Auto Laundry News: Results From The Auto Laundry News 2025 SELF-SERVICE SURVEY PDF Free Download
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CarWashMag.com
The Voice Of The Car Care Industry
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SSEELLFF--SSEERRVVIICCEE
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Results From The Auto Laundry News
MAY
2025 www.carwashmag.com 27
SELF-SERVICE SURVEY
Results From The Auto Laundry News
he 2025 Auto Laundry News Self-Service Survey was
conducted through the print and electronic mailing
of questionnaires to a random selection of
subscribers who own or operate self-service car wash
locations. The information in this report results from an
analysis of data provided by respondents throughout the
United States.
Participating locations with in-bay automatics make up
52 percent of the total response; those without account for
48 percent. Last year, the split was 40/60.
REVENUES
In a significant drop off from last year’s results, just 27
percent of respondents reported increased year-over-year
revenue. Last year more than half (58 percent) of survey
takers reported an increase in revenue, the first time in
more than five years that most operators enjoyed an
increase.
As the percentage of operators that enjoyed an increase
shrunk this year, the number of self-serve car washers that
saw revenue decrease year-over-year grew. This year,
nearly 1 in 4 (23 percent) of survey respondents said their
income dropped in 2024 compared to 2023, up from the
10 percent that reported the downward trend last year.
While operators reporting increases were significantly
less, and those reporting decreases rose – respondents
reporting no change in revenue reached a five-year high
at 50 percent.
EQUIPMENT
While much of the industry has seen cash flow remain
stagnant over the past year, it has not deterred them from
reinvesting in their businesses. In fact, more than half of those
surveyed (54 percent) report plans to purchase new
equipment over the next 12 months. Last year, a third of
operators had similar plans.
The most popular planned edition is self-serve dryers at 25
percent, followed by in-bay automatic equipment and POS
units, both at 19 percent.
STATE OF THE SEGMENT
For the second consecutive year, survey participants were
asked to provide one word that best describes the current
state of the self-serve segment. Responses ran the gambit
from ‘Steady’ and ‘Satisfying’ to ‘Terrible’ and ‘Dying.’ But
overall, operators have a positive outlook on the segment,
with 64 percent describing the self-serve market in favorable
terms. Surprisingly, around 30 percent of respondents
described the segment as simply ‘Good,’ which is positive, if
unoriginal.
This year, we introduced a second open-ended question,
asking operators for one word to describe the future state of
the segment. Interestingly, operators are extremely bullish on
the segment's future despite the challenges it faces. Seventy-
two percent of responses were positive, describing the future
state as ‘Stronger’ and ‘Stable,’ while just 19 percent described
the potential future as ‘Bleak’
and ‘Decreasing.’
NEW EQUIPMENT
54% of operators plan to add equipment
in the next 12 months
IN-BAY DRYER
25%
OTHER
18%
POS
19%
BILL CHANGERS
13%
NO YES
Respondents Operating an
In-Bay Automatic at Their Coin-Op Location
ACCESS TO
THE INTERNET
94% YES
WEBSITE
33% YES
48% 52%
T
2025 SELF-SERVICE SURVEY
IN-BAY
AUTOMATICS
19%
SSEELLFF--SSEERRVVEE
EEQQUUIIPPMMEENNTT
66%%
MAY
2025
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28
PERCENTAGE OF WASH
BUSINESS DONE BY SEASON BY REGION
WINTER SPRING SUMMER FALL
Pacific * * * *
Mountain 19 27 27 27
Midwest 31 31 19 19
Central 45 25 15 15
South Central 20 28 26 26
Southeast 22 31 24 23
Mid-Atlantic 25 35 18 22
New England 25 20 35 20
NOTE: Some results do not total 100 due to rounding
* Too Few Responses
Pacific
Alaska-California-Hawaii-Oregon-Washington
Mountain
Arizona-Colorado-Idaho-Montana-Nevada-
New Mexico-Utah-Wyoming
Midwest
Iowa-Kansas-Minnesota-Missouri-Nebraska-
North Dakota-South Dakota
Central
Illinois-Indiana-Michigan-Ohio-Wisconsin
South Central
Alabama-Arkansas-Kentucky-Louisiana-
Mississippi-Oklahoma-Tennessee-Texas
Southeast
Delaware-Florida-Georgia-Maryland-Carolinas-
Virginia-West Virginia
Mid-Atlantic
New Jersey-New York-Pennsylvania
New England
Connecticut-Maine-Massachusetts-
New Hampshire-Rhode Island-Vermont
PERCENTAGE OF WASH BUSINESS
DONE BY DAY OF WEEK
PERCENTAGE OF WASH BUSINESS
DONE BY HOUR OF THE DAY
SUNDAY
21%
MONDAY
11% TUESDAY
9%
WEDNESDAY
9%
THURSDAY
10%
FRIDAY
16%
SATURDAY
24%
MIDNIGHT-8:00 AM
5%
8:00 AM-10:00 AM
15%
10:00 AM-NOON
19%
NOON-3:00 PM
23%
3:00 PM-7:00 PM
27%
7;00 PM-MIDNIGHT
11%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0% 0% 0%0% 0%0%
9%
13% 13%
39%
17%
9%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
VOTED BEST MONTH
ATTENDANTS
FULL-TIME 13% 19% 19% 24% 23%
PART-TIME 42% 42% 51% 38% 50%
NONE 45% 39% 30% 38% 27%
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
MAY
2025 www.carwashmag.com 29
INCOME COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEAR
EXPANSION PLANS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
HIGHER SAME LOWER
40%
23%
46%
34%
58%
27%
50%
23%
29%
56%
41%
34% 32% 31%
21%
13%
32%
10%
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
0
3
6
9
12
15
BUY VS. BUILD
Expansion Plans: Buy vs. Build
(in next 12 months)
COMPETING SELF-SERVES IN AREA
RESPONDENTS WHO
OPERATE A COMBINED
AUTOMATIC/
SELF-SERVICE FACILITY
11%
5%
10%
4%
7%
2%
5%
4% 4%
13% 13%
7%
5%
4%
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Planning to Buy Planning to Built
HOURS OF OPERATION
OPEN SUNDAYS
OPEN 24 HOURS
96%
100%
46% 54%
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0
1
2
3
4
5
More
than 5
21%
14%
34%
10%
7%
7%
7%
AUTOMATIC
WASH
REVENUES AS
PERCENTAGE OF
TOTAL INCOME
SELF-SERVE
WASH
REVENUES AS
PERCENTAGE OF
TOTAL INCOME
NUMBER OF COMPETITORS OPERATORS REPORTING
MAY
2025
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024681012
EXPENSES (OPERATING COSTS AS PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MONTHLY REVENUES)
ELECTRICITY
FUEL (GAS, OIL, ETC.)
