Running a Car Wash

Car Wash Coin Changers

Car wash coin changers are at every car wash. The big question is what coins will you vend?

One issue with changers is people using them to make change and thereby leaving your machines empty for customers and the added hassle of going to the bank to purchase quarters. It will be more of an issue for washes close to apartment complexes or laundromats. It’s not uncommon to have to buy $500 a week in quarters in locations with high-density apartment complexes. Two ways to deal with this include dollar coins, tokens or a token/quarter mix.

If you are looking at coin acceptors, be sure to purchase multi-coin coin acceptors for flexibility at your car wash down the road.

Most people regret going with quarter tokens as it takes a cheap token to keep the cost reasonable as tokens will walk away (figure 1-2%). By going with cheap tokens, inevitably tokens will be used that came from other places, resulting in lost revenues. High security, dollar valued tokens are the only way to go. Dollar coins are convenient for customers as they don’t have to drop a ton of quarters into the machine. The high security token, with a 100 mile protected radius, costs around $.19 each, thereby making $.81 each on the 1-2% yearly walk away. If you are going through a lot of coins and make the switch to tokens, expect the laundromat or their customers to complain.

By mixing in a few tokens with the quarters (tokens are valued at $.25) when someone comes to get change they either have to redeem the tokens at your wash or throw them away. Make sure to put a sign up stating that the changer dispenses a mix of tokens and quarters and the behavior should stop it.

Accepting Credit Cards At the Car Wash

Accepting credit cards at the car wash is a hot topic among car wash owners, but I recommend looking into having them seriously. Surveys have consistently shown that people who pay with plastic (credit or debit) tend to spend more per purchase than those who pay with cash. At most car washes, credit card customers generally spend 20-30% more than cash customers, which makes the CC fees easier to recoup. Generally speaking, anything you can do to make it easier for motorists to buy your services is usually a good decision. Adding credit card machines will cost roughly $1000 per car wash bay plus monthly and transaction fees.

Handling Car Wash Scratching Complaints

At some point while owning a car wash, operators will probably find themselves being accused of their equipment damaging the customer’s vehicle. Handling car wash scratching complaints is usually something the customer is at fault for, there is a right and a wrong way to handle it. Most of the time, a security system will prove what happened in the car wash bay, but there are occasions that it isn’t clear. Be sure to have adequate posted signage stating to “check brush before using” or something similar. Most courts will throw the case out. Experience has shown that you seldom if ever convince the customer that the brush didn’t do it. Simply explain why the brush couldn’t cause that type of damage and leave it at that. It’s not likely they will return and there is not much you can do about them telling others. Spend time on the things you can do something about. This is not one of them.

If at all possible, don’t go to the insurance company every time there is a complaint unless the insurance company insists upon it because of wording in the policy. It takes is about 2 claims in a few years span to trigger insurance rate increases (depending on the company of course).