We know our TommyClub® members enjoy the benefit of washing at any of our locations nationwide, and most have a favorite location that fits their commute. Routines, commutes, and schedules change, of course, so if where you wash the most changes, your monthly subscription price may adjust.  

We’re here to clear up why your TommyClub price might change if you move or switch your primary wash location.

Locally owned and operated

Tommy’s Express is a franchise in 30+ states across the nation. Each Tommy’s Express location sets pricing for single washes and unlimited wash subscriptions because the locations are locally owned and operated. 

You can use your TommyClub membership at any of our locations, but the price you will be charged depends on where you wash the most.  

For most guests, this is at the site where they signed up. But, we understand that commutes, habits, and home addresses are more than likely to change.  

When this happens, members who continue to enjoy unlimited washing at a new Tommy’s Express will have their prices adjusted to reflect the pricing of the location where they now wash the most.  

Here is an example. Last year, you signed up for a TommyClub Unlimited membership at Location A in Texas and wash for a year.

After a year, you move and wash at Location B in Florida with different pricing.  

As your routine shows to have changed, your membership price will be automatically updated to Location B, your new primary wash site.  

Home location experience

Our mission at Tommy’s Express Car Wash is to give you the best car washing experience possible, and that starts with a location you call home.  

It is a joy to have a reliable team with whom to build relationships, to know who talk to if you need help, and to be a “regular” at a local business.  

We want to make sure our sites are fairly compensated for the world-class experience they are providing their regulars and can continue to serve their communities for decades to come. 

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Tommy’s Express is a franchise, and like regular hours, individual sites set their holiday hours best to fit the needs of their community and team members.  

To find holiday hours for your local Tommy’s Express Car Wash:

1. Visit the locations page on our website.
2. Find your site, and their holiday hours will be listed underneath the normal ones.
3. Keep an eye on your locations’ page to stay updated on any changes to our hours during the holiday season. 

Wash during the holidays. 

Whether you get snow or not, winter comes with a few certainties for us in America: Lower temps, the Holiday season, and more travel.  

Whether for a family gathering on December 25th, a business trip, or a holiday party at work, there are plenty of reasons to be on the road this year.  

Naturally, the more we think of travel, the more conscious of our car we become. Letting our clean routine slip through the cracks in the busy end-of-year scramble is easy. 

A dirty car will run just fine at the end of the day. The sludge won’t break your engine block, and the water streaks on your doors won’t take off your tires.  

But we’re willing to bet you don’t want to close out the year driving a dirty car. There are too many first impressions and opportunities to be the butt of jokes at the party. 

And if you live in a state that treats roads with salts and chemicals, neglecting car washing can seriously affect your undercarriage and paint job. 

Find your location 

The holidays are an excellent time for restarting your clean routine. It’s far enough into winter that your car will need a good wash. Consider it a checkpoint for determining how often you will need to go through the car wash.  

Check our locations page once you are set on your holiday travel plans. With over 170 Tommy’s Express locations nationwide, your odds of driving past one this year improve every week. 

For that special holiday shine, we recommend you choose the Works wash. It has our Underbody Flush service, which cleans the bottom of your car and prevents road salt and chemical damage.  

The