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Woman Goes To Car Wash. She’s Shocked By The Price. Now People Are Wondering How Long It’s Been Since She Washed Her Car

'Girl atp it’s better to wait for the rain.'

Woman Goes To Car Wash

Photo by: AdobeStock

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Aug 31, at 4:00pm ET

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A woman says she was caught off guard when she pulled into a car wash and realized the days of the $3 wash may be long gone.

Bri (@chef.bp) shared her surprise after stopping at a self-service car wash and discovering the price had more than tripled from what she remembered paying.

“No more $3 car washes,” she wrote in the text overlay of her clip.

“I must be really late to the party, but these little quick-wash car wash places used to be $3 a car wash,” she says.

But when she recently visited one, she said the price was $10.

“Since when were they $10?” Bri asks. “I remember always paying $3.”

As of this writing, the video has nearly 1,200 views.

Why Car Wash Prices Have Gone Up

If Bri remembers paying $3 for a quick car wash, she is not alone. That price was once common.

In a 2012 article, industry experts described express-wash menus that started at $3, with the average wash bringing in about $5 to $6 per vehicle.

A $10 starting price does not look nearly as unusual today.

Part of the increase comes down to the basic cost of running a car wash. Carwash.com reports that water and electricity remain two of the industry’s largest recurring expenses. Operators also have to pay for cleaning and detailing chemicals, as well as employee wages, even at automated locations.

Labor has become especially difficult to absorb. In 2024, the same publication reported that rising wages were “squeezing profit margins” at both express and full-service washes. After all, automated tunnels still need workers to guide cars, maintain equipment, and keep the property running.

Customers have noticed the higher prices, too, and Bri certainly isn’t the first person to raise an issue with more expensive washes online. The International Carwash Association reported in March that consumers had become more price-conscious. But its research found that many customers would accept an increase if they believed the wash delivered enough value.

The type of wash affects cost, too. Self-service bays are generally cheaper to operate because they require fewer employees. At the same time, newer express tunnels tend to do well in dense urban areas that provide a steady clientele.

That does not mean Bri has to pay $10 everywhere since car wash prices vary by location and wash type. That said, the $3 wash she remembers has become much harder to find as operators pass along higher costs and move customers toward more expensive packages or subscriptions.

Viewers Share Cheaper Alternatives

Some viewers agreed that $10 felt steep for a basic car wash.

“Girl atp it’s better to wait for the rain,” one person joked.

Bri appeared to agree, responding with an “Honestly” sticker.

Another commenter was surprised she remembered paying just $3.

“I've never heard of them being $3, so now you got me wondering how long has it been since you washed your car last?” they wrote.

Bri clarified that the low price was not a distant memory.

“Earlier this year, out by me! It was $3,” she replied.

Others pointed her toward cheaper options that may still be available.

“Some Circle Ks are running a promotion, and you can get a car wash for 2.50,” one viewer wrote.

“Thank you!” Bri responded.

Not every car wash is priced that low, however. One commenter said the washes offered at their workplace start where Bri’s recent wash did—and go much higher.

“Car washes at my job range from $10-$45,” they wrote.

What do you think?

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Bri replied with an “Oh my” sticker.

Motor1 reached out to Bri via TikTok direct message. We’ll update this story if she responds.

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