases the effectiveness of wax and polish.
- Polishing
To remove thin layers of clear coat, abrasive compounds are applied to the paint. This will make small scratches and swirls disappear from the paint.
- Sealing or waxing
A sealant is used to give the car a shiny look and protect its paint. Wax can sometimes be used in certain cases.
Trim repainting, engine detailing and headlight polishing are some of the other exterior services available.
Interior Car Cleaning
- Vacuuming
This is done to remove debris from the trunk, seats, carpets, mats, headliner area, rear cargo area and trunk must be vacuumed.
This process is also carried out to remove stains from floor mats or carpets, scrub and brush.
- Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is a better way to remove tough stains from carpets and chairs.
- Glass Cleaning
Cleaning windshields and windows.
- Leather Trimming
To clean any leather parts of the vehicle, a leather cleaner and soap can be used.
- Perfuming
Many detailers spray perfume into the interior of a vehicle to make it smell fresh and clean.
Car Detailer Job Description
Below are the car detailer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a car detailer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a car detailer include the following:
- Cleaning vehicle exteriors and interiors according to company standards.
- Meeting service expectations by operating buffers, steamers, and hoses as well as vacuums.
- Using cleaning, protective and restorative chemicals to maintain and improve the appearance of your vehicle
- Performing inspections of the vehicle and keeping accurate records.
- Moving, parking, and delivering vehicles to the correct places or pick up owners or drivers if necessary.
- Managing inventory and reordering supplies
- Answering client questions and fulfilling their needs.
- Using different types of cleaning solutions and equipment.
- Following specific instructions from the customer when detailing the vehicle.
- Utilizing shampoo carpets and upholstery
- Vacuuming floors and chairs
- Vacuuming the trunk.
- Cleaning out cup holders and ashtrays
- Removing all debris, dirt, and trash from the interior.
- Using special foams and detergents to treat specific types of microfibers.
- Polishing the interior of the vehicle, including the dashboard, steering wheel, and trims.
- Cleansing door frames and instrument panels.
- Making sure to clean all dirt, grease, and tar off the exterior.
- Using the right type of rag or cleaning solution to clean all windows on the vehicle.
- Cleaning the vehicle’s mirrors with the appropriate substance.
- Steaming the engine.
- Cleaning the engine and all other parts underneath the hood of the car.
- Waxing and buffing the vehicle after washing,
- Using special chrome cleaners to polish the exterior chrome and trim of the vehicle.
- Utilizing special equipment and air compressors to dry the outside and inside surfaces.
- Applying chemicals to protect surfaces from spots and stains
- Protecting the interior leather with various waxes, paints, and dyes.
- Using hoses or pumps for washing and rinsing vehicles
- Drying floor mats.
- Engaging in the exterior washing of vehicles, exterior cleaning, and wiping down of doorjambs.
- Applying wax to the auto body and wiping or buffing the surface.
- Vacuuming the interior of your vehicle to get rid of dirt and debris.
- Using appropriate cleaning agents, applicators, and cleaning tools to clean upholstery, rugs, and other surfaces.
- Applying revitalizers and preservation agents on interior vinyl and leather surfaces.
- Treating fabrics with stain- and spot-resistant chemicals.
- Steam-cleaning engine and engine compartment using various cleaning agents and steam-cleaning equipment.
- Using special-purpose cleaners to remove foreign substances that normal cleaning methods cannot remove.
- Making sure you use your experience and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Checking vehicles for obvious defects such as scratches, dents, and soiled upholstery.
- Restoring the appearance of engine, rugs, upholstery, and painted surfaces.
- Using paints, dyes, and other suitable materials to touch up the damage.
- Ensuring that you use proper eye, hand, and body protection when using products that require protection
- Fueling your vehicle.
- Applying dressing to tires and tire wells.
- Replacing missing or defective small parts.
- Maintaining showroom and stock vehicles in a clean, presentable condition.
- Making sure that proper stickers are placed in the vehicle’s windows.
- Removing all window stickers from sold vehicles
- Maintaining a clean and tidy work area.
- Operating all tools and equipment with proper care and safety
- Reporting safety issues immediately to management.
- Polishing and cleaning the wheel rims to make them shine.
- Brightening taillights, brake lights, and headlights by cleaning them.
- Fixing minor scratches and chips with touch-up paint.
- Maintains the inventory of cleaning products.
- Keeping track of calls and customers when it is time to add another detail.
