Overview: Mobile Car Detailing
A mobile detailer brings the bay to you: a van with its own water tank, a generator, hot water and often a steam unit. In most of Canada it's a fair-weather trade. Once nights drop below freezing, water freezes in the hoses and on the paint, so the outdoor season runs from spring into fall.
Spring is when the calendar fills up, because that's when the salt comes out of the carpets. A winter of wet boots leaves white rings on the mats and in the footwells, and a hot-water extractor is the tool that lifts them. A few operators keep going through the cold months in heated underground parking, where the building allows it.
Your building has a say in all of this. Condo boards, rental towers and office lots set their own rules about washing on site, and city sewer rules sit behind them. Ask before you book, not when the van pulls in.
Our listings show what each detailer states on its own website about its service area, travel fees and equipment. Start with the province and city lists below to find the ones that cover your address.
Frequently asked questions
Do they need my water and power?
Only if the van isn't fully kitted out. A self-contained rig brings a tank, a generator and heated water. A smaller operator may want an outside tap and an outlet. Early in the season that's the catch, because most Canadian homes shut off and drain the outdoor tap before winter. Turn yours back on before the booking, or ask for a van that carries everything.
Can a detailer work on my car in winter?
Yes, if there's somewhere warm to do it. Outdoors, water freezes on the paint and in the lines, and polish or sealant won't bond properly on cold panels. Some mobile operators work through winter in heated underground parking or a heated garage, mostly on interiors and salt stains. Ask what temperature they need, and check that your parkade allows it before you pay a deposit.
How much space does the van need?
Room for your car, the van, and a clear walk around both with every door open. In an underground parkade, height is the first question. Plenty of parkades have a clearance bar that a high-roof van can't get under, so the detailer may have to park outside and run hoses in. Level ground, decent light and no traffic squeezing past all make for a better job.
Can I book a mobile detail at my apartment or office?
Maybe, but ask the building first. Condo boards often ban washing in the lot or the parkade because of where the water drains. City rules apply too. Toronto's sewer bylaw lets only rain and melted snow into a catch basin, and the city holds both the customer and the mobile business responsible for wash water. A detailer who collects the runoff or works waterless gets a yes more easily.
Why do some detailers charge GST or HST and others don't?
It depends on how much the business sells. The Canada Revenue Agency treats a business as a small supplier while its taxable sales stay under a set threshold, and a small supplier doesn't have to register or charge the tax. Plenty of one-van operations sit under that line. A registered detailer has to add GST or HST, so compare quotes on the total, not the base price.
