Taking a pickup truck through a car wash
Short answer: most stock pickups fit through an automatic car wash, but check three things first: the posted height limit, the rules on tire width and dual rear wheels, and your accessories — tonneau covers, racks, tow mirrors, light bars and antennas. Touchless in-bay washes are usually the easiest fit; tunnels are the strictest.
Why trucks are different
Pickups are everywhere on American roads, and car washes are built with them in mind — up to a point. The limits come from three places: the height of the door and the overhead equipment, the conveyor or wheel guides that move or position the vehicle, and the brushes or arms that follow the body. A lifted or heavily accessorized truck can run into any of them.
Height and clearance
Every automatic wash has a maximum height, usually posted at the entrance; where a listing on our site knows the posted limit, the car wash's page shows it. A stock half-ton pickup fits most washes. What pushes a truck over: lift kits, light bars, roof racks with cargo, ladder racks, a cab-high topper, tall antennas. Measure your truck once, including anything on the roof, and keep the number in the glovebox. Remember ground clearance too: some tunnels have guide rails and a correlator that assume a normal ride height.
Lifted trucks and big tires
Tunnel conveyors push the vehicle by one wheel, and the wheel guides are made for a range of tire widths. Very wide off-road tires, aggressive fender flares or a big lift can make the truck sit badly on the conveyor or rub the guides. Many express tunnels post a sign about lifted trucks and oversized tires — or the attendant will wave you off. Better options for a lifted truck:
- A touchless in-bay automatic with enough door height — you park, the gantry moves.
- A self-serve bay — no height or tire limits beyond the bay itself, and you reach the wheel wells and underside properly.
- A truck wash — built for tall vehicles, though mainly for tractor-trailers and RVs.
Duallys
Trucks with dual rear wheels are wider at the back and do not sit on a single-wheel conveyor the way the system expects. Many tunnels do not accept them. In-bay automatics are more often fine, as long as the bay is wide enough; self-serve bays and truck washes always are. If you drive a dually, it is worth calling ahead or looking for a sign at the entrance.
Tonneau covers, toppers and bed accessories
- Hard folding or retractable covers
- Often fine in a touchless wash; check the maker's care instructions before a brush wash.
- Soft roll-up or folding covers
- High-pressure jets can force water in or lift the edges; brushes can snag them. Hand wash or touchless with care.
- Toppers and caps
- Add height and sometimes roof racks; check the height limit.
- Bed racks, ladder racks
- Often not allowed in tunnels — see roof racks and bike racks.
- Open bed
- Clear out loose items; water and air from the dryer will move them.
Before you pull in
- Fold in or retract tow mirrors.
- Remove or lower whip antennas and flags.
- Check that light bars, bull bars and running boards are tight.
- Take loose items out of the bed.
- Read the sign at the entrance — it lists what the wash will not take.
If something on the truck is unusual, ask the attendant before you pay. Washes usually post that they are not responsible for aftermarket parts, and a quick question saves a broken accessory — more on that in car wash damage.
Mud and salt
Trucks that see dirt roads, job sites or Snow Belt winters carry a lot under the body. Pick a program with the undercarriage spray, or rinse the frame, the inside of the bed rails and the wheel wells at a self-serve bay.
We list 4,905 self-serve car washes and 994 truck washes — find one near you.
Questions
Can a pickup truck go through an automatic car wash?
Most stock pickups can. Check the posted height limit, any rules on tire width and dual rear wheels, and your accessories. A touchless in-bay automatic is usually the most forgiving; tunnels have stricter limits because of the conveyor.
Can a lifted truck go through a car wash?
Often not through a tunnel: lift kits, oversized tires and wide fender flares can exceed the height, tire-width or ground-clearance limits. A touchless automatic with enough clearance, a self-serve bay or a truck wash is the safer choice. Ask the attendant if in doubt.
Can a dually go through a car wash?
Many tunnels cannot take dual rear wheels because the conveyor and wheel guides are built for single wheels. Some in-bay touchless washes and truck washes can. Look for a sign at the entrance or call ahead.
Is it safe to take a tonneau cover through a car wash?
It depends on the cover and the wash. Many hard covers are fine in a touchless wash, while soft roll-up and folding covers can leak or be damaged by brushes and high-pressure jets. The cover maker's care instructions are the reference.