Taxi, private hire and delivery drivers: keeping a high mileage car clean
By Ollie B - SoapX Ltd.
If your car is your workplace, it gets dirtier faster than anyone else's, and for taxi and private hire drivers it is also inspected. This guide covers what licensing conditions typically ask for, a five minute reset between jobs, and a weekly wash that fits around shifts without costing a fortune.
What licensing conditions expect
Every council sets its own conditions, so read yours. As examples, here is what four councils in England say.
| Council | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Gedling | Interior and exterior kept in a clean condition. Up to two inspections and tests in any 12 months. |
| Derby | Clean, well maintained paintwork, and clean, sound linings, floor coverings and seat covers. Officers can inspect at all reasonable times. |
| Bury | An interior clean and comfortable for passengers, and bodywork of a high standard. Vehicles over 3 years old are tested twice a year. |
| Epsom and Ewell | Kept tidy and clean at all times while licensed, with clean seat coverings and no exposed metal or corrosion. |
Delivery drivers are not inspected the same way, but a tidy car still matters when you are in and out of it all day, and it holds its value at the end.
The five minute reset between jobs
- Bin anything left behind and check the seat pockets and footwells.
- Wipe the door handles, grab handles, seat belt buckles and card reader with a cloth lightly misted with interior cleaner.
- Wipe the inside of the rear windows, where passengers lean.
- Shake out the rear mats if they are wet or gritty.
Keep a small kit in the boot: a 500 ml interior cleaner, a glass cleaner, a few short pile cloths and a bin bag.
The weekly clean
- Pre rinse. High mileage means road film and traffic grime. A pre rinse loosens it before you touch the paint.
- Snow foam if you have a pressure washer, so more dirt rinses off before the contact wash.
- Two bucket contact wash, top down. Our two bucket guide covers it.
- Wheels. City driving means a lot of brake dust. See how to clean alloy wheels.
- Dry with a plush towel so you are not driving round with water spots.
- Full interior. Hoover, wipe every surface, clean the mats and do the glass last. Our interior guide goes surface by surface.
In winter, add a rinse of the arches and underside every week while salt is on the roads. Our winter car care guide has the routine.
Keep the costs down
- Buy big. Our pre rinse and snow foam come in 5 litre sizes, and the shampoo is mixed at 1:200 for the Summer formula, so a little goes a long way.
- Know your cost per wash. The cost per wash calculator works it out from the price, size and ratio.
- Mix accurately. Too strong wastes product. The dilution ratio calculator gives exact amounts.
- Trade pricing. If you run several cars, see bulk, trade and wholesale.
Seats and spills
Deal with spills straight away. Blot, do not rub, then clean with interior cleaner on a cloth. Delicate interior formulas are made for Alcantara, suede and other sensitive trim, so check what your seats are before you choose.
Quick answers
Do taxi licensing inspections check how clean the car is?
Many councils include cleanliness in their vehicle conditions. Gedling, Derby, Bury and Epsom and Ewell all ask for a clean interior and exterior. Check your own council's conditions.
How often should a private hire car be cleaned?
A quick interior reset between jobs and a full wash and interior clean every week works for most drivers. Add a weekly underside rinse in winter.
What is the cheapest way to keep a work car clean?
Buy pre rinse and snow foam in 5 litre sizes, mix to the exact ratio and use a two bucket wash. The cost per wash calculator shows what each wash really costs.
Kit for this job
- No.10 Interior and Trim Cleaner
- Short Pile Interior Cloths 3 Pack
- No.09 Glass and Visor Cleaner
- No.01 Pre Rinse and Bug Remover
- No.02 Snow Foam
- Starter Wash Kit
Where the figures come from
- Gedling: Gedling Borough Council, private hire vehicle licence conditions.
- Derby: Derby City Council, private hire vehicle conditions.
- Bury: Bury Council, private hire vehicle testing guide.
- Epsom and Ewell: Epsom and Ewell, vehicle licensing requirements.
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