What we watch for on a electric & hybrid vehicles
- Charge flap closed, no direct lance pressure at the port or battery seams
- Aero wheel covers removed or cleaned around, not forced
- Camera, radar and lidar surfaces hand-cleaned, never scraped
- Regen braking means less brake dust — but tyres wear faster and show it
Are electric cars safe to wash?
Yes. High-voltage systems are sealed and isolated, and manufacturers test vehicles in heavy rain and standing water. The practical rule is simple: no high-pressure jetting directly at the charge port, the port surround, or underbody battery seams. Every car here is washed by hand using the two-bucket method — one bucket of pH-neutral shampoo, one of clean rinse water with a grit guard — with wheels cleaned first using separate brushes and mitts so nothing off the road ever goes back onto the paint.
Sensors, cameras and driver assistance
EVs carry more cameras and radar units than most cars, and a smeared sensor triggers warnings. Every camera lens, radar cover and ultrasonic sensor is cleaned by hand with a damp microfibre — never scraped, never blasted, and never treated with a glass sealant that can distort the optics.
Aero wheels and tyres
Many EVs run aero covers over the wheel face. Where they clip off easily we clean behind them; where they do not, we clean carefully around the edges rather than levering at plastic clips. EVs are heavier and torque harder, so tyre shoulders wear quicker — a tyre dressing makes uneven wear more visible, which is genuinely useful to see.
Which package suits an EV
Wash & Dry at £13 for regular care, Super Valet at £25 when the inside needs doing. If your EV is a company or salary-sacrifice car heading back at end of term, the Full Valet at £65 is the one that protects your end-of-lease charges.
Frequently asked
Can you wash my car while it is charging?+
We would rather not — we ask that the car is unplugged and the charge flap closed before we start.
Will washing void any warranty?+
No. Hand washing is exactly what manufacturers recommend over automatic brushes.
Do you clean plug-in hybrids too?+
Yes, the same approach applies — charge flap closed and no jetting at the port.