Who is buying car washes?
19 named consolidator platforms are actively acquiring US car wash businesses; 18 of them are private-equity-backed. Typical car wash acquisitions price at 4x-10x EBITDA (3.2x-6.7x SDE for smaller owner-operated businesses), per published ranges from First Page Sage, WashIndex and others. The most recent named acquisition tracked on this page closed in September 2026.
Why car washes are consolidating
- •About 200 U.S. companies operate ten or more retail tunnel car wash stores, totaling more than 6,000 locations, while roughly 3,000 companies operate just one or two stores, according to the International Carwash Association.
- •Of roughly 10,000 U.S. express-exterior car wash sites, about 7,000 wash 100,000+ cars a year; operators with 10+ sites own 5,500 of those, leaving about 1,500 sites, or roughly 500 owner-operators if each averages three sites, according to Car Wash Advisory's ICA 2025 presentation.
- •Between 2016 and 2023 the 10 largest chains' share of all U.S. conveyor washes rose from 3% to 12%, and the number of those chains owned or backed by private equity went from two to all ten, according to Professional Carwashing & Detailing.
- •Car wash M&A deal volume fell from a 2022 peak of 131 transactions to 47 in 2025, while the firm's count of 5+ site transactions rose from 5 in 2024 to 13 in 2025, according to Car Wash Advisory's 2025 Car Wash M&A Report.
- •The U.S. has more than 60,000 car washes and no single operator holds more than 1% market share, leaving the industry highly fragmented, according to Houlihan Lokey's Summer 2025 Convenience Store and Car Wash Industry Update.
The platforms consolidating car washes
The named groups acquiring US car wash businesses, with their current owner and a source for each. Most grow through individual partnerships that are not separately disclosed; where a platform publishes named deals, recent ones are listed.
| Acquirer | Owner / backer | Type | Headquarters | Latest named deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mister Car Wash | Leonard Green & Partners | Private equity | Tucson, AZ | Oct 2025 |
| Whistle Express Car Wash | Oaktree Capital Management (majority since Jul 2023); A&M Capital Opportunities Fund kept a minority stake per the 2023 announcement | Private equity | Charlotte, NC | Apr 2025 |
| Quick Quack Car Wash | Seidler Equity Partners and founders; KKR (significant minority stake, Jun 2024) | Private equity | Roseville, CA | Jul 2026 |
| Tidal Wave Auto Spa | Golden Gate Capital | Private equity | Thomaston, GA | Sep 2026 |
| Club Car Wash | Wildcat Capital Management (family office); Sculptor Real Estate growth investment (Oct 2023) | Private equity | Columbia, MO | Mar 2026 |
| Spotless Brands | Access Holdings | Private equity | Oakbrook Terrace, IL | Nov 2025 |
| WhiteWater Express Car Wash | Freeman Spogli & Co. | Private equity | Houston, TX | Jun 2026 |
| MOJO Family of Brands (formerly Mammoth Holdings) | Red Dog Equity; The Pritzker Organization (co-investor) | Private equity | Alcoa, TN (moved from Dallas, TX in summer 2026) | Oct 2024 |
| Express Wash Concepts | Wildcat Capital Management (family office); Sculptor Real Estate growth investment (Oct 2023) | Private equity | Columbus, OH | Oct 2025 |
| El Car Wash | Warburg Pincus | Private equity | Miami, FL | May 2026 |
| Summit Wash Holdings | New Mountain Capital | Private equity | Palm Beach Gardens, FL & Norwalk, CT | Sep 2026 |
| ClearWater Express Wash | Privately owned; no equity sponsor disclosed | Strategic / family-owned | Houston, TX | Jul 2026 |
| Tsunami Express Car Wash | Point72 (Point72 Private Investments affiliate) | Private equity | Milwaukee, WI | Sep 2025 |
| LUV Car Wash | Susquehanna (launched by Susquehanna Private Capital in 2021; now listed in Susquehanna Growth Equity's portfolio) | Private equity | Gilbert, AZ | Aug 2026 |
| Jax Kar Wash | TRP Capital Partners | Private equity | Southfield, MI | Sep 2025 |
| Splash Car Wash | AEA Investors (Small Business Private Equity strategy; majority since Apr 2025) | Private equity | Milford, CT | Jul 2026 |
| Links Car Wash | Back Nine Equity, LLC (Hanks family office) | Private equity | Charlotte, NC | Jul 2026 |
| Raceway Car Wash | Clear Sky Capital | Private equity | Phoenix, AZ | Jul 2025 |
| Flagstop Car Wash | Garnett Station Partners (majority since Dec 2022) | Private equity | Richmond, VA | Dec 2025 |
Mister Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Leonard Green & Partners
- Headquarters
- Tucson, AZ
- Scale
- approximately 550 locations (May 2026)
Was public (Nasdaq: MCW) until LGP completed the take-private on May 19, 2026, at $7.00 a share; management rolled over part of its stake. The CEO calls LGP a partner since 2014. Mostly grows by building new sites; Lubbock is the only 2024-2026 acquisition found.
