U.S. car wash sector sees membership strength despite slowing sales
Published on: May 6, 2026
Rinsed’s latest report highlights steady subscription growth as retail demand softens across mature locations.
The car wash sector in the U.S. is showing signs of stabilization in early 2026, with membership-driven revenue continuing to grow even as overall sales momentum slows.
According to the latest quarterly report by Rinsed, same‑store sales growth reached 5.8% year‑over‑year in Q1 2026, marking a more moderate pace compared with previous quarters. While total revenue remains positive, the data points to a growing divergence between membership and retail performance.
Membership revenue continued to expand, increasing 10.6% year over year, while retail revenue declined by 3.3%, indicating a shift in consumer behavior toward subscription models. This trend suggests operators are increasingly relying on recurring revenue to offset softer one‑time purchases.
Performance among mature locations, those operating for at least two years, was more subdued, with same‑store growth at 2.5%, reflecting a more normalized demand environment compared with newer sites.
Customer retention remains a key factor for operators. Average monthly churn stood at 7.3%, with voluntary cancellations accounting for a significant portion, while credit card-related churn also contributed to membership losses. At the same time, conversion rates from retail to membership varied widely by scale, with larger sites achieving higher conversion levels.
The data underscores a broader shift in the car wash sector toward subscription-based models as operators seek greater revenue predictability. However, the slowdown in retail demand and plateauing growth in mature sites suggest that sustaining long-term performance will depend on improving retention and maximizing the value of existing members.
With data drawn from more than 3,000 locations, the report points to an industry balancing expansion and operational efficiency as it transitions into a more mature phase.