Others include:
- Washing the exterior part of the car
This is one of the most important duties of a car detailer. This requires special detergents for automobiles and attention to detail.
- Exterior paint waxing:
Some automobile owners request a wax after the exterior has been cleared of any debris. The wax helps protect the vehicle’s exterior paint from damage from UV rays and debris.
- Polishing automobile accessories
Automotive detailers can polish car accessories such as tires rims and bumpers. Certain accessories may require special care such as wax or detergents.
- Upholstery cleaning
Special detergents, vacuuming, and special care are required to clean interior vehicle upholstery. These chemicals are used by detailers to clean and maintain vehicle upholstery.
- Cleaning internal surfaces
Some internal surfaces such as dashboards and steering wheels may also need to be cleaned and polished. Detailers pay special attention to cleaning between joints, between cars seats, and other areas.
- Cleaning and polishing windows
Detailers clean automobile windows too. They use vehicle-safe cleaners. Ammonia can cause damage to vehicle interiors when used in commercial cleaners.
- Removal of vehicle’s interior odor
Detailers may also use scent-trapping tools and vehicle air fresheners to remove vehicle odors. This will add to the car’s cleanliness and give it a pleasant odor.
- Selecting the correct cleaning chemicals
This is an important task for a detailer. Chrome rims may require a different type of polish than steel.
Qualifications
A car detailer must be capable of performing essential tasks satisfactorily. These requirements are indicative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Individuals with disabilities may receive reasonable accommodations to allow them to perform essential functions.
Car Detailer – Education and/or Experience
The educational status must be more than high school; up to one-month related experience or training; and/or an equivalent combination of education or experience.
High school diploma, general education degree (GED), or one to three months of related experience and/or learning; or an equivalent combination of education or experience.
A one-year certificate from a college or technical school, three to six months of experience or training in the same area, or an equivalent combination of education or experience.
Skills
Car Detailer – Language Skills
- Ability to read and recognize similarities and differences between words, and between numbers. Ability to read and speak simple sentences
- Ability to comprehend and read simple instructions, brief correspondence, and memos.
- Writing simple correspondence is possible.
- Ability to communicate information to clients, customers, and employees in small groups and one-on-one situations.
Car Detailer – Reasoning Ability
- You can use common sense to follow simple, one- or two-step directions.
- Ability to handle standardized situations that have only occasional or no variables.
- Using common sense to understand complex written and oral instructions. Ability to solve problems that involve a few specific variables in standard situations.
Car Detailer – Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid driver’s license
Essential Skills
- Customer service skills
- Multitasking skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Time management skills
How to Become a Car Detailer
- Get a diploma from high school or the equivalent
Detailers usually have a minimum of a high school diploma. This provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to perform in this job. Although car detailer jobs don’t require formal education, employers will often require a high school diploma. You can search for local GED programs in your region to get the equivalent education and start working.
- Get your driver’s license
An automobile detailer license from the state is usually required. You might be required to drive cars across parking lots and park them. Each state has its requirements for obtaining a driver’s license. These include passing a licensing test and meeting the minimum age requirement. Every state requires drivers to have insurance. You might need insurance after getting your driver’s license to be covered in the event of an accident. All employees must be licensed drivers to work at car detail shops, car washes, or car dealerships.
- Learn about car detailing
Once you have your driver’s license, you can begin learning about car detailing by doing research, volunteering, or detailing vehicles owned by others in your family. To get a better understanding of how to detail vehicles correctly, you can research different methods, chemicals, and types of vehicles. Find out which chemicals are suitable for which surfaces, and how to properly apply wax and tire polish. This knowledge will allow you to volunteer to detail cars for family members or at a local carwash to gain valuable experience.
- Detailing positions available
Apply to local car washes, dealerships, or auto detailing shops. Attach a professional resume that highlights your car detailing skills. Your most relevant experiences and skills, such as attention to detail and problem-solving, should be included in your resume.
- Gain detailing experience
You may be able to detail other types of vehicles by gaining more detailing experience. You could start detailing cars at your local car wash and then move on to detailing shops that specialize in luxury vehicles. This could help you to earn a better salary and give you valuable experience with different vehicles.
Where to Work
Car detailers are employed by car wash shops, dealerships, and auto shops.
Car Detailer Salary Scale
On average, car detailers earn around $33,446 annually. Detailers work full-time and may be eligible for overtime.
