{"id":263,"date":"2026-05-05T05:01:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T05:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/?p=263"},"modified":"2026-05-05T05:01:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T05:01:14","slug":"guide-to-automated-car-washes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Are you a beginner when it comes to getting your vehicle cleaned at an automatic car wash? Perhaps you&#8217;re not familiar with what to do or how to work these automated car wash systems. Don&#8217;t worry; we&#8217;ve got you covered! From how the entire process takes place to frequently asked questions on automated car washes, we&#8217;ve listed it all here.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#How_to_Go_Through_a_Car_Wash\" >How to Go Through a Car Wash<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Locate_an_automated_car_wash_near_you\" >Locate an automated car wash near you<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Drive_on_up_to_the_payment_station\" >Drive on up to the payment station<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Park_in_the_designated_car_wash_zone\" >Park in the designated car wash zone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Sit_back_and_relax\" >Sit back and relax<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Common_Queries_on_Automated_Car_Washes\" >Common Queries on Automated Car Washes<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Do_I_need_to_wash_my_car_that_often\" >Do I need to wash my car that often?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Automated_car_washes_%E2%80%93_are_they_safe_for_my_vehicle\" >Automated car washes &#8211; are they safe for my vehicle?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#Should_I_choose_a_touchless_wash_or_a_soft-cloth_wash\" >Should I choose a touchless wash or a soft-cloth wash?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-use-an-automated-car-wash-101\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Go_Through_a_Car_Wash\"><\/span><strong>How to Go Through a Car Wash<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"schema-how-to wp-block-yoast-how-to-block\">\r\n<ol class=\"schema-how-to-steps\">\r\n<li id=\"how-to-step-1734515267034\" class=\"schema-how-to-step\">\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Locate_an_automated_car_wash_near_you\"><\/span><strong class=\"schema-how-to-step-name\">Locate an automated car wash near you<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"schema-how-to-step-text\">Automated car washes are increasingly featured nowadays at gas stations, so make sure to check your local fuel vendor. In many cases, several gas stations offer reduced prices on car washes if you&#8217;re filling up on gasoline at their establishment.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"how-to-step-1734515287625\" class=\"schema-how-to-step\">\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drive_on_up_to_the_payment_station\"><\/span><strong class=\"schema-how-to-step-name\">Drive on up to the payment station<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"schema-how-to-step-text\">Much like an order window at a drive-thru restaurant, many automatic car washes have an auto wash station where customers can pick the sort of wash they want and pay for it. Most automated car washes offer three to four packages to their customers with prices that range to include services like basic washes to added services like spray-on waxes.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"how-to-step-1734515303687\" class=\"schema-how-to-step\">\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Park_in_the_designated_car_wash_zone\"><\/span><strong class=\"schema-how-to-step-name\">Park in the designated car wash zone<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"schema-how-to-step-text\">Watch for markers or signs that show where to park your car before the wash begins. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash-near-me?utm_source=way-blog&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes&amp;utm_term=A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">car washes<\/a> may differ by location, most need you to drive your vehicle forward until it lines up with the guided track. Some car washes may have extra lights and arrows to help you park correctly in the designated space. If you have a car with an automatic transmission, make sure it is in park. If you are using a manual car, put it in neutral. Take your foot off the brake and ensure the parking brake is off. <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Please l<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ock the doors and roll up the windows,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> especially if you are traveling with kids.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<li id=\"how-to-step-1734515340659\" class=\"schema-how-to-step\">\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sit_back_and_relax\"><\/span><strong class=\"schema-how-to-step-name\">Sit back and relax<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p class=\"schema-how-to-step-text\">Now, you can relax while the car is gently pushed along the monorail system. You may feel some movement as the brushes clean the car&#8217;s exterior. Once the wash and dry processes are finished, a light signal will alert you when it is safe to exit the garage area. When you leave the car wash tunnel, be careful and watch for other cars that might be pulling out from the other wash bays.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-faqs-on-automated-car-washes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Queries_on_Automated_Car_Washes\"><\/span><strong>Common Queries on Automated Car Washes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 id=\"h-do-i-need-to-wash-my-car-that-often\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_to_wash_my_car_that_often\"><\/span>Do I need to wash my car that often?