Many drivers prefer drive-through, automatic car washes to doing it themselves at home. Automatic car washes are quick, inexpensive and protect the driver from the elements. But some might not be safe for your car. It depends on the carwash, and, in some cases, the car. Many customers have claimed that a car wash damaged their car, and many car wash owners have countered that the car was damaged already. But with a little knowledge, drivers can distinguish a reliable car wash from one that is best skipped.
One of the most common damages blamed on car washes is scratched paint. According to Jacob Scalici, a Philadelphian who writes about sports cars, the brushes used in a car wash are hard on paint and clear coat. Rear windshield wipers and antennae are also frequent victims of car wash machinery. Industry groups like the Southeastern Car Wash Association even post bulletins on their websites about which parts of specific models are especially vulnerable to damages.
Choose a “brushless” car wash. Older car washes may still use abrasive brushes, which can easily scratch your car’s finish. Brushless car washes use long cloth strips instead. Or you can select a car wash that bills itself as “touchless,” where all that touches your car are high-pressure jets of water and detergent. Another thing to watch is the drying phase. If attendants hand wipe cars, make sure their towels are clean and soft. If they use the same cloth for many cars, pieces of dirt will accumulate in the cloth and scratch any cars they wipe. If the towels are dirty, let your car dry naturally.
When a customer accuses a car wash of damaging her car, the two parties must determine who is responsible. The car wash employee may be certain that the scratch was there before the car went through the wash. The driver may be just as adamant that the scratch is new. Usually the manager will be consulted, and both parties will try to determine whether the equipment could have caused the damage. If it looks like the customer is right, the car wash will pay for repairs at a body shop, and sometimes even provide a rental car. If the car wash is convinced it is not in the wrong, the customer can file a claim in small claims court.
Brad Hooper, who owns Rossmoor Car Wash and Detail Center in Los Alamitos, California, recommends that every car wash should have good digital video cameras. He suggests that employees should point out noticeable scratches to the camera as the car approaches the wash. The owners of Venture Car Wash in Ridgeland, Mississippi, budget about a nickel per car to go toward repairing damages. Some months they have no damages at all. Other months they have a few in quick succession.
According to Scalici, some cars weren’t made for the automatic car wash. Upscale sports cars, especially those in dark colors, are unforgiving when it comes to any sort of brush. He recommends soft towels, microfiber mitts and gentle soap.