WATER
SEWER
CHEMICALS
VENDING PRODUCTS
SOFTENER SALT
COLLECTION
LOT SWEEPING
ATTENDANT LABOR
BOOKKEEPING
REPLACEMENT PARTS
REPLACEMENT PARTS
VEHICLE DAMAGE
REFUNDS
PIT PUMPING
ADVERTISING & PROMO
8.1 %
3.9 %
6.1 %
3.7 %
6.1 %
0.9 %
0.8 %
1.0 %
2.9 %
11.3 %
2.1 %
7.5 %
1.6 %
0.9 %
0.8 %
2.7 %
3.4 %
NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR
VANDALISM
MONTHLY GROSS
INCOME PER
SELF SERVE BAY
MONTHLY GROSS
INCOME PER
VACUUM
MONTHLY GROSS
INCOME
FOR
VENDING
$2,302 $533
$365
MAY
2025 www.carwashmag.com 33
PRICE
VACUUMS
PRICE PER MINUTE
WASH BAYS
PRICE PER MINUTE
0
10
20
30
40
50
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
EXPRESS EXTERIOR NEARBY
NO 32%
YES 68%
58% 42%
HAS HURT
BUSINESS
HAS NOT
HURT
BUSINESS
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
43.6¢
72.8¢
56.3¢ 56.7¢ 58.5¢
77.4¢
31.8¢
27.3¢ 29.9¢
34.7¢
WATER SOFTENER
WATER HEATER
COLD WATER RINSE
SPRAY WAX
LIQUID TIRE/ENGINE CLEANER
FOAMING TIRE/ENGINE CLEANER
TRIGGER GUNS
FLOOR MAT HANGERS
VENDING MACHINES
VACUUMS
AIR DISPENSER
FRAGRANCE DISPENSER
CARPET CLEANING MACHINE
BILL CHANGER
SPOT FREE RINSE WITH R.O.
SPOT FREE RINSE WITH D.I
FLOOR HEAT
FOAMING BRUSHES
SOAPY WATER BRUSHES
PRESOAK
BURGLAR ALARM, SAFE
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
IN-BAY HANDHELD AIR DRYER
DOORS
MULTI-COLORED FOAM
CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE
IN-BAY BILL ACCEPTANCE
WATER RECLAIM SYSTEM
SURFACE PROTECTANT
TOKEN ACCEPTANCE
LED LIGHTING
UNDERCARRIAGE SPRAY WAND
MOBILE PAY ACCEPTANCE
COIN ACCEPTANCE
CERMAIC COATING
64%
61%
76%
88%
79%
61%
94%
94%
78%
97%
21%
61%
33%
85%
64%
9%
39%
97%
6%
82%
48%
85%
42%
33%
48%
82%
42%
9%
39%
30%
82%
12%
33%
88%
27%
0 20406080100
CURRENT EQUIPMENT
MAY
2025
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0
10
20
30
40
50
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
SITE LOCATION
URBAN
SUBURBAN
RURAL
LOW
MIDDLE
HIGH
29%
42%
29%
27%
70%
3%
MARKET SIZE
AUTOMATICS
$10,607
$11,015
$13,954
$12,200
$11,647
$3,986
$4,210
$4,809
$3,440
$3,457
MONTHLY
EXPENSE
PER AUTOMATIC
MONTHLY
GROSS INCOME
PER AUTOMATIC
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 SITE 2 SITES 3 SITES 4 SITES 5 SITES MORE THAN 5 SITES
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
MARKET INCOME LEVEL
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
PERCENTAGE OF OPERATORS
WITH MULTIPLE SITES
63% 60%
67%
22%
5%
12%
6%
2%
5% 6%
3% 0%
12%
5% 6% 5% 2%
20%
2022
2023
2024
HOW FAR DO CUSTOMERS COME?
More Than 10 Miles 10 Miles or Less 8 Miles or Less 5 Miles or Less 4 Miles or Less 3 Miles or Less 2 Miles or Less
17% 83% 67% 63% 47% 37% 7%
