The 2018 Top 50 List of Conveyor Carwashes - Professional Carwashing & Detailing

The 2018 Top 50 List of Conveyor Carwashes

PC&D’s research uncovers a year of steady growth for most chains on the list.

Sponsored by Commercial Plus

Welcome to Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s (PC&D) 2018 Top 50 U.S. Conveyor Chain List. This annual list is an account of the nation’s largest conveyor carwash chains, based on the number of locations under the operator’s umbrella.

As mentioned in the previous article of this issue, many brands found on this year’s list are familiar names from previous years’ lists. Of course, there are a few new brands featured as well. Some of these newer brands may have had few or no sites last year but made the leap with a significant year of growth.

Some new carwash chains on the list are actually older brands flying under a new carwash chain brand name; for example, Moo Moo Express Car Wash, which placed 22nd on last year’s Top 50 list, is now part of Express Wash Concepts, which also includes Flying Ace Express Car Wash and Clean Express Auto Wash, thus moving up to slot 18 on this year’s list.

However, all of these conveyor carwash chains have an interesting story. In addition to reviewing the list this year, we recommend that our readers visit the chains’ websites, read their stories and review their marketing, photos, customer service elements and other key business differentiators that have helped separate these operators from the pack.

Again, we would like to thank everyone who took the time this year to help us compile this research. Now, we move on to the list, starting with a familiar entry ….

1. Mister Car Wash

Tucson, AZ
www.mistercarwash.com
264 locations

The Mister Car Wash brand is anchored in quality, friendliness and its commitment to creating memorable customer experiences. Mister Car Wash’s people are what make it successful and allow it to achieve these high standards. The company continues to focus on recruiting and retaining top talent, developing best-in-class training programs and investing in employee benefits to cultivate a positive company culture. The Mister Car Wash brand is about inspiring potential and giving both its employees and customers the motivation to be their best.

2. Zips Car Wash

Little Rock, AR
www.zipscarwash.com
140 locations

Zips is revolutionizing the carwash industry by building a team of extraordinary people and bringing them together to work in a unique, high-performance culture. Within the communities it serves, it is heavily invested in its customers, their families and their interests, like local schools and community organizations. And, it’s reaching beyond just washing cars by creating an environment to grow its team members into industry leaders at its stores across the country. This is what it calls the Zips Way.

3. International Car Wash Group (ICWG)

Centennial, CO
www.icwg.com
134 locations

Founded in 1965, ICWG is the world’s largest conveyor carwash company, currently operating in 16 countries around the globe and washing more than 40 million cars every year through a network of more than 900 locations. ICWG operates under the IMO banner in Europe and Asia-Pacific. In the U.S., ICWG operates under the banners of Car Wash USA Express, Goo-Goo Express Wash, Car Wash Express and Supersonic Car Wash. ICWG is committed to delivering consistent wash quality for the customer while minimizing the impact on the environment.

4. Autobell Car Wash

Charlotte, NC
www.autobell.com
81 locations

Celebrating 50 years of customer service in 2019, Autobell® Car Wash was founded in 1969 in Charlotte by the late Charles Howard Sr. and remains privately held and operated by subsequent generations of the Howard family. Now operating in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland with consistent expansion, Autobell continues its commitment to customer focus, environmental protection and conservation, employee training and development, community relations and charitable support.

5. Quick Quack Car Wash

Roseville, CA
www.dontdrivedirty.com
74 locations

Founded in 2004 in Sacramento, California, Quick Quack Car Wash is a fast-growing chain of exterior-only, express carwash locations in Arizona, California, Texas, Utah and Colorado. Quick Quack is regularly recognized for its community-building efforts as well as its environmentally friendly business practices. In addition to a big yellow mascot duck named “Quackals,” Quick Quack is best known for free, self-service vacuums and unlimited carwash memberships. Don’t Drive Dirty!™

Ranking

Organization name

City

State

URL

No. of
locations

6

Wash Depot Holdings Inc.

Malden

MA

www.cleancarfeeling.com

49

7

True Blue Car Wash

Scottsdale

AZ

www.truebluecw.com

48

8

Raceway Express Car Wash

Phoenix

AZ

www.racewaycarwash.com

35

9

Golden Nozzle Car Wash

Springfield

MA

www.goldennozzlecarwash.com

34

10

Crew Carwash

Indianapolis

IN

www.crewcarwash.com

31

11

Delta Sonic

Terrible Herbst

Buffalo

Las Vegas

NY

NV

www.deltasoniccarwash.com

www.terribleherbst.com

29

29

12

Brown Bear Car Wash

The Wash Tub

Seattle

San Antonio

WA

TX

www.brownbear.com

www.washtub.com

26

26

13

Mike’s Carwash

Russell Speeder’s Car Wash

Sam’s Xpress Car Wash

Loveland

Norwalk

Matthews

OH

CT

NC

www.mikescarwash.com

www.russellspeeders.com

www.samsxpresscarwash.com

23

23

23

14

BlueWave Express

Mammoth Holdings

Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Waterway® Carwash

San Rafael

Atlanta

Atlanta

St. Louis

CA

GA

GA

MO

www.bluewaveexpress.com

www.mammothholdings.com

www.tidalwaveautospa.com

www.waterway.com

22

22

22

22

15

Cobblestone Auto Spa

Phoenix

AZ

www.cobblestone.com

21

16

Fuller’s Carwash

Prime Shine Car Wash

Super Star Car Wash

Hinsdale

Modesto

Chandler

IL

CA

AZ

www.fullerscarwash.com

www.primeshine.com

www.superstarcarwashaz.com

20

20

20

17

Kaady Car Wash

ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers

Splash Car Wash

Portland

Natick

Greenwich

OR

MA

CT

www.kaady.com

www.scrubadub.com

www.splashcarwashes.com

18

18

18

18

Express Wash Concepts

Washman Car Washes

Etna

Portland

OH

OR

www.expresswashconcepts.com

www.washmanusa.com

17

17

19

Car Spa

Fast Eddie’s Car Wash & Oil Change

Hoffman Car Wash

Dallas

Swartz Creek

Albany

TX

MI

NY

www.carspa.net

www.fasteddiescarcare.com

www.hoffmancarwash.com

16

16

16

20

Frank’s Car Wash

Rich’s Car Wash

Surf Thru Express Car Wash

Columbia

Saraland

Bakersfield

SC

AL

CA

www.frankscarwash.com

www.richscarwash.com

www.surfthruexpress.com

15

15

15

21

Francis & Sons Car Wash

Phoenix

AZ

www.francisandsonscarwash.com

14

22

Tiger Express Wash

Columbia

MO

www.tigerexpresswash.com

13

23

Shammy Shine

Milford

NJ

www.shammyshine.com

12

24

Fast5xpress

Jacksons Car Wash

Quick N Clean

Scrub-a-Dub

Soapy Joe’s Car Wash

Wash Masters Car Wash

Irvine

Scottsdale

Scottsdale

Milwaukee

San Diego

Irving

CA

AZ

AZ

WI

CA

TX

www.fast5xpress.com

www.jacksonswash.com

www.quicknclean.net

www.scrubadub.biz

www.soapyjoescarwash.com

www.washmasters.net

11

11

11

11

11

11

25

Haffner’s

Mr. Clean Car Wash

Mr. Sparkle Car Wash

Super Shine Auto Wash Centers

Ultimate Shine Car Wash

Lawrence

Norcross

South Windsor

Braintree

Morristown

MA

GA

CT

MA

TN

www.haffners.com

www.mrcleancarwash.com

www.mrsparklecarwash.com

www.supershineautowash.com

www.ultimateshinecarwash.com

10

10

10

10

10


Editor’s note:
The information provided in the 2018 Top 50 list was compiled based on last year’s list, submissions, internal research conducted with our team and our industry partners and by investigating carwashes’ websites. Carwashes included in this year’s list may or may not have been confirmed by their owners in 2018. If you believe your conveyor carwash chain should be included in Professional Carwashing & Detailing’s annual Top 50 list, make sure to be on the lookout for the 2019 Top 50 submission request, or email Editorial Director Rich DiPaolo at [email protected] for more information.

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