Cleaning policy

Last revised: Jan 2, 2025

Do you have to clean a booked car before returning it?

When returning a rental car, there’s no need to wash or wax it. Just make sure that it’s in the same condition you received it and reasonably clean. Another customer may be waiting to pick up the car once you return it.

If the vehicle requires excessive or specialized cleaning, a cleaning fee may apply. So you must make sure you return the vehicle clean and avoid additional cleaning charges!

The ABC AUTOCARS will always charge you if you return the vehicle in a messy condition. The vehicle will require deep cleaning, charging the hefty Advanced Valeting Fee.

Pet

Never assume that pets are allowed in a booked vehicle. Check the Rental Agreement at the beginning to know whether pets are allowed.

Smoking

All vehicles on ABC AUTOCARS are non-smoking vehicles.

Do you have to clean a booked vehicle and pay a $500 fee? It would be yes if you smoke in a booked vehicle. Smoking is one thing that you should strictly avoid while using a booked vehicle. If you feel like smoking, it is wise that you park your car, step out of the car, and light the cigarette. The cost of removing smoke odor can go as high depending on the damage caused by the smoke to the vehicle.

Bird poo/Sand/Mud/Leaves/Tree Sap

A few items add extra charges based on where you travel or park overnight. Avoid parking your car under trees for longer periods.

Bird poo and tree saps make the booked vehicle look horrible. Tree saps are sometimes difficult to remove and may not even disappear with a normal car wash. It can add a hefty cleaning fee to your final bill.

Sand will always be a headache if you’re visiting a beach. Even if you go to a beach, try to reduce the amount of sand entering the booked vehicle, which is never easy! If a great amount of sand enters the vehicle, it is good that you get vacuuming and cleaning done before returning.

Even mud and leaves enter the vehicle but are easier to remove than sand. Leaves and sand can incur a cleaning fee of up to $250.

Do you have to clean a rental car while picking it up?

ABC AUTOCARS will rent you the vehicle only after completing a deep cleaning. So, you don’t need to clean the vehicle while picking it up. For a safer side, you can use your own vehicle sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, or a vehicle disinfectant to clean regularly used parts.

Essential info

• It isn’t mandatory that you should clean the booked vehicle upon returning.
• Make sure that you take some photos of the vehicle, which is proof of the original condition of the rental, while picking it up. Also, take the vehicle’s interior and exterior photos while you return it.
• Ensure there is no trash or foul odor while you return the vehicle. Do a quick vehicle wash before returning if the vehicle is messy.
• Never park the booked vehicle under trees for a longer period.
• Strictly avoid smoking in a booked car.
• Returning the booked vehicle in an untidy condition will add a hefty cleaning fee to your total rental bill.

Violation fee

If there’s clear evidence, ABC AUTOCARS shall be entitled, in its sole and absolute discretion, to charge you between $50-$500 plus an additional 3% processing fee for:

• Leaves/sand/interior dirt/minor food or beverage spills/sticky substances on the vehicle’s interior
• Biowaste or bodily fluids/Spills or waste
• Bird poo/mud/tree sap/caked-on mud/insects or stains
• Excessive or specialized cleaning
• Smoking
• Pet hair
• Stains or residue in the vehicle’s interior that would require steam cleaning or a full detail.

Exceptions

We won’t charge a violation fee for the following ineligible cleaning issues:

• Minor interior messes of items that can be thrown away.
• Minor sand or leaves that can be removed without washing or vacuuming a car.