Car wash causes damage more often than you think – who pays for it and how do you prevent it?

Car wash damage

It sounds like a routine job: a quick trip through the car wash, done in three minutes. But for a large group of car owners, this cleaning ends with a sour taste. An analysis by Autoverzekering.nl shows that almost 20% of motorists discover damage after a visit to the car wash. From superficial scratches to broken-off mirrors – the damage is surprisingly diverse.

Paint damage tops the list

The most common car wash damage? Damaged paintwork. About one in 10 survey respondents mentioned scratches or dull spots on the bodywork. Mirrors and windshield wipers also regularly fall prey to the brushes or air dryers. Also mentioned are loose license plates, missing antennas or torn off accessories.

Responsibility?

Anyone who thinks the car wash will pay for the damage will be deceived. Unless something obviously went wrong – a brush coming loose or an employee leaving a scratch with a cloth – liability often lies with the motorist himself. Even if the fault seems obvious, the question is whether you can prove it.

Insure or swallow?

Those with all-risk insurance can, in principle, have damage caused by the car wash reimbursed. But according to insurance expert Jerry Poel of Autoverzekering.nl, this is by no means always a smart move: “It sounds logical to claim damage, but in the case of minor damage such as a scratch, this is often not wise. You lose claim-free years, possibly have a deductible and thus pay a higher premium for years.”