Whistle Express Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Oaktree Capital Management (majority since Jul 2023); A&M Capital Opportunities Fund kept a minority stake per the 2023 announcement
- Headquarters
- Charlotte, NC
- Scale
- 530 locations across 23 states at the April 2025 Take 5 close; 71 sites divested since
Formerly Magnolia Wash Holdings. Since closing Take 5 it has been a seller: 53 sites to Tsunami Express, 13 Utah sites to Quick Quack and 5 Lubbock sites to Mister. No current location count is published.
Quick Quack Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Seidler Equity Partners and founders; KKR (significant minority stake, Jun 2024)
- Headquarters
- Roseville, CA
- Scale
- more than 340 locations across seven states (Sep 2026)
A Sep 2026 release still describes Quick Quack as backed by Seidler with a 2024 KKR minority investment. No change of control found for 2025-2026.
Tidal Wave Auto Spa
Private equity- Owner
- Golden Gate Capital
- Headquarters
- Thomaston, GA
- Scale
- 332 locations across 30 states (Sep 2026)
Golden Gate partnered with founder and CEO Scott Blackstock on a recapitalization in Dec 2020. Growth is mostly new builds; the Sep 2026 six-site deal is the only 2024-2026 acquisition found.
Club Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Wildcat Capital Management (family office); Sculptor Real Estate growth investment (Oct 2023)
- Headquarters
- Columbia, MO
- Scale
- 260+ locations (Raymond James, Spring 2026)
Family office, counted as private equity under house rule: Wildcat is the New York family office of TPG co-founder David Bonderman. In Apr 2026 Raymond James reported Wildcat was pursuing an $800M continuation vehicle for Club and Express Wash Concepts; completion not confirmed. Charlesbank holds a second-lien loan, not equity.
Spotless Brands
Private equity- Owner
- Access Holdings
- Headquarters
- Oakbrook Terrace, IL
- Scale
- over 220 locations (Nov 2025)
Brands include Flagship Carwash, Cobblestone Auto Spa, Ultimate Shine Car Wash and Okie Express Auto Wash. Reuters reported in Jan 2025 that its owners were exploring a sale. Access still called it a portfolio company in Nov 2025, and no completed sale was found.
WhiteWater Express Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Freeman Spogli & Co.
- Headquarters
- Houston, TX
- Scale
- 154 locations across eight states (Jun 2026)
Co-founder Steve Mathis moved from CEO to executive chairman on July 31, 2026, and co-founder Clayton Clark became CEO (announced Jun 29, 2026). No sale or recapitalization found.
MOJO Family of Brands (formerly Mammoth Holdings)
Private equity- Owner
- Red Dog Equity; The Pritzker Organization (co-investor)
- Headquarters
- Alcoa, TN (moved from Dallas, TX in summer 2026)
- Scale
- more than 150 car wash facilities (May 2026)
Mammoth Holdings renamed itself The MOJO Family of Brands in late 2025. Its Oct 2024 release also says it sold a minority stake to CCMP Growth Advisors; whether that stake remains is not stated. Only one 2024-2026 acquisition found.
Express Wash Concepts
Private equity- Owner
- Wildcat Capital Management (family office); Sculptor Real Estate growth investment (Oct 2023)
- Headquarters
- Columbus, OH
- Scale
- 136 locations (Raymond James, Spring 2026); 126 in six states at Oct 2025
Family office, counted as private equity under house rule (Wildcat). EWC is the parent of Moo Moo Express, Flying Ace Express, Clean Express, Green Clean Express and Bee Clean Express, and is included in the same Apr 2026 Wildcat continuation-vehicle process as Club Car Wash.
El Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Warburg Pincus
- Headquarters
- Miami, FL
- Scale
- over 100 locations (May 2026)
Warburg Pincus bought El from Wafra, Audrose Partners and Fireside Investments in Jul 2022; no later change of control found. El also operates in Michigan and entered the Mid-Atlantic with the Canton deal.
Summit Wash Holdings
Private equity- Owner
- New Mountain Capital
- Headquarters
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL & Norwalk, CT
- Scale
- over 100 locations (company website)
Formed in 2022 around Russell Speeder's Car Wash; also owns Waters Car Wash in Florida and the Speeders brand. No sale by New Mountain found.
ClearWater Express Wash
Strategic / family-owned- Owner
- Privately owned; no equity sponsor disclosed
- Headquarters
- Houston, TX
- Scale
- 94 locations (Jul 2026)
Medium confidence on owner type. ClearWater calls itself the largest privately owned express car wash operator in Texas and names no equity backer. WhiteHorse Capital provided the $370M financing as a lender.
Tsunami Express Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Point72 (Point72 Private Investments affiliate)
- Headquarters
- Milwaukee, WI
- Scale
- 74 locations across 9 states (Sep 2025)
Finished rebranding the 53 acquired sites in May 2026. No change of ownership found.
LUV Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Susquehanna (launched by Susquehanna Private Capital in 2021; now listed in Susquehanna Growth Equity's portfolio)
- Headquarters
- Gilbert, AZ
- Scale
- ~70 locations (Susquehanna portfolio page); 20 in Los Angeles (Aug 2026)
Location counts differ by source and none is current: Susquehanna's undated page says ~70. No change of ownership found.
Jax Kar Wash
Private equity- Owner
- TRP Capital Partners
- Headquarters
- Southfield, MI
- Scale
- 66 locations across the Midwest (end of 2025)
TRP's Feb 2026 update gives 66 locations and calls Jax the largest car wash operator in Michigan. Jax's own May 2026 release is datelined Southfield; Birmingham, MI is TRP's address.
Splash Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- AEA Investors (Small Business Private Equity strategy; majority since Apr 2025)
- Headquarters
- Milford, CT
- Scale
- over 65 locations across CT, MA, NY and VT (Apr 2025); seven states after the 2026 White Glove deal
AEA bought its majority position from Palladin Consumer Retail Partners. Splash runs full-service, hand-wash and express formats.
Links Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Back Nine Equity, LLC (Hanks family office)
- Headquarters
- Charlotte, NC
- Scale
- 50 express locations across NC, SC, FL and TX once the Woodie's Wash Shack deal closes
Family office, counted as private equity under house rule. Back Nine Equity is founder Ryan Hanks's family office; Links calls itself an affiliate of Madison Capital Group, the Charlotte real estate firm Hanks founded. The Woodie's deal was signed in July 2026 and has not been confirmed closed; the combined company will use the Woodie's brand.
Raceway Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Clear Sky Capital
- Headquarters
- Phoenix, AZ
- Scale
- 46 locations across AZ, CA, NV and TX (Jul 2025)
Medium confidence on owner. Clear Sky is a Phoenix real estate investment manager; its current homepage does not list car washes, and Raceway's own releases call it privately held without naming an owner.
Flagstop Car Wash
Private equity- Owner
- Garnett Station Partners (majority since Dec 2022)
- Headquarters
- Richmond, VA
- Scale
- 29 locations in Central Virginia (Dec 2025)
Garnett Station bought a majority stake from then-CEO Jamie Nester in Dec 2022, per Richmond BizSense. The Dec 2025 release still cites Garnett Station's investment and says Flagstop completed five acquisitions in 2025.
Selling in your state?
What car wash businesses sell for, who is buying, and how many there are, state by state.
Frequently asked
Who is buying car washes in 2026?
Mostly private equity-backed platforms. These announced car wash acquisitions in 2026: Quick Quack (Seidler Equity Partners, with a KKR minority stake), Tidal Wave Auto Spa (Golden Gate Capital), Club Car Wash (Wildcat Capital Management), El Car Wash (Warburg Pincus), Summit Wash Holdings (New Mountain Capital), WhiteWater Express (Freeman Spogli), Splash (AEA Investors), LUV (Susquehanna) and Links Car Wash (Back Nine Equity, the Hanks family office). ClearWater Express Wash, which names no equity sponsor, is also buying in Texas. Mister Car Wash, the largest chain, was taken private by Leonard Green & Partners in May 2026.
