Take Deposits for Car Detailing | DetailBook

Take Deposits for Car Detailing Bookings

Collect a card deposit the moment a customer books, cut no-shows, and protect your diary from wasted slots. Money lands in your own Stripe account with 0% commission to DetailBook.

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Every mobile detailer knows the sting of an empty morning. You’ve turned down other work, loaded the van, driven across town, and the customer simply isn’t there, or cancels by text an hour before. A free slot at short notice almost never gets refilled, and that’s a full detail’s worth of income gone. When bookings cost nothing to make, some people treat them as though they cost nothing to break.

Taking a deposit at the point of booking changes that dynamic completely. A customer who has put money down turns up, reschedules properly, or gives you notice, because they’ve a stake in the appointment. DetailBook lets you collect that deposit automatically through Stripe when the booking is made, so you’re not chasing bank transfers or awkwardly asking for card details over the phone. It filters out the time-wasters before they ever reach your diary.

Why Take Deposits with DetailBook

Fewer no-shows, fuller diary

A paid deposit gives customers a reason to show up or reschedule rather than ghost you. Slots stay protected, last-minute drop-offs fall away, and the appointments in your diary are the ones that will actually happen on the day.

Flat fee, percentage, or full payment

Set your deposit however suits the job: a fixed amount like £20, a percentage of the total, or take payment in full up front for premium details. Configure it per service so a full correction can hold more than a quick maintenance wash.

Your money, 0% commission

Deposits go straight into your own connected Stripe account, not ours. DetailBook takes no cut of your takings. You only pay Stripe’s standard processing fee of 1.5% plus 20p per transaction, and the deposit is deducted from the balance owed.

Apple Pay and Google Pay built in

Customers pay in seconds with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card, straight from their phone as they book. A fast, familiar checkout means fewer people abandon halfway, so you capture more confirmed bookings without any extra effort.

How It Works

1

Set your deposit rule

In your DetailBook dashboard, choose a flat amount, a percentage, or full payment for each service, then decide which services require a deposit before a booking can be confirmed.

2

Customer pays as they book

When a customer books through your page, they’re prompted to pay the deposit via Stripe using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card before the slot is locked into your diary.

3

Balance settles on the day

The deposit is automatically deducted from the total, so the customer only owes the remaining balance when you complete the detail. Every payment is recorded against the booking.

Start Your Free Trial

New to charging up front? Read our guide on how to take deposits for car detailing, or see plans on the pricing page. Deposits are included on the DetailBook Pro plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my own Stripe account to take deposits?

Yes. DetailBook connects to your own Stripe account, so deposits are paid directly to you. DetailBook charges 0% commission on the money you take; you only pay Stripe’s standard fee of 1.5% plus 20p per transaction. Setting up Stripe is free and takes a few minutes.

Can I take a percentage instead of a fixed deposit?

You can. Deposits can be a flat amount, a percentage of the service price, or full payment up front, and you can set this differently for each service. A larger detail can require a bigger deposit while a quick valet takes a smaller one.

What happens to the deposit if the customer shows up?

The deposit is deducted from the total, so the customer simply pays the remaining balance on the day. Nothing is lost. The deposit isn’t an extra charge; it’s part of the price paid early to secure the slot. Deposits are a Pro plan feature.

Start Taking Deposits on Every Booking

Protect your diary and cut no-shows with automatic deposit collection. Try DetailBook free for 14 days — no card required, cancel anytime.

Start Free — No Card Required

14-day free trial · No card required · Cancel anytime