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Hand wash, San Mateo

Mobile Car Wash in San Mateo

Big trees, morning fog and highway grime. A hand wash at home deals with all three.

Request a detail →Text (213) 700-8395

Why choose a mobile car wash in San Mateo

A mobile car wash in San Mateo saves you the drive and the wait at a tunnel. NOVA's version is the Exterior Detail: a careful hand wash, wheels and tires cleaned, tire dressing and outside glass. Brushes at a tunnel can miss recessed areas, while washing by hand reaches the grille, the mirror housings and the lower doors.

It also means you are not sitting in a line on a busy weekend. The car stays home, and we come to it.

Tree-lined streets in Baywood, Aragon and San Mateo Park

The older neighborhoods west of El Camino have mature trees over many driveways. That shade is nice for washing, since panels in direct sun dry products too fast. It also means leaves, sap and bird droppings. Fresh sap usually comes off during a wash. Hardened sap and old droppings can etch paint, and etching may not fully come out.

Coastal fog drifts in over the hills on many mornings. The damp film it leaves picks up dust and soot, which is why cars here can look dull a few days after a wash.

Driving 101 or 92 daily also leaves a gray road film on the lower doors and rear of the car. Washing it off by hand before it bakes on in the summer sun keeps the paint looking cleaner for longer.

What we need at the curb or driveway

We need a spot where we can walk all the way around the car, plus a standard outlet nearby. A water tap is needed only for some jobs, and we let you know when we confirm. We keep wash water out of storm drains.

  • Park the car where you want it washed before we arrive
  • Tell us if the car will be on the street
  • Note any roof racks or bike carriers
  • Remove valuables

The package we suggest

Exterior Detail. Prices depend on the car and its condition, so we text you an exact price before anything is booked. Not sure? Text a photo and we will suggest one.

Exterior Detail detailsCompare packagesPackage chooser

Questions

Can you wash a car in a downtown condo garage?
Inside garages we use waterless or rinseless methods only. Check your building's rules first, then tell us the level and space.
Does the Exterior Detail remove road tar from 101?
Light road film comes off in the wash. Heavy tar and bug removal is part of Elite Restoration, quoted per car.
Do you go to Foster City?
Foster City is not on our usual list. Text us your street and we will tell you honestly whether we can come.
Do I have to be there?
No. Leave the car where we can reach it and tell us how. We text you when it is done, and you pay after you see it.
What is included with the wheels and tires?
We clean the wheel faces and tires by hand, then apply tire dressing. Heavy brake dust that has been on for a long time may need more than one pass, and we tell you what to expect.

More answers on the FAQ page.

Request a detail

About a minute online, no card needed. We text you to confirm the day, arrival window and price.

Request a detail →Text (213) 700-8395