Why a Winter Car Wash Membership Makes Sense for Colorado Drivers

Customers washing at Autowash High Point location.

By Dylan von Kleist 

VP of Sales & Marketing 

Winter on the Colorado Front Range means road deicing chemicals, snow melt, and corrosion risk. Discover how often you should wash your car and why a membership at Autowash pays for itself this season.

Winter Weather + Road Conditions = More Washes

Living in Colorado means dealing with a distinct winter cycle: snow, freezing and thawing, mag chloride on the roads, slush, and dirty road spray that coats everything.

Here's the reality. Denver averages about 15.4 inches of precipitation annually, and while winter months may seem "dry" on paper (December averages just 0.14 inches of rainfall), snow and road-treatment chemicals create constant buildup on vehicles. Every storm, every thaw, every road-treatment event gives paint, undercarriage, wheels, and trim a fresh coat of salt, grit, mag chloride, and grime.

And even if it's not snowing in Denver, many Colorado drivers are heading up to the high country every weekend for skiing and outdoor activities. Those mountain roads? Heavily treated. Your car comes back caked in the same corrosive chemicals, sometimes worse than what you'd pick up from a Front Range storm.

Colorado vehicles need more frequent washes than cars in milder climates. It's not optional. It's maintenance.

Dirty vehicles on wet Denver winter roads.

How Often Should You Wash in Winter?

Let's do some quick math for a typical Front Range driver.

During the core winter months (November through March), you'll likely see 2–3 major snow or road-treatment events per month. That's a conservative estimate given Colorado's unpredictable weather patterns and how the snow from some storms seems to stick around for weeks after when temps are hovering in the 20’s and teens.

If you wash once after each snow event to remove contaminant buildup, that's roughly 12–13 washes over five months of the snowy season. Extend that schedule from October through April at a moderate pace, and you're looking at 14 or more washes minimum for the season!

Now let's look at what that costs:

• Essential Wash ($12): 14 washes = $168

• Complete Plus ($18): 14 washes =$252

• Superior Plus ($22): 14 washes = $308

• Incredible Wash ($25): 12 washes = $350

  
  

That adds up fast. And most drivers wash more than the minimum when they have easy access that allows them to wash any car, any day, and any Autowash location.

Autowash customer drying vehicle at Skylake location.

Memberships Pay for Themselves

Here's where the math gets interesting. Autowash offers three membership tiers:

• Basic Wash Plan (Essential only): $24.99/month

• Classic Membership (up to Superior Plus): $39.99/month – currently on sale!

• Incredible Membership (all wash levels): $59.99/month

  
  

Add on the fact that each membership includes loyalty points to earn free months, additional discounts and promotions from our partners, bonus daily self-serve minutes, and unlimited vacuum use and you’re not just saving a little, you’re saving A LOT!

Bottom line: For most Colorado drivers, a winter membership more than covers itself. And any extra usage becomes even more savings.

Honda Civic after an automatic touchless wash at Central Park.

Benefits Beyond Just the Cost

A membership isn't only about dollars saved per wash. It's about removing friction from doing the right thing for your car.

Peace of mind matters. One flat fee means you wash when you should, not when you feel like you can afford it.

Better maintenance = higher resale value. Keeping the undercarriage and paint free of salt and grit means fewer rust issues down the road. That pays dividends when it's time to sell or trade in.

Loyalty points add up fast. Every wash earns you points toward future savings. The average member earns enough loyalty points to redeem a free month every 10 months of membership. That's an extra month of protection at no cost, just for taking care of your car. Explore Loyalty!

What Colorado Drivers Should Know

If you drive regularly on treated roads along the Front Range, expect to wash your car at least twice per month during winter (November through March). That's the baseline for protection.

If you're on a membership, you get the flexibility to come in after every major storm without feeling guilty about "paying again." That mental shift matters. You'll actually take care of your car instead of putting it off.

Start early. Sign up now so you're protected before heavy snow and road treatments begin. And always pair washes with undercarriage rinses when selecting your wash level. Road salt and mag chloride damage often comes from below, where you can't see it until it's too late.

Dirty vehicles on Colorado winter mountain roads.

Don't Wait for the First Big Snow

The best time to sign up for a membership is before you need it. Drive confidently all winter knowing your car is protected, your interior is clean, and your wallet is ahead.

Visit our membership page and lock in your plan before the storms roll in.