A car wash is a facility used to clean the exterior, and sometimes the interior, of automobiles. There are several types of car washes, ranging from do-it-yourself coin-operated facilities to fee-based full-service operations. Mechanized car washes, especially those with brushes, are sometimes avoided by many meticulous car owners because of the possible risk of finely scratching the paint surface which can adversely affect both its appearance and its durability, although modern materials have reduced the chance of this type of damage. These owners may only use car washes that use cloth or they may even avoid mechanized car washes entirely.

The simplest type of car wash is a coin-operated or token-operated self-service system. The vehicle is parked inside a large bay that is equipped with a soap/water sprayer and a scrub brush. When customers insert coins or tokens into the controller, they can choose to have soap or water dispensed from the sprayer, or to scrub the vehicle with the brush. These facilities are often equipped with separate vacuum stations that allow customers to clean the upholstery and rugs inside their cars.