How to Sell Car Detailing Products Online in the UK

Looking to sell car detailing products online in the UK? Have these three things in place before your first listing goes live: labels and safety information that comply with the rules for Great Britain, listings that answer what a buyer would check if they could hold the bottle, and a delivery service that will actually carry your liquids and aerosols. Kit like mitts and towels is simple. Chemicals account for the bulk of the work.

What to sell: chemicals, kit or both?

Cleaning chemicals, such as shampoos, snow foams, wheel cleaners, iron removers and interior cleaners, have hazard labels, safety data sheets and carrier restrictions. Protection products include waxes, sealants and ceramic sprays. They come with the same paperwork, plus application instructions and the durability the manufacturer claims. Chemical labelling is not required for wash mitts, microfibre towels, brushes, buckets and machine polishers. Machine polishers are electrical appliances and need product marking.

Chemicals are used up, so a buyer who likes one may buy it again. They also carry the most paperwork. If you're starting small, build a range around one job, say a safe wash: shampoo, two buckets, a wash mitt and a drying towel. The bundle is easier to describe than one item from each category and fully answers the buyer's question.

Check labels and safety information before you post

Cleaning products are mixtures and in Great Britain must be classified, labelled and packaged under the GB CLP Regulation. HSE says the CLP methods have resulted in more cleaning products being classified and labelled as hazardous than under the previous CHIP rules (HSE: cleaning products and GB CLP).

• Hazard label. If a product is classified as hazardous, the supplier must label it with the pictograms and warnings required by law (HSE: the hazard label). Request the latest label copy from your supplier for each product and ensure your photos are legible.
• Safety data sheet. A safety data sheet must be provided when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work, and also for some products that are not classified as hazardous but contain small quantities of a hazardous substance (HSE: safety data sheets). If you are selling to mobile valeters or garages, keep a copy of the sheet for each product and be ready to send it.
• Packing. The packaging of dangerous products must prevent the contents escaping, must not be affected by the chemical and must be strong enough to withstand normal handling. Certain products require packaging with child-resistant closures or tactile warnings (HSE: packaging).
• Your name. If you decant, rebottle or relabel products in your own name, check which labelling duties become yours when you sell the product.

These rules are for Great Britain. The EU CLP Regulation applies to products placed on the market in Northern Ireland, so check the current guidance before selling there.

Make your listings answer buyers' questions

The listing has to cover what the buyer would check in a shop, because they can't pick up the bottle. For each chemical, list and display:

• Clear photos of the front and back label, the size of the bottle in ml or litres and the trigger head or applicator if it has one.
• Ready to use or concentrate, with the dilution ratio from the manufacturer's instructions.
• Any surfaces or conditions it should not be used on. Surfaces it is suitable for according to the manufacturer.
• How to use: by hand, by sprayer, by foam lance or by machine polisher, and what else the customer needs.

For kit: material, size and weight, fabric weight in GSM for microfibre towels (if the manufacturer states it) and washing instructions.

Where possible, display the cost per wash. One hypothetical example: a 500 ml bottle of shampoo diluted 1:400 in a 10 litre bucket uses 25 ml a wash, so the bottle lasts 20 washes. At £12 a bottle that is 60p a wash. Use the manufacturer's dilution rate and your actual price.

Confirm the carrier before you post, not after the first order

Many car care products are classified as dangerous goods, and it is up to the carriers to decide whether they will carry them. Royal Mail, for example, advises personal customers that everyday items such as aerosols are dangerous goods under transport legislation and that goods displaying hazard warning symbols are banned unless specifically permitted (Royal Mail: prohibited and restricted items). Business accounts and other carriers have their own terms and conditions, which can vary from service to service, even with the same carrier.

So, look at the label for hazard pictograms for each product, then look at the restricted items terms for the actual service you intend to use. If a product can only go by certain services, or not to certain locations, say so in the listing.

• Pack bottles upright. Seal or tape caps. Place liquids in a sealed bag with absorbent material so one spill doesn't ruin the parcel.
• Wrap each piece of glass separately and keep it away from the sides of the box.
• Show delivery options, costs and times before the buyer orders. This is some of the information sellers have to give online before an order is placed (GOV.UK: online and distance selling).

Company information and returns

When buying online, a customer has the right to cancel the order within 14 days of receiving it, without giving any reason. Then they have 14 days to send it back. You have to give them a refund within 14 days of getting the item back, including standard delivery if they paid for it (GOV.UK: accepting returns and giving refunds). Some exceptions apply, GOV.UK says, including sealed goods which cannot be returned once opened for health or hygiene reasons. Before applying any exception to a car care product, ensure you check that page.

You also need to give your business name, contact details and address, a description of the goods and the price including all taxes, before the buyer places an order.

Where MC999 fits in

Clear labels and listings help shoppers easily find the right product for their vehicle. You can also list your products on MC999, a UK marketplace that connects shoppers with products and the independent shops that stock them. If you have a Shopify, Shopline or BigCommerce shop, you can connect it, and shoppers who find a product on MC999 will be redirected to your own shop to buy. You can also add products manually, and the How to Sell guide covers both options.

Already selling through your own shop? See how to add your products to MC999 and give shoppers another way to find your business.

Pre-listing checklist

• The current label text and the safety data sheet, where applicable, are available.
• The hazard pictograms are shown in the front and back label photos.
• The listing includes size, dilution, suitable surfaces and method of application.
• You've verified the exact service and carrier for this product.
• The buyer knows the costs and delivery time before placing an order.
• Your business details and returns information are readily available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a safety data sheet for each product I sell?

Not for all products. If you provide a hazardous chemical for use at work, or some non-hazardous products containing small quantities of a hazardous substance, HSE requires you to provide a safety data sheet. If you are selling to valeters or garages, request a sheet for each product from your supplier and have it ready to send out.

Do chemical labelling rules apply to mitts, towels and brushes?

No, mitts, towels and brushes are not considered chemical substances or mixtures. GB CLP applies to chemical substances and mixtures. The same rules apply to returns and your business details, and you have to describe the item accurately.

Sell on MC999

Ready to start selling without paying commission on every sale? Join MC999 as a Founding Seller and keep full control over your prices, delivery and returns.