What multiple will my car wash sell for?
It depends on format and size. First Page Sage's Q1 2025 data puts express exterior washes at 4.3x EBITDA with $500K-$1M of EBITDA, 5.6x at $1-5M and 7x at $5-10M; full-service washes run 3.8x-5.9x. WashIndex puts single sites and small groups of one to three washes at 4-8x and regional chains of 5 to 20 sites at 8-12x. Car Wash Advisory puts real-estate-owned groups of 5 to 20 sites washing 100,000+ cars a year at about 8-10x in 2025. Measured on seller's discretionary earnings (SDE), car washes sold on BizBuySell from 2021 to 2025 traded between 3.2x (lower quartile) and 6.7x (upper quartile), with a median of 5.18x.
Has buying slowed since the 2022 peak?
The number of deals has fallen, but the large buyers are still active. Car Wash Advisory counted 131 car wash deals in 2022 and 47 in 2025. Its count of transactions of five or more sites rose from 5 in 2024 to 13 in 2025, and the firm says buyer participation expanded meaningfully in 2025.
What makes a car wash worth more to a buyer?
Car Wash Advisory says the assets that command premium multiples wash 125,000+ cars a year, have high membership counts and run margins of roughly 50% or more. WashIndex adds membership revenue with low churn (under 4% a month), owned real estate rather than a short lease with steep rent increases, and sales records that reconcile from the register to bank deposits and tax returns. It also warns that once a buyer strips out add-backs it can't verify, its EBITDA figure commonly lands 15-30% below the seller's.
Do buyers want full-service or self-serve washes?
Less than express tunnels. WashIndex puts single-site express tunnels at 6-10x EBITDA and full-service and in-bay automatic washes at 4-6x; self-serve bays, it says, usually trade on real estate value or on seller's discretionary earnings at roughly 3-5x. First Page Sage reports that full-service and self-serve multiples fell by about 0.8x as customers moved to other formats. Some platforms still run mixed formats: Splash, for example, offers full-service, hand-wash and express washes.
How many independent owners are left for these buyers to target?
Car Wash Advisory estimates about 10,000 U.S. express-exterior sites, of which roughly 7,000 wash 100,000+ cars a year. Operators with 10 or more sites own 5,500 of those, which leaves about 1,500 sites with smaller players; if each of those owns about three sites, that is roughly 500 owner-operators. The International Carwash Association counts about 3,000 companies running one or two retail tunnel stores.
Methodology & sources
Platforms and deals come from company and sponsor press releases, PE portfolio pages, PR wires, trade press (Professional Carwashing & Detailing, ICA CAR WASH News, Auto Laundry News), Raymond James's Spring 2026 Car Wash Insight and Car Wash Advisory's public transaction database (all five pages read). Each platform's owner was re-checked for a 2025-2026 sale, recapitalization or merger. Multiples come from First Page Sage, WashIndex, Car Wash Advisory and BizBuySell. Deal locations are given as each source states them, and left blank where the source does not say. Platform revenue and EBITDA are private and are not reported.
Multiple sources
- First Page Sage, Car Wash EBITDA & Valuation Multiples – 2025 Report ↗
- WashIndex, Car Wash Valuation Multiples (2026) ↗
- Car Wash Advisory, ICA 2025 Presentation: M&A & Capital Markets ↗
- BizBuySell, Car Wash Business Valuation Multiples & Financial Benchmarks ↗
- Jenesh Makes Deals, Sell Your Car Wash in 2026 ↗
Market sources
- International Carwash Association, Industry Information ↗
- Car Wash Advisory, ICA 2025 Presentation: M&A & Capital Markets ↗
- Professional Carwashing & Detailing, "Where is private equity heading?" (Sep 2023) ↗
- Car Wash Advisory, 2025 Car Wash M&A Report ↗
- Houlihan Lokey, Convenience Store and Car Wash Industry Update, Summer 2025 ↗
- Raymond James, Car Wash Insight, Spring 2026 ↗
Last updated October 6, 2026. Platform ownership last verified October 6, 2026. Ownership in this sector changes frequently; figures reflect the most recent public sources available and are not investment, legal, or tax advice.
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