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>We certainly wouldn&#8217;t advise waiting on a vehicle to become utterly filthy until you decide to have it washed. Washing your car is best considered a routine\/good habit to have rather than a thing that becomes a chore. Harsh environments where salt or mud end up scuffing the exterior and underside of your vehicle, and having your car waxed or cleaned relatively regularly helps to keep your car looking good.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 id=\"h-automated-car-washes-are-they-safe-for-my-vehicle\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Automated_car_washes_%E2%80%93_are_they_safe_for_my_vehicle\"><\/span>Automated car washes &#8211; are they safe for my vehicle?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The primary purpose of washing your car is to remove soil, garbage, and other chemicals that can damage your engine. If not treated, such pollutants can cause corrosion and damage to your paint. Therefore, it&#8217;s only logical that these must be removed to ensure adequate protection of your vehicle&#8217;s finish. Mud and car washes can collect moisture over time. This causes corrosion while bird droppings, insect splatter, and acidic rain eat into your paint job. So yes, we&#8217;d definitely say that automated car washes are a safe bet to keep your car clean on a regular basis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_choose_a_touchless_wash_or_a_soft-cloth_wash\"><\/span>Should I choose a touchless wash or a soft-cloth wash?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Some people claim that an automated car wash could affect your car&#8217;s paint. Is that necessarily true? Not really! Soft cloths used in car washes are gentler on painted surfaces. However, if the brushes in an automated car wash are clean and in good condition, they can provide similar results.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>On the <a href=\"https:\/\/go.onelink.me\/ciSe\/textapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Way app<\/a>, you can easily find professional and top-rated car wash services at great prices. What\u2019s more, the whole family can get in on the sudsy action thanks to Way\u2019s Carwash Voucher and Family Car Wash Pass that can be used on multiple (that\u2019s right, multiple) vehicles!<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you a beginner when it comes to getting your vehicle cleaned at an automatic car wash? Perhaps you&#8217;re not familiar with what to do or how to work these automated car wash systems. Don&#8217;t worry; we&#8217;ve got you covered! From how the entire process takes place to frequently asked questions on automated car washes,&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-know","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#039; guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#039; guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"carwash guides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ren\u00e9e Martin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ren\u00e9e Martin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ren\u00e9e Martin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/person\/2ff590038143fd7f8a3e22f910bd376a\"},\"headline\":\"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\"},\"wordCount\":694,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Things To Know\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\",\"name\":\"How to go through a car wash: The first timers' guide\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00\",\"description\":\"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667,\"caption\":\"Image by Ali _Cobanoglu\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/\",\"name\":\"carwash guides\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization\",\"name\":\"carwash guides\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LogRed-o-2-1.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LogRed-o-2-1.webp\",\"width\":250,\"height\":75,\"caption\":\"carwash guides\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/person\/2ff590038143fd7f8a3e22f910bd376a\",\"name\":\"Ren\u00e9e Martin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ren\u00e9e Martin\"},\"description\":\"Ren\u00e9e Martin is a travel and car expert who focuses on road and air travel in the U.S. For the past 6 years, she\u2019s been helping make driving and trip planning easier and budget-friendly for everyday travelers.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/author\/rajeswari-menonway-com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"HowTo\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#howto-1\",\"name\":\"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#article\"},\"description\":\"\",\"step\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515267034\",\"name\":\"Locate an automated car wash near you\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToDirection\",\"text\":\"Automated car washes are increasingly featured nowadays at gas stations, so make sure to check your local fuel vendor. In many cases, several gas stations offer reduced prices on car washes if you're filling up on gasoline at their establishment.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515287625\",\"name\":\"Drive on up to the payment station\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToDirection\",\"text\":\"Much like an order window at a drive-thru restaurant, many automatic car washes have an auto wash station where customers can pick the sort of wash they want and pay for it. Most automated car washes offer three to four packages to their customers with prices that range to include services like basic washes to added services like spray-on waxes.