{
  "category": "car_wash",
  "compiled": "2026-07-16",
  "method": "Monthly unlimited membership prices compiled from chain-published plan pages and price aggregators; cross-checked. Most chains are express (exterior-only); Autobell, Crew, Delta Sonic and Cobblestone sell full-service tiers that include interior cleaning, labeled below. Regional pricing varies.",
  "unit": "USD per month, unlimited plan, one vehicle, before tax",
  "chains": {
    "quick_quack": {
      "name": "Quick Quack Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "base": {"price": 19.99},
      "mid": {"typical": 28.66},
      "top": {"price": 35.99, "note": "Ceramic Duck"},
      "coupon_reality": "Intro offers (first month $9.99 or free-wash trials) run near-constantly. Never start at full price.",
      "notes": "Publishes plan pricing openly.",
      "sources": ["topcarwashcost.com/quick-quack-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "mister": {
      "name": "Mister Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "base": {"typical": 22.99},
      "mid": {"low": 32, "high": 36, "note": "Platinum"},
      "top": {"low": 40, "note": "Titanium"},
      "coupon_reality": "Market-by-market pricing; promo rates for the first 1-3 months are standard.",
      "notes": "Largest chain in the country; zip code decides the price.",
      "sources": ["mistercarwash.com", "topcarwashcost.com/mister-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "zips": {
      "name": "Zips Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "base": {"low": 20, "high": 25},
      "top": {"low": 35, "high": 40},
      "coupon_reality": "Known for price-matching bigger chains and aggressive win-back offers on cancellation.",
      "notes": "Trying to cancel often produces a better rate.",
      "sources": ["topcarwashcost.com/zips-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "take_5_car_wash": {
      "name": "Take 5 Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "base": {"low": 20, "high": 25},
      "top": {"low": 35, "high": 40},
      "coupon_reality": "App-managed memberships with heavy first-month discounts; watch auto-renew price after promo.",
      "notes": "Same parent-brand family as Take 5 Oil Change.",
      "sources": ["topcarwashcost.com/take-5-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "tommys_express": {
      "name": "Tommy's Express",
      "model": "express",
      "base": {"price": 19.99},
      "top": {"price": 39.99},
      "trial": {"note": "first month free (TommyClub)"},
      "coupon_reality": "New TommyClub members get first month free; month-to-month, cancel anytime.",
      "notes": "Fast-growing express chain; standardized 'fast lane' model keeps pricing fairly consistent nationally with modest regional variation.",
      "sources": ["tommys-express.com/tommyclub/", "topcarwashcost.com/tommys-express-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "go_car_wash": {
      "name": "GO Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "go_basic": {"price": 21.99},
      "go_select": {"price": 26.99},
      "go_premier": {"price": 31.99},
      "go_big": {"price": 36.99},
      "coupon_reality": "Four tiers ~$5 apart; location-set pricing and intro promos standard.",
      "notes": "Multi-region roll-up brand assembled from local chains.",
      "sources": ["gocarwash.com/membership", "topcarwashcost.com/go-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "whistle_express": {
      "name": "Whistle Express",
      "model": "express",
      "clean": {"low": 19.98, "high": 23},
      "fortify_top": {"price": 39},
      "coupon_reality": "Base plans start as low as $19.98 at some locations; every plan washes daily and includes the free vacuum area. No cancellation fee.",
      "notes": "Southeast-heavy; price swings more than most between sites.",
      "sources": ["whistleexpresscarwash.com/memberships/"]
    },
    "clean_freak": {
      "name": "Clean Freak Car Wash",
      "model": "express",
      "classic": {"price": 22},
      "deluxe": {"price": 27},
      "premium": {"price": 32},
      "ultimate": {"price": 37, "note": "Max Shield graphene"},
      "coupon_reality": "First-month intro pricing runs constantly ($11-$20 depending on tier; 'penny membership' promos appear periodically). Every plan adds a Circle K fuel discount — 10¢/gal on Classic, 20¢/gal on the rest.",
      "notes": "Arizona express chain (Phoenix, Tucson, statewide); part of the Circle K family. The fuel perk is unique in this group.",
      "sources": ["cleanfreakcarwash.com/washservices/", "topcarwashcost.com/clean-freak-car-wash-prices/"]
    },
    "cobblestone": {
      "name": "Cobblestone Auto Spa",
      "model": "hybrid",
      "express_base": {"price": 21, "note": "AZ; CO from $29"},
      "express_top": {"price": 37, "note": "Platinum express"},
      "full_service_base": {"price": 36, "note": "Supreme"},
      "full_service_top": {"price": 53, "note": "Platinum full-service, interior included"},
      "coupon_reality": "Memberships bundle service discounts: 35% off oil changes and detailing, 25% off maintenance. Plans valid at participating AZ/CO/ID/OR locations up to 2x/day.",
      "notes": "Southwest hybrid: sells both express-exterior and full-service (interior) unlimited tiers at the same brand. AZ and CO price sheets differ — CO express runs $29-$39.",
      "sources": ["cobblestone.com/unlimited-wash-plans/arizona-unlimited/", "cobblestone.com/unlimited-wash-plans/colorado-unlimited/"]
    },
    "autobell": {
      "name": "Autobell Car Wash",
      "model": "full-service",
      "ride_thru": {"price": 12},
      "exterior": {"price": 19.99},
      "full_service": {"price": 31.99, "note": "interior included"},
      "premium": {"price": 69.99},
      "coupon_reality": "The $31.99+ tiers are full-service (interior vacuum and wipe-down). The $12 ride-thru is the lowest unlimited entry point on the page.",
      "notes": "Southeast full-service chain; not apples-to-apples against express-exterior rivals once interior service is in the plan.",
      "sources": ["autobell.com/product-category/unlimited-plans/", "car-wash.pricelisto.com/autobell-car-wash"]
    },
    "crew_carwash": {
      "name": "Crew Carwash",
      "model": "full-service",
      "basic": {"price": 29.99},
      "ultimate": {"price": 54.99},
      "coupon_reality": "No contract, cancel anytime, free vacuums, frequent first-month promos.",
      "notes": "Indiana/Illinois footprint; consistently top-rated on wash quality.",
      "sources": ["crewcarwash.com/unlimited-club/", "topcarwashcost.com/crew-carwash-prices/"]
    },
    "delta_sonic": {
      "name": "Delta Sonic",
      "model": "full-service",
      "super_kiss": {"price": 29.99},
      "super_kiss_plus": {"price": 44.99},
      "interior_plan": {"price": 44.99},
      "oversized_add": {"price": 5},
      "coupon_reality": "Intro rates for new members run below retail; oversized vehicles add $5/month. Interior-cleaning tiers are rare among high-volume chains.",
      "notes": "Northeast (NY-centric) full-service operator with gas, detailing and food at many sites. Priciest base of the group.",
      "sources": ["deltasoniccarwash.com/unlimited-plan/", "topcarwashcost.com/delta-sonic-car-wash-prices/"]
    }
  },
  "cross_chain_facts": [
    "Express exterior plans run $12-40/month; full-service chains that include interior cleaning reach $45-70.",
    "Break-even is 2-3 washes a month (monthly price / single-wash price of $8-25).",
    "The promo rate is not the price — first-month deals auto-renew at full rate.",
    "Express ($20 exterior) and full-service ($45, interior included) are not the same product; don't compare stickers without comparing what's in the bay.",
    "Lowest entry point observed: Autobell $12 ride-thru; cheapest full base wash: Quick Quack $19.99."
  ]
}