Washing the car- that thing on the to-do list that sometimes you take a couple weeks too long to actually check off. Especially this time of year, when the temperatures drop and the idea of getting your car wet, even with the powerful dryers some car washes have, seems like a recipe for frozen doors. And yet, keeping your vehicle clean and getting it washed regularly is an important part of vehicle ownership. It prevents rust and unnecessary wear and tear that dirt, grime, slush, and sprayback from the salt on the road after winter weather can cause – which can be contributing factors for auto body repair. If you’ve looked into car washes lately, you’ve probably noticed a car wash or two offering monthly memberships. Are these kinds of car wash memberships really worth it? Well, as with any sort of subscription, the answer depends, and there are a few things you should consider.
Weigh Your Options
If one of your local car wash spots offers a monthly membership program, chances are another one does, too. Do your research and see what kinds of options, and at what price points are available to you before you make your decision. That way you know what is available to you, and, depending on which shop is closest to you (making it more convenient) you may even be able to use the other programs’ components as leverage to negotiate an additional feature. We don’t make any promises, but hey, it’s worth a shot, right?
What’s Included
Take special note of what’s included in the membership, and if there are different levels of membership what the cost difference is, as well as the difference in price between the services offered in each membership on a single-wash scale. Often, the memberships are created with the hopes of saving drivers money, but it’s important to take a critical look at the value of the membership to make sure it’s really worth it, too.
How Often Will You Go, Really?
Here’s the real bottom line. If you’re considering a monthly car wash membership, you need to make sure you’re using it enough to get your money’s worth. If you sign up and then forget to take your vehicle through the wash for….three months….then no, it’s not worth your money. But if you’re serious about keeping your vehicle clean or are using this membership as an excuse to get more serious about that, you should be good. Do the math – how many regular washes, or premium if some of those premium features are included in the membership would it take for you to spend more on washes in a month than it costs for the membership? Is that a number of times you can see yourself washing your vehicle in a month? Is that a number of times your vehicle NEEDS to be washed in a month? If the answer to those last two questions is yes, then you’ve probably got a pretty good value on your hands!
Ask About Extra Perks
Again, we can’t guarantee anything here, and most car washes with monthly membership programs lay out all the perks in the details of the membership itself, but if you’re looking for a little something to sweeten the deal, ask about any extra perks that might not be listed in the membership details. Maybe you get a special birthday gift, or free air fresheners twice a year, or maybe they’ll offer you a discount on detailing if you keep the membership for a whole year. Who knows?! But it’s worth asking about.
Regardless of the perks and the details of the membership, if you decide this is a good move for you and your vehicle, don’t forget our biggest piece of advice: Use the thing, already! Get the most bang for your buck and relish the fact that you’re driving a spotless car more or less all the time.
