Is tipping expected at the car wash or auto detailing shop? The answer is yes, even though like others, I admit tipping culture in the United States is getting out of hand. But how much is appropriate to tip for good service?
This article covers tipping etiquette and average tip amounts for hand car washes, full-service details, and mobile services. We’ll provide example tipping amounts so you can show your appreciation for a job well done.
The Case FOR Tipping
Car wash attendants and professional detailers provide a valuable service by cleaning and detailing our vehicles. It’s a tough, physically demanding job requiring them to be on their feet for hours, often working outdoors in extreme temperatures.
Most car wash workers are paid minimum wage or just above, relying on tips to supplement their modest incomes. Tipping even a couple dollars shows our appreciation for their labor and allows us to support working class people.
Detailers may be paid a higher wage, especially when it’s their own company, but the job take a great deal of skill and attention to detail. Going above and beyond is commonplace in such a competitive business.
Both car washes and auto detailers provide a luxury we take for granted – having our big investment, our cars, cleaned and detailed.
The Case AGAINST Tipping
The practice of tipping car wash attendants is outdated and some say fuels inequality. Unlike waiters who rely on tips to make up for lower minimum wages, car wash workers and detailers earn at least minimum wage already.
Their base pay reasonably compensates them for simply doing their everyday job duties.
As consumers, we shouldn’t feel obligated to pay extra on top of the advertised price of a car wash or detailing service.
Tipping disproportionately burdens middle class customers who can least afford it. And since tips are often shared among workers, outstanding employees don’t reap the full benefit.
If business owners want to pay higher wages to attract better workers, they should build that cost into pricing transparently.
On top of that, I tip should be a reward for service that’s above and beyond the norm, and not standard practice just because a job was done as stated. Let’s do away with arbitrary tipping expectations to make things fairer.
How Much Should You Tip?
The tip amount you leave the car wash attendant or car detailer should depend on the size of your vehicle and how many additional services other than exterior washing they perform on it. And, of course, the quality of the job should be a consideration as well.
Below are the 5 most common tip amounts you can expect to give at a full service car wash or auto detailer. All amounts are based off a job well done.
If you feel you received poor service, there’s nothing wrong with tipping less than the standard amount. On the other end of it, feel free to tip more to an attendant or detailer who has done an exceptional job.
Two Dollars
A $2 tip is fine if you have an economy size car that is getting washed and towel dried by hand.
Three Dollars
A $3 tip is better if you’re getting your economy size car vacuumed in addition to the washing and hand drying.
Four Dollars
$4 is a standard tip if you have a bigger car to get washed, such as a van, truck, or SUV. These vehicles require more time to wash which means a bigger tip is better.
Five Dollars
A better tip to give if you’re getting your larger vehicle vacuumed as well as washed.
10 to 15 Percent
If you are getting a full service car detailing in addition to a wash, then a 15% tip on the total amount will be best. This percentage is also a good amount if you cannot decide on a proper tip to give the person.
So, for example, if your complete auto detailing services costs $100, then leave the person who did the work a $10-$15 tip.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the amount of your tip should be based on the quality and value of the service you received for the money that you paid. Although tipping is never something that is required, it does show an appreciation to the service person for the quality job they did on your car.
Tipping for auto services seems to be more common in larger cities but there’s no rule that says you can’t tip a car wash attendant in rural Iowa.
If you’re a return customer and the attendant remembers the nice tip you left last time, they often go above and beyond the call of duty in order to please you and sometimes even throw in some free extras they know you’ll appreciate.
Some may disagree with me on this, but if the service was bad, it’s completely fine to lower the tip amount or not leave a tip at all. Tipping is something that should be a bonus and not something expected.
Unfortunately, too many businesses disagree with this and you’ll often be best to take your business to someone else.