By Martin Banks
A good wash is essential for car maintenance — a necessary expense to avoid bigger financial headaches. It can be expensive, so learn how to get the most mileage out of this service.
Car Wash Bargain Hunting for Maximum Discounts
In 2023, nearly 59,000 car wash businesses and auto detailers operated in the United States — a 4.8% jump from 2022. Industry experts project the demand for them to grow over the long term. More consumers are waking up to the effects of dirt, bird droppings, acid rain, particulate matter and salt deposits on the car body.
As the car wash business becomes more competitive, more players are keen on offering deals to attract customers. Take advantage of the situation to get more bang for your buck.
Check out businesses’ sites or social media pages to learn about their special offers. They may reduce their prices on certain services or for specific car body types. Couponing is a surefire way to discover and leverage car wash discounts once they become available.
Self-Service for More Savings
Many car owners don’t mind washing their vehicles in their driveways or on the street but can’t. Doing so on public roads is illegal because the harmful substances from cleaning products may flow into storm drains. Homeowners associations may also disallow the practice on private roads.
If you’re one of these car owners, use an establishment with self-service wash stations to save cash. It lets you do your thing without breaking the law at a fraction of the cost of an exterior service. These stations provide shade, allowing you to wash and wax your car away from direct sunlight to ensure even coverage.
Touchless Washing for Damage-Free Surface Washing
Operations with in-bay and tunnel automatic cleaning systems can quickly service large numbers of vehicles, offering convenience. However, these businesses typically use machines with hard bristles that can cause abrasion. Unpainted areas may rust and compromise your car’s structural integrity when left unchecked.
The cost of an incidental vehicle paint job inflates the cost of an exterior car wash. Say your comprehensive auto insurance policy covers such damage, you may file a claim and receive an adequate payout. However, due to your claim history, your insurer may charge you more when you renew your policy.
Considering the financial implications of using brush- and bristle-based washing systems, choose a business with touchless cleaners. These automated machines’ high-pressure water jets pose no risk of scratching away car paint but don’t clean vehicle exterior areas.
Car Detailing for Deep Cleaning
Driving to a car wash and waiting for the service to be over costs energy and time. Make the most out of your trip by using a full-service car wash. This automotive care service involves professionally hand-washing the car exterior and restoring the vehicle’s cosmetic condition inside and out — called detailing.
Paying for a full-service car wash is like being treated like royalty. However, exterior and interior car detailing can be expensive. Detailers may charge based on how dirty vehicles are. For this reason, do cursory cleaning to lighten the job for the crew and minimize the final bill.
Remove all the trash, wipe the dust off the door jambs, sills, headliner, and dashboard, and vacuum the floor and seats. If your wheels are muddy, hosing them should remove excessive dirt and reduce the difficulty of making them spotless.
Loyalty Program Membership Signup for Rewards
Companies will often implement loyalty programs because it costs around five times more to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one. These programs incentivize regulars to return with redeemable points and other benefits, like exclusive discounts. Although signing up for loyalty programs generally costs money, some car washes may waive this fee for a limited time to grow their membership more quickly.
If you’re going to use car wash services forever, you might as well get rewards for it. However, you can only benefit from rewards programs after spending considerable cash first. You should sign up for those offered by businesses whose services you approve of. Otherwise, you may be disgruntled with every washing session before you can redeem any meaningful rewards.
Maximize Your Car Wash Experience
Car wash services can eat a noticeable portion of your monthly budget. Explore every avenue to squeeze as much value out of every transaction as possible to maximize your hard-earned dollars.
Martin Banks is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Modded. He covers the world of cars, driving, tech, and more.
Editor’s Note: The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the National Motorists Association.
