car wash tipping?

How much do you tip at the car wash? I have a medium SUV , no third row. I gave $2 before the wash and then $3 to the guys that did the vacuum, dry, wipe down. I felt bad because the 2 guys did a nice job and worked hard. They kind of gave me q dirty look for the $3 but I only had $5 on me. . I went to the bank and went back to give an additional $10 but the actual price of the wash was $19 so it was a 50 percent tip.

Re: car wash tipping?

I have a medium SUV and I tip $5. I just give the tip to the guys at the end - never thought to tip the guys who take the car through the wash.

Re: car wash tipping?

I wouldn't go back to a place where I got dirty looks for giving a $3 tip, they are lucky they got anything at all.
I often don't have cash on me and don't tip at all, but when DH goes he over tips so I feel it evens out.
The nerve to be annoyed at any gratuity amazes me.

Re: car wash tipping?

At the car wash I use they have a tip box at the beginning and the end. I usually put 1-2 dollars in each box when I get the "full service" wash which is the like the 20 dollar wash you get for 2-4 dollars.

I think that's reasonable. If I take my nicer car I'll give a bigger tip.

car wash tipping?

I usually give $2 in the first box to the guys who do the vacuuming and $4 to the guy who does the thorough cleaning at the end.

car wash tipping?

i usually do $2 & $2-3.

I usually find a LOT that needs to be redone- they miss SO much. usually the 2nd group/ after the wash.

Re: car wash tipping?

I have a mid size sedan and I go so infrequently that it's always a TON of work for the poor guys.
I only tip at the end though, not in the beginning. I never saw a tip box there.

So I usually give $5.

Last time I went though, my car was so ridiculously filthy that they spent like a half an hour on it.
I felt bad so I threw them a few more bucks.

Message edited 10/20/2014 9:08:54 AM.

Re: car wash tipping?

I usually tip no more than $5 at the end. I never tip anyone as they drive the car into the wash, it's not like they are doing any work........the car wash is. I just tip the guy at the end who does all the vacuuming, window cleaning, polishing, etc.

car wash tipping?

At my old car wash, the car was vacuumed before it was put through the wash so I'm used to tipping before AND after. We recently moved and I don't get the car washed all that often (once or twice a year?) so I just threw $2 in the box. I figured they all divide up the tips at the end of the day anyway.

The car was quite gross and they spent A LOT of time on it and it does look nice. I just figured out that I paid $15 in tips on a $19 wash and that seems ridiculous but I have no idea. So now I know around $5 is reasonable. Thank you!

Re: car wash tipping?

I guess I was a bad car wash tipper. I never noticed a box at the beginning and I always tipped the guys at the end $3. That was before I was married and I went pretty often. Now DH takes the car and since we keep them in the garage, we don't go that often. I have no clue what he tips.

car wash tipping?

I always assumed they pooled all tips??? I always tip at the end, hope I am not giving the other guys a goose egg.

I usually put $5 in the jar.

Re: car wash tipping?

if i tip, i tip at the end - i assume they pool all tips.

I give $3 bc it annoys me that i pay more for a midsize SUV