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515303687\",\"name\":\"Park in the designated car wash zone\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToDirection\",\"text\":\"Watch for markers or signs that show where to park your car before the wash begins. While car washes may differ by location, most need you to drive your vehicle forward until it lines up with the guided track. Some car washes may have extra lights and arrows to help you park correctly in the designated space.If you have a car with an automatic transmission, make sure it is in park. If you are using a manual car, put it in neutral. Take your foot off the brake and ensure the parking brake is off. Roll up the windows and lock the doors, especially if you are traveling with kids.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515340659\",\"name\":\"Sit back and relax\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToDirection\",\"text\":\"Now, you can relax while the car is gently pushed along the monorail system. You may feel some movement as the brushes clean the car's exterior. Once the wash and dry processes are finished, a lit sign or signal will alert you when it is safe to exit the garage area. When you leave the car wash tunnel, be careful and watch for other cars that might be pulling out from the other wash bays.\"}]}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers' guide","description":"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers' guide","og_description":"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/","og_site_name":"carwash guides","article_published_time":"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ren\u00e9e Martin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ren\u00e9e Martin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/"},"author":{"name":"Ren\u00e9e Martin","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/person\/2ff590038143fd7f8a3e22f910bd376a"},"headline":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide","datePublished":"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/"},"wordCount":694,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg","articleSection":["Things To Know"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/","name":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers' guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-05T05:01:14+00:00","description":"Are you new to using an automatic car wash? We can help you understand the process and answer common questions about it!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/A-First-Timers-Guide-to-Automated-Car-Washes.jpg","width":1000,"height":667,"caption":"Image by Ali _Cobanoglu"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/","name":"carwash guides","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#organization","name":"carwash guides","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LogRed-o-2-1.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LogRed-o-2-1.webp","width":250,"height":75,"caption":"carwash guides"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/#\/schema\/person\/2ff590038143fd7f8a3e22f910bd376a","name":"Ren\u00e9e Martin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/664408fd84be3ebbbed5745382e31f389733fba1508daa16c19ceeff6825f558?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ren\u00e9e Martin"},"description":"Ren\u00e9e Martin is a travel and car expert who focuses on road and air travel in the U.S. For the past 6 years, she\u2019s been helping make driving and trip planning easier and budget-friendly for everyday travelers.","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/author\/rajeswari-menonway-com\/"},{"@type":"HowTo","@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#howto-1","name":"How to go through a car wash: The first timers&#8217; guide","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#article"},"description":"","step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515267034","name":"Locate an automated car wash near you","itemListElement":[{"@type":"HowToDirection","text":"Automated car washes are increasingly featured nowadays at gas stations, so make sure to check your local fuel vendor. In many cases, several gas stations offer reduced prices on car washes if you're filling up on gasoline at their establishment."}]},{"@type":"HowToStep","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515287625","name":"Drive on up to the payment station","itemListElement":[{"@type":"HowToDirection","text":"Much like an order window at a drive-thru restaurant, many automatic car washes have an auto wash station where customers can pick the sort of wash they want and pay for it. Most automated car washes offer three to four packages to their customers with prices that range to include services like basic washes to added services like spray-on waxes."}]},{"@type":"HowToStep","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515303687","name":"Park in the designated car wash zone","itemListElement":[{"@type":"HowToDirection","text":"Watch for markers or signs that show where to park your car before the wash begins. While car washes may differ by location, most need you to drive your vehicle forward until it lines up with the guided track. Some car washes may have extra lights and arrows to help you park correctly in the designated space.If you have a car with an automatic transmission, make sure it is in park. If you are using a manual car, put it in neutral. Take your foot off the brake and ensure the parking brake is off. Roll up the windows and lock the doors, especially if you are traveling with kids."}]},{"@type":"HowToStep","url":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/guide-to-automated-car-washes\/#how-to-step-1734515340659","name":"Sit back and relax","itemListElement":[{"@type":"HowToDirection","text":"Now, you can relax while the car is gently pushed along the monorail system. You may feel some movement as the brushes clean the car's exterior. Once the wash and dry processes are finished, a lit sign or signal will alert you when it is safe to exit the garage area. When you leave the car wash tunnel, be careful and watch for other cars that might be pulling out from the other wash bays."}]}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":266,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263\/revisions\/266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/car-wash\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}