NAICS 811192 Quarterly Industry Report
Car Washes
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 811192Sector: Other Services (except Public Administration) (81)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Car Washes (NAICS 811192) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, car wash industry analysts, and service business investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the car washes industry.
NAICS Sector
81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
Industry Definition & Overview
Car Washes (NAICS 811192) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in cleaning, washing, and waxing automotive vehicles per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include conveyor tunnel washes, in-bay automatic washes, self-service coin-operated bays, hand wash and detail operations, and express exterior wash facilities.
Over 60,000 car wash locations operate across the United States, generating an estimated $15 billion in annual revenue per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data. Express exterior tunnel washes have emerged as the dominant growth format, with monthly unlimited subscription programs transforming the industry from single-visit transactions to recurring membership revenue models. Major chains including Mister Car Wash (450+ locations), International Car Wash Group, and Zips Car Wash have grown through acquisition-driven consolidation. Private equity investment in the car wash sector has accelerated, attracted by subscription revenue predictability and real estate value. Self-service and in-bay automatic formats continue operating in lower-density markets where tunnel wash investment is not supported by traffic volume.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $9 million in average annual receipts. EPA[8] Clean Water Act permits regulate car wash wastewater discharge, with most jurisdictions requiring connection to municipal sewer systems or installation of water recycling and treatment systems. State and local environmental agencies enforce water conservation measures in drought-prone regions.
What's Included in This Industry
- Express exterior conveyor tunnel washes
- Full-service tunnel wash with interior cleaning
- In-bay automatic touchless and soft-cloth washes
- Self-service coin-operated wash bays
- Hand wash and detailing operations
- Monthly unlimited wash subscription programs
- Ceramic coating and paint protection application
- Interior vacuuming, shampooing, and detailing
- Fleet and commercial vehicle wash programs
- Water recycling and treatment system operations
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 81 |
| Subsector | Repair and Maintenance | 811 |
| Industry Group | Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 8111 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 81119 |
| National Industry | Car Washes | 811192 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 811198 | All Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | All Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance includes detailing services and automotive appearance maintenance that overlaps with full-service car wash offerings, with some operators combining wash tunnel operations and hand detailing services at the same location to maximize per-vehicle revenue |
| 811191 | Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops | Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops provides quick-service vehicle maintenance that some car wash operations co-locate with wash facilities, with combined wash-and-lube sites capturing multiple service needs in a single customer visit |
| 812310 | Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners | Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners operates self-service businesses sharing similar real estate, equipment investment, and payment technology requirements with self-service car wash operations, with both business types generating revenue from coin and card-operated customer-facing equipment |
| 561720 | Janitorial Services | Janitorial Services uses cleaning methods, chemicals, and water management techniques common to commercial car wash operations, with fleet washing and commercial vehicle cleaning bridging automotive and building maintenance service categories |
| 811111 | General Automotive Repair | General Automotive Repair shares customer base with car washes, with vehicle owners visiting both repair and appearance maintenance providers, and some repair shops offering basic wash and vacuum services as customer amenities alongside mechanical work |
| 532120 | Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing | Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV Rental and Leasing operates vehicle fleets requiring regular washing and appearance maintenance, with fleet operators contracting car wash facilities for scheduled cleaning programs that generate recurring commercial wash volume |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 11.6% | 2,262 |
| 2 | Texas | 9.5% | 1,853 |
| 3 | Florida | 8.5% | 1,659 |
| 4 | New York | 4.8% | 929 |
| 5 | Illinois | 3.9% | 749 |
| 6 | Georgia | 3.6% | 694 |
| 7 | Ohio | 3.6% | 693 |
| 8 | New Jersey | 3.4% | 652 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 3.2% | 630 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3.2% | 627 |
% Of Establishments
0%
12%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
1,944
Total SBA Loans
$2.2B
Total Loan Volume
$1.1M
Average Loan Size
16 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.79%
Average Interest Rate
15,184
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Car Washes (NAICS 811192) has a size standard of $9 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support tunnel equipment, water recycling systems, and working capital for qualifying car wash businesses. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 72 | $219.3M | $3.0M |
| 2 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 96 | $162.5M | $1.7M |
| 3 | Metro City Bank | 48 | $153.8M | $3.2M |
| 4 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 72 | $142.6M | $2.0M |
| 5 | Stone Bank | 32 | $115.2M | $3.6M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for car washes?
NAICS 811192 covers car wash establishments including tunnel, in-bay automatic, self-service, and hand wash operations per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How many car wash locations are in the U.S.?
Over 60,000 car wash locations operate across the United States, generating an estimated $15 billion in annual revenue per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data, ranging from single self-service bays to multi-bay express tunnel facilities.
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $9 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for car wash businesses.
What is an express exterior car wash?
Express exterior washes use conveyor tunnel systems to clean vehicle exteriors in 3-5 minutes without interior cleaning, processing high volumes of vehicles through automated equipment. Monthly unlimited subscription programs at $20-$50 per month have become the primary revenue model for express tunnel operators.
How are subscriptions changing the car wash industry?
Monthly unlimited wash subscriptions generate predictable recurring revenue per SBA[13] business model guidance, with typical members washing 3-4 times monthly. Subscription conversion rates of 15-30% of customers provide revenue stability that has attracted private equity investment to the sector.
Who are the largest car wash chains?
Mister Car Wash (450+ locations), International Car Wash Group, and Zips Car Wash rank among the largest multi-site operators, having grown through acquisition of independent car washes driven by private equity investment in the subscription-based express tunnel format.
What environmental regulations affect car washes?
EPA[8] Clean Water Act permits regulate wastewater discharge from car wash operations. Most jurisdictions require connection to municipal sewer systems or installation of water recycling systems, with water conservation mandates in drought-prone regions adding additional compliance requirements.
How much does a car wash facility cost to build?
Express exterior tunnel car wash construction typically costs $3-6 million including land, building, equipment, and site development per SBA[10] lending program data. Self-service and in-bay automatic formats require lower investment ranging from $500,000 to $2 million depending on the number of bays.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]EPA epa.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]SBA sba.gov
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