“I told my father-in-law that I prefer to wash my car myself and he told me that I can’t do that in public places in Germany, that it’s illegal,” writes one Reddit user who moved to Germany. “Well, this is Germany and I’m not surprised after 6 years here that there is a law for that too,” he added. However, he asks if he can just wipe his car with a cloth and clean water. Or will he be turned in for wiping his car in front of his house?

It’s borderline

Some users say it depends on how the car is wiped down. Some people think that if the water doesn’t drip, it won’t be a problem. But other users argue that the bucket of water still has to be dumped somewhere. So they think that it would be OK to go out in front of the house with a damp cloth or wet tissue, otherwise it is impossible to wash the car in front of the house. Not even in the driveway. Even if it’s private. The truth is that it also depends on the particular place in Germany where the wiping would take place.

━━ ( Source: Brad Starkey /  Unsplash+ )

Car wash statistics

According to a 2019 report by the German Automotive Foundation, around 40% of drivers wash their car once a month. Three quarters of them wash their cars at a car wash for an average of €11. This means they spend 130 euros a year to wash their car. But if they want clean cars, they can’t save much. If they washed their car in front of their house, they would face a really heavy fine. Depending on the location, they could pay up to €100. So they wouldn’t save much on washing at home. Fines of this magnitude are possible in Saxony, for example.

Water Resources Act

And why should Germans be punished for wanting to wash their car in their backyard or on the street? The Water Resources Act is to blame. This prohibits the introduction of toxic and water-polluting substances into groundwater to prevent water pollution. Thus, washing cars with any kind of chemicals is prohibited in your own backyard or on the street. Dirty water simply must not run off into the soil.

What about clean water?

Some places in Germany are benevolent and allow car owners to at least wash with clean water. But some places forbid it. The reason is that even clean water can become contaminated with, for example, oil residues when washing the car. Violations of the law are indeed severely punished. After all, that’s the way it is in Germany.

Washing the car is important

Germans have no choice but to spend money on professional car washes. However, saving on washing and only going to the car wash twice a year, for example, might not be worth it. Every car wash increases the value of the car. The ideal is not only to wash the car, but also to choose cheap additional services, such as the use of wax, which protects the paint from all impurities such as salt, bird droppings and other corrosive substances.

Washing the car thoroughly also protects everyone on board. After all, regular washing also cleans the mirrors and windows. And, of course, the lights or tyres. These are the most important parts of the car in terms of safety. Plus, the feeling of a clean car can make you feel better. A calm and relaxed mind can help you when driving and of course, it can affect your whole day. So it’s definitely not worth skimping on washing your car.