Drivers face unexpected £300 bill over washing cars on private driveways

Freddie Bennett, Rom Preston-Ellis, Steven Smith & Jamie Brassington
·3-min read
Motorists have been warned over using one common item
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


With roads covered in mud and water at the moment, many motorists are eager to spruce up their vehicles with a proper clean. But experts have issued a stern warning against one major blunder that could turn your money-saving wash into a financial nightmare.

Pressure washers might be the go-to gadget for an effortless shine, but failing to consider where you set up could lead to unexpected damage and hefty bills. If you wash your car on your own driveway where there is gravel, it could debris flying towards your car and leave you with an expensive repair bill, reports MirrorOnline.

It's estimated that the average price to repair a scratch starts between £50 to £100 but deep scratches can cost between £200 to £200 to repair. Graham Conway, managing director at car leasing experts Select Car Leasing, explained: "Pressure washers can be an incredibly handy tool to give your car a new lease of life in a short space of time. But hosing down your motor on a gravel driveway could be a serious error and leave you facing forking out hundreds of pounds to repair dents and scuffed paintwork.

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"It's almost inevitable that we all let the nozzle point towards the ground at some stage during the wash - and this can send gravel flying towards your car. These tiny stones then act almost like missiles, scratching the paint and causing damage to the bodywork."

Mr Conway's advice is simple, yet critical: pick your parking spot shrewdly before embarking on the cleansing crusade, opting for a place free from debris likely to inflict accidental harm. Mr Conway warned that power washers should never be taken lightly as they are extremely powerful tools capable of causing injury to humans and animals.

He pointed out: "Power-washing your car is definitely easier and less time-consuming than doing it with a bucket and sponge, but you should know what you're doing before you start. Standing around one metre back from the car is advised at all times to make sure you're not applying too much pressure.

"To start, you should adjust the nozzle to around 5-8cm wide to blast the top layer of dirt and grime and use a slightly wider and less powerful setting for more fragile areas such as the windows.

"Next, switch to the least powerful setting to apply the detergent and let it sit for a few moments to work its magic. Switch to an attachable car brush to get rid of the most stubborn dirt and grease, giving the wheels a scrub, too."

He also emphasised the importance of cleaning, stating: "It's also important to rinse the brush thoroughly when finished so no debris is hiding there for the next time it is used. Finally, rinse the car off with a high pressure setting while being careful to apply slightly less force to the windows."

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