car wash tours

• LEAD™ Manager Training
• The Car Wash Show - May 13-15

A GREAT CAR WASH STARTS HERE

Events give you the connections you need..

If you're looking for a new product, a new customer base, or just want to connect with other car wash pros to get tips and tricks for your business, you want to be present at the industry's leading events. Built on more than 50 years of experience, ICA events put you and your goals at the center.

THE CAR WASH SHOW™

May 13-15, 2024 in nashville, tennessee.

The Car Wash Show is the premier gathering of owners, managers, and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments. Don’t miss the next edition for cutting edge car care technology, industry-leading education and networking with car wash professionals from all over the world.

CONNECT ACROSS THE GLOBE

CAR WASH SHOW AUSTRALIA

CAR WASH SHOW EUROPE

Year round connections.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The car wash show™.

May 13-15, 2024 | Nashville, Tennessee

The Car Wash Show™ provides car wash operators with the information and products they need to succeed. It's the premier gathering of owners, managers, and decision-makers from the car wash, quick lube and detailing segments.

The Car Wash Tour - Destination Music City!

May 12, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. | Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville once again hosts The Car Wash Show, and WCA is kicking off this experience with a tour of some of the premier car wash sites Nashville has to offer.

SHINE - Car Wash Tour Central Europe

October 1-2, 2024 | Krakow, Poland

Looking to explore new markets? Expand and scale your business internationally at the premier car washing event in Central Europe. 

October 7-9, 2024 | Atlantic City, New Jersey

Join operators and suppliers from the Northeast and beyond for the 34th Northeast Regional Carwash Convention featuring Keynote Speaker Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality.

WCA Destination Paradise: Leadership Retreat Maui

October 9-10, 2024 | Maui, Hawaii

A dynamic 2-day retreat aimed at providing  valuable insights and strategies for car wash business leaders seeking to enhance their revenue streams, expand market  presence, and optimize operational efficiency.

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• Trade Show Floor

Education Sessions

• Why Exhibit?
• Exhibitor Resources
• Innovation Alley

SCHEDULE-AT-A-GLANCE

Three days. infinite opportunities..

The schedule of events will be continually updated and are subject to change.

Looking for details on more than 60+ education sessions designed for every member of your team? Take a look at complete program details here.

Events will be held at the Music City Convention Center, located at 201 Rep. John Lewis Way, Nashville, TN 37203.

Sunday, May 12

Sunday events require a separate registration.

WCA Destination Music City! Carwash Tour

Join your friends and colleagues from across the industry for a tour of some of the premier car wash sites Nashville has to offer. Separate registration required.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

PAMA President's Reception: Nashville Underground

Kick start your iFlex at The Car Wash Show experience with food, drinks, and live music on the roof overlooking Broadway Street at Nashville Underground. PAMA members only — separate registration required. This event is brought to you by Service Champs.

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Nashville Underground

Kickoff Kickback - WCA Welcome Reception: Nashville Underground

Join fellow WCA members for a taste of Nashville's nightlife, featuring live music, great food + drinks, and rockin’ company! Exclusive to WCA members — separate registration required.

The Car Wash Show After Dark Official Networking Event

The Car Wash Show After Dark provides nightly opportunities to mix with your industry colleagues at some of the hottest venues in Nashville. Secure your all-access pass with optional open bar upgrades.

9:00 - 11:00 PM

Lower Broadway | Nashville

Monday, May 13

Best-in-class education offerings keep you out in front of the competition. Kickoff your day by getting your brain working before tackling the Trade Show Floor!

8:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Music City Convention Center

The world's largest selection of car wash products and services — plus catch the latest products and services in the Pitch™️ theater.

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The Big Bash — sponsored by OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions

Connect with friends old and new at The Big Bash™ — the car wash industry's party of the year. You’ll get two hours of open bar and food items plus all the live entertainment you could need! Sponsored by OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions

5:00 - 7:00 PM

Tuesday, May 14

The world's largest selection of car wash products and services — plus catch the latest products and services in the Pitch theater.

Exhibitor Booth Crawl

Grab a drink and visit your favorite booths on the show floor. List of participating sponsors to follow.

3:30 - 5:00 PM

Hall of Fame Celebration

Join ICA President Marcus Kittrell to honor this year's Hall of Fame recipient. In an exclusive setting, we'll celebrate the recipients of ICA's highest honor while connecting with other ICA members. High-end cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and special gifts will be handed out at this members-only celebration.

BECOME AN ICA MEMBER

5:00 - 6:15 PM

The Car Wash Show After Dark schedule provides nightly opportunities to mix with your industry colleagues at some of the hottest venues in Nashville. Secure your all-access pass with optional open bar upgrades.

Wednesday, May 15

The world's largest selection of car wash products and services.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• What's My Car Worth?
• Buyer's Guide

What Really Goes On inside the Carwash?

All hail the Foaminator! From bumper blaster to banana foamer, an automatic carwash is a drive-through Rube Goldberg machine.

Carwashing is a big-money business, raking in around $30 billion annually worldwide. According to the International Carwash Association (ICA), the U.S. has more than 62,000 carwash locations—that's one sudsy spot for every 5300 residents (or every 4400 registered vehicles).

The bane of Boy Scouts and cheerleaders out to make a buck, automatic washes handle most of the world's cars. They're designed to move you through and spit you out shiny and chrome, all without ever having to touch a rag.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub Steps

Most automated carwashes rely on an intricate ballet of robotic scrubbers that dance around a vehicle as it sits patiently in the center of the bay or is gently tugged down the conveyor. High-pressure water cannons like bumper blasters, turbo blasters, and side-blaster baskets precede mitter half-moon baskets and wraparound brushes for full-contact washes or foam applicators like banana foamers or the Foaminator Maxx for touchless systems. A reverse-osmosis purified-water rinse and Mammoth Ear Air Dryer grand finale ensure a spotless finish.

Environmental Gentle Cycle

Many modern washes feature water-treatment capabilities that recycle dirty liquids into purified H2O indefinitely, closing the loop using cyclonic-separation and media-filtration tech and sedimentation tanks. "On average, a conveyor wash will use between 60 and 150 gallons of water per car, but only 30 gallons of that is fresh from the local supply," says ICA CEO Eric Wulf. "We might lose 20 percent in any given wash to evaporation and carryout, which is the water left behind, say, in the bed of a pickup." Wastewater is filtered before being discharged into sewers.

Ride with Me

As the automotive world evolves toward increased automation, new vehicle features and technologies pose fresh challenges for the carwash industry. "Moving wheels are a safety-system tripwire on modern cars," Wulf explains. "Wash conveyors that roll a vehicle through a wash by tugging on the front wheel are increasingly being replaced by belt conveyors that keep the wheels stationary." This helps avoid triggering auto brake holds, collision-warning systems, parking sensors, and other show stoppers. And some automakers are making things easier. "We'd love to see more companies add something like Tesla's Car Wash mode," Wulf says, referring to the feature that closes all the windows and disables wipers, automatic door locks, and exterior sensors.

Cleaning Up History

1940s: The world's first "semiauto" carwash opens in Hollywood, California. It uses a winch to pull vehicles down a line of human scrubbers.

1946: Paul's Automatic Auto Wash in Detroit is the first to combine a conveyor, overhead sprinklers, and manually operated mechanical brushes using a system invented by a guy named Thomas Simpson.

1951: Seattle's Anderson brothers pull people out of the mix entirely by automating the whole soap-and-scrub process, complete with an end-of-the-line blow-dry.

Keep Those Rags and Machines Hummin’

The song "Car Wash," by the group Rose Royce, was released in 1976 on the soundtrack of the film of the same name. The single sold 2 million copies.

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What's a Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicle Anyway?

A Fast Tour of Japan's Car Culture

Pilot vs. Passport: Comparing Honda SUVs

The Winningest Cars in 10Best History

We Fill a Rivian R1T with Garbage for Earth Day

Most Fuel-Efficient Gas Cars (That Aren't Hybrid)

BMW Puts Brains on the Menu with Neue Klasse

The Best Odds: Alfa Romeo Milano

Seeing the Eclipse from the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo

Buying a New Car: What to Know, How to Do It

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a Living Legend

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Virtual Experience

• Judge's Express Car Wash
• Inside The Tunnel

Interior Self-Detailing Bay

• Exterior Self-Detailing Bay

Indoor Self-Detailing Bay

Outdoor Self-Detailing Bay

Car Wash Tunnel

Car Wash Entrance

Ceramic X3 Process

Free Vacuums

Free Towels

Free Cleaners

Our Process

Car washing should be beyond a basic cleaning.

Sign up for our Unlimited Club and experience the most advanced car wash experience in the area as often as you want for one low price.

Hotel Options

Group rate hotel options.

The final cutoff date to reserve an SCWA Group Rate Room is Friday, February 2nd or until the Group Rate Blocks are sold out.

For room blocks of more than 3 rooms, please contact the hotel for assistance. The SCWA Headquarters (512) 343-9023 will be happy to provide contact information for the properties.

Hotel Location Map

Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown/ Blackstone

Fairfield Fort Worth Downtown

Avid Hotel Fort Worth Downtown

Omni Fort Worth Hotel

Car Wash Tour - Sunshine State