Aquinas College
Vehicle Groomer/Cleaner Kaiwhakapaipai Waka
Vehicle groomers/cleaners clean and polish vehicles, and may also drive, park and maintain vehicles.
Vehicle groomers/cleaners may do some or all of the following:
- vacuum and shampoo vehicles
- clean door jambs, rubber seals, and plastic work
- clean the vehicle's exterior, including wheels, mudflaps and bumpers
- steam-clean the engine, boot, door sills and outside of the vehicle
- remove surface scratches on bodywork
- shift and position vehicles
- pick up and drop off vehicles and their owners
- perform basic mechanical checks such as water, oil and tyre pressure.
Those who work for car rental companies may also:
- complete paperwork
- assist clients with their luggage
- identify and report damage
- check and report on fuel levels.
Physical Requirements
Vehicle groomers/cleaners need to be reasonably fit and healthy, and agile enough to easily move around the interior of a vehicle.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for vehicle groomers/cleaners includes:
- work as a cleaner
- work with cars, particularly paint or panel work.
Personal Qualities
Vehicle groomers/cleaners need to be:
- organised
- accurate, with an eye for detail
- reliable and honest.
Skills
Vehicle groomers/cleaners need to have:
- good cleaning skills, including knowledge of cleaning equipment and substances, and how to use them safely
- knowledge of paint technology (how paints are made, and their properties)
- knowledge of skills and techniques required for cleaning and polishing different paint types
- customer service skills.
Business management skills may also be useful for vehicle groomers/cleaners who run their own business.
Conditions
Vehicle groomers/cleaners:
- usually work regular business hours but may also work weekends or evenings, or have early starts or late finishes
- work indoors and outdoors in workshops, showrooms and at rental car companies
- work in conditions that can be noisy, with strong smells of solvents and chemicals (although there is usually equipment to remove fumes).
Related Courses
Vehicle Groomer/Cleaners can earn around $23 per hour.
Pay for vehicle groomers/cleaners varies, but they usually earn minimum wage or above.
Source: Careers New Zealand research, 2017.
Vehicle groomers/cleaners may progress to set up their own business.
Years Of Training
To become a vehicle groomer/cleaner you usually need to have a full, clean driver's licence, although some employers may accept a restricted licence.
Vehicle groomers/cleaners must be able to drive manual as well as automatic vehicles.
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