Easytrip, Ireland’s leading platform for on-the-road payments and solutions including toll tags with integrated parking and car wash functions, has unearthed Irish motorists’ car washing habits as part of their latest research. According to the Easytrip survey*, a significant 85% of Irish motorists believe it is important to keep their car clean, with nearly half (49%) admitting they would negatively judge friends or family members who have dirty cars. The survey also highlighted that 60% of respondents would find a potential date more attractive if they have a clean car. Almost 30% of drivers wash their car at least once a week, while 50% clean their vehicle at least once every two months.
Reasons for keeping the car clean
Half of Irish motorists bring their vehicle to a garage car wash, while 27% opt to wash their car at home and 21% use a car valeting service. Motorists listed several reasons why they like to keep a clean vehicle:
- Feeling better when car is clean (52%)
- Improved visibility and safety (22%)
- Preserving the car’s re-sale value (11%)
- Making a good impression (5%)
- Required for work vehicles (4%)
Speaking about the survey, Easytrip Head of Sales and Marketing, Ciaran Doyle commented: “Our survey demonstrates that keeping a clean car is still important to the vast majority of Irish drivers. It’s interesting to see that the reasons behind car washing go beyond aesthetics; for Irish motorists, it’s about feeling good, staying safe, and making a positive impression. With our car washing service integrated into the Easytrip tag, keeping your car clean is now quick and easy, saving Irish motorists both time and effort and it can actually save on the cost of the car wash.”
Reasons for not cleaning the car
Survey respondents who said they never or rarely wash their car, listed the following reasons:
- Too much hassle and don’t have time (31%)
- Not a priority and don’t care about cleanliness (23%)
- Never use car wash garages / not knowing how they work (5%)
Car washing methods
The survey revealed that almost 80% of motorists have, at some stage, washed their own cars. Of these, 35% used a power washer, 33% used a basin of water and cloths, and 20% used a garden hose. However, just 8% of respondents prefer washing their car themselves – over half prefer the drive-through car washes and 23% tend to hand over their car to a staff member. These are the most annoying things about garage car washes according to survey respondents:
- The cost (31%)
- The hassle of having to go into the shop, queue and pay (23%)
- The stress of waiting and queuing (17%)
How to pass time while the car is being washed
Irish drivers were asked how they pass time while they wait for their car to be washed, and the main activities were as follows:
- Listen to the radio / a podcast (50%)
- Scroll social media (20%)
- Make phone calls (9%)
- Read a book (4%)
- Chat with passengers (4%)
Other activities mentioned by motorists include cleaning the inside of the car, reading the newspaper, doing a crossword, or practicing a language lesson on Duolingo.
How Easytrip car wash works
The Easytrip car washing service offers contactless payment solutions to motorists with the use of an electronic tag, without the need to get out of the car. Available at selected Maxol garages, customers can drive straight into a car washing station, press a button on the keypad or through the Easytrip app to start the wash, and the payment will be deducted through their account. There is no monthly fee to have the car washing service activated on an Easytrip tag, and customers will get a 20% discount every time they use this service. Terms and conditions apply. Easytrip services also include breakdown assistance, puncture repair, parking and toll payments with users saving €1 on the M50 toll fees.
