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After reviewing our FAQs page, if you have any questions or comments simply fill out the form below and we will respond within 1-2 business days.
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Have a question about our car washes or car wash services? Send us a message! And feel free to reach out about anything. No question is too silly. In fact, we'd love it if you send us a joke. We want to make sure your car wash makes you happy.
FAQs
Click below to jump to a specific category:
General Car Wash Q's:
What is the max height at your touchless and tunnel locations?
The max height will vary by site. Please use the Contact Us form to inquire about a specific site or to ask which sites will accommodate your tall vehicle.
Are there certain types of vehicles that will not be suitable for the tunnel locations?
Dually trucks, vehicles with racks, ladders and storage boxes are not suitable. However, our touchless locations can fit many of these variations! To inquire about your specific vehicle, please use the Contact Us form.
Can I take my vehicle through a tunnel car wash with after-market parts on my vehicle (such as bug guards)?
Please ask a member of our team on site about your specific after-market parts.
Can I safely go through the wash with a roof rack or bike rack on my car?
- At the Tunnels: Our team can look at the roof rack to make sure it’s safe to go through. The top brushes may be retracted as a precautionary measure. Bike racks on the back of the vehicle cannot go through the tunnel wash.
- At the Touchless Washes: Roof racks are fine as long as they are under the clearance bar. Rear mounted bike racks are not recommended.
How can I obtain a copy of my receipt?
- For our Tunnel Club members, you may get a copy of your receipt from the Manage My Membership link here.
- For all other receipts, please contact our corporate office by clicking here.
Why was I charged $10 or $15 for using the Vacuums or Self-Serve Bays?
There is a pre-authorization charge to use the Vacuums and Self-Serve bays and will show as a pending charge in your account; when the actual transaction is posted, it will only be for the amount of time that was used.
What is the difference between the tunnel wash and the touchless wash?
Tunnel washes use cloth material and a conveyor to move your car through, with friction from the cloth helping to clean the vehicle more effectively. These washes are designed to be safe for your car, as the soft, durable cloth is gentle on the paint while providing a thorough clean.
Touchless washes rely on high-pressure water and soap without physical contact. When you drive into a touch-free car wash, the system applies cleaning agents, rinses them away, and then applies specialty treatments like wax and sealants.
Will any of your washes remove tree sap, road tar, and/ or bird droppings?
Road tar, bugs and bird droppings can be removed if addressed promptly; if these stay on your car for a longer period of time, it may become difficult to remove but eventually it does come clean. Tree sap is more stubborn, so we suggest products meant for removing tree sap.
Touchless Car Wash Q's:
Do you have a monthly membership for your Touchless locations?
- Washington: At this time, only the location in Medical Lake, WA offers a monthly membership. However, keep an eye out in the future for this option to be available at more Touchless locations.
- Arizona: Yes, all Arizona locations offer a monthly membership, which can be purchased from the pay station on site.
Do you have an app for your Touchless locations?
Yes! To download our app and review the benefits of using our Touchless app, please click here.
What are the hours of your Touchless locations?
Our Touchless locations are open 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week!
Are your Touchless locations open when there are freezing temperatures?
Great question – Freezing temperatures will have an impact on the chemical lines for the Triple-Foam (colored) waxes, therefore, the Triple-foam may not be available if the temperature is too cold.
What are the car wash options at your Touchless locations?
- To see a list of our car wash packages and what’s included, please click here.
If I’m having issues and need help, is there someone available on site to assist?
Yes, we staff our sites with lot attendants during certain times of the day. If you are unable to locate a lot attendant, please call the number shown at the site.
Club Membership Q's:
How can I sign up for a Club Membership?
You can sign up either on our website by clicking here or at any of our Tunnel locations on the kiosk.
How can I manage my membership, such as update my payment information, switch plans, change my vehicle, or cancel my membership?
Simply click on this link for any membership changes.
Can I use my membership at any Elephant Car Wash location?
Club memberships may be used at any of the five Tunnel locations in WA state.
Does the membership only work for one car, or can it be used for multiple cars?
Each membership is set up for one specific car. However, we do offer Family Plans where you can add more vehicles to your membership at a discount.
Is there an option to put my membership on hold?
Yes, you may pause your membership by talking to a manager on site. Only monthly memberships can be paused.
How can I activate my account that is currently inactive?
When you pull up to the kiosk, our technology will read your plate or RFID tag to determine if you have a membership. If you had one but it’s currently inactive, simply swipe your credit card to re-activate your membership and begin the recurring billing.
How do I get a new RFID tag for my windshield?
For locations with RFID tags (Burien and Maple Valley), simply let an employee know that you need a new tag for your vehicle when you are on site.
Other FAQs:
Do any of your locations accept cash?
- Washington: Our A Street South, Redondo and Lacey locations are currently accepting cash at the token machines. Our Redondo location also accepts cash at the touchless wash bays.
- Arizona: Cash is accepted at the kiosk pay stations and the token machines.
Is Apple Pay and/ or Google Pay accepted at any of your locations?
Yes, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted at all tunnels, and most self-serve bays and vacuums. Many of our touchless automatics don’t accept Apple and Google pay onsite, but our Touchless app does!
I have Elephant Car Wash tokens; at which locations can these be used?
Elephant tokens can be used at our A St South, Lacey, Redondo, Sumner and the Puyallup (Main Ave) locations.
I have an Elephant Car Wash gift card; How can I check the balance?
Please email us at corporate@elephantcarwash.com with your card number.
What are the benefits of using a car wash vs. washing my car at home?
Car washes are efficient, convenient and are more environmentally friendly than washing your car at home. Our washes use advanced equipment and high-quality products to deliver a more thorough and consistent clean than what's typically available for home use. Car washes employ gentle techniques that prevent scratches, whereas home washing with rags and sponges often introduces dirt and grit that can damage the paint. Garden hoses typically lack the pressure to completely remove soap residue, allowing it to dry and bake into the paint, potentially causing long-term damage.
Car washes tend to use water more efficiently, often recycling it through a reclaim system. In contrast, washing a car at home can produce untreated runoff that flows into storm drains, potentially polluting nearby rivers, creeks, and bodies of water like Puget Sound, which threatens local marine life.
How often should I get my car washed?
We recognize everyone's driving habits are different, but a good rule of thumb is “A wash every seventh day keeps the grime away!”
Is interior cleaning available at all locations?
Only our Federal Way location offers interior cleaning at this time.
Do any of your locations have carpet shampooers?
Only our location in Medical Lake (Spokane), WA has carpet shampooers.
Why do your hours of operation change during the year?
The weather conditions change throughout the year, which determines our hours of operations for the tunnels. Our Touchless and Self-Serve sites are open 24/7.
Is Elephant Car Wash a franchise?
We are not a franchise; we have been family-owned since 1951!
