Car Wash FAQs

Do you wash trucks?

Yes.  However, the height limit at Tunnel car wash locations is 84".  Our Self-Serve car wash bays have taller heights.  Please note that we cannot wash trucks with "dualies" at our Tunnel locations, nor trucks nor vans with ladder racks.

Do you take credit cards?

Yes, all major credit cards are accepted at Tunnel locations.

*If you have an additional $10 charge pending on your account after using one of our Self Serve locations, it is an Authorization Charge from your financial institution, not us.  It will eventually drop off your account.  If you have any questions about the pending Authorization Charge, please contact your financial institution.

Can I wash my vehicle with roof mounted racks? Rear mounted racks?

In most cases, lower-profile roof racks are safe to take through a Tunnel car wash.  Our staff will inspect your roof rack to make sure it is securely attached to your vehicle and has no protruding attachments.  Rear racks, like bike racks, need to be removed as the position and style of these racks have a greater likelihood of getting caught in a brush, potentially causing damage to your vehicle, other vehicles, or the car wash equipment.  Please note that we cannot wash vehicles with ladder racks such as trucks or vans.

*Please check with the site personnel prior to getting in line in the event your rack needs to be removed for safety.

Is the wash safe for convertibles?

Yes, please make sure the roof is properly latched.

Does Brown Bear Car Wash operate any car wash franchises?

Not at this time.

How often should I wash my car?

We advise our customers to wash their vehicles any time they are dirty.  Dirt works into the paint and deteriorates the surface of the paint due to many types of pollutants in road dirt. It is best to remove insect residue, bird droppings, and other residue as soon as possible to prevent damage to your vehicle's paint.

Isn't it safer to wash your car by hand at home?

Not neccessarily.  Rags and sponges used in driveway washing inevitably become impregnated with tiny particles of grit and can scratch your vehicle's surface.  Furthermore, garden hoses typically have inadequate water pressure to remove all the soap film, letting it 'bake' into the finish and work its way into the paint for days afterward.  In fact, professional studies have shown that the good ol' driveway car wash is one of the worst things that can happen to a car's factory paint job.

What's so bad about driveway/alley carwashing?

Since storm drains are not a part of the wastewater system, materials emptied into them do not go to wastewater treatment facilities. Driveway car washing not only introduces chemicals from soaps and detergents into the water system, it also loosens toxic particles that have accumulated on your car, such as lead, phosphates, motor oil, asphalt, and antifreeze and releases them directly into our streams and lakes.  Addtionally, using a normal garden hose can use up to, or even more than, 100 gallons to wash a vehicle—we use an average of 20 gallons per car.