Are Car Wash Subscriptions Worth It?

Depending on how often you wash your car, a subscription plan can save you money.

Andy Stonehouse | 

Oct 10, 2024 | 3 min read

Kara Snow | Capital One

Many national and local automatic car wash chains, including Mister Car Wash, Tidal Wave and Take 5, now offer subscription services. Gas stations and convenience store chains that have car washes, such as Circle K, are also getting in on the subscription game. Just like an old-fashioned newspaper or magazine subscription, a flat fee gives customers virtually unlimited access to car wash services over a month, or even a whole year.

A car wash subscription might be a great deal for people who like the convenience of washing their car as often as they want, but the numbers may not add up for every driver.

Car Wash Subscriptions Can Make Frequent Visits More Affordable

While they are a convenient way for drivers to keep their cars looking shiny, many automatic car washes now charge as much as $20 for a single wash with extra rinses and paint treatments. At that rate, the cost of frequent visits to the car wash can add up quickly.

You'll need to see if it makes sense to pay for a whole month (or even a whole year) of washes, based on the frequency of your washes. Otherwise, you're probably better off paying as you go.

A year-round car wash subscription may be great for drivers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami, but it may make less sense if you can't safely use the automated car wash all year round. Folks living in cooler climates may find it impossible to find a functioning automatic car wash in sub-freezing temperatures, as the water needed to wash a vehicle will freeze.

If you're still on the hook for washes that you can't use because of chilly weather, the shine of the deal wears off.

Kara Snow | Capital One

A Car Wash Subscription Might Include Perks

Depending on the car wash subscription you sign up for, you may get premium access to car wash facilities, discounts on more extensive washes, or other perks.

Be sure to read the fine print to see if there are limits to the number of visits you can make, or if the automatic car wash still charges more for premium features. The national Circle K car wash subscription is capped at two washes per day, and most car wash subscription plans stipulate only one car per subscription.

Also remember that, as with an online streaming service, you might still end up with a recurring automatic charge for the subscription until you cancel.

Car Wash Subscriptions Do Have Some Limitations

Automatic car washes have become big businesses, with chains such as Arizona-based Mister Car Wash operating more than 400 locations nationwide. But a car wash subscription will likely only work at one particular chain, and there are dozens, in addition to independent car washes or gas station chains.

That can be a limiting factor, especially if the car wash subscription you've signed up for is only available at locations that aren't close to your home or work.

Andy Stonehouse

Andy Stonehouse literally fell into the world of auto writing while working as a ski-town journalist, and has not looked back since. A childhood spent dealing with the eccentricities of a 1976 MG Midget has made any subsequent auto experience a more safe and reliable drive. He has been blessed with nearby mountain trails and snowy roads in Colorado to do TV-adventure-styled test drives on a weekly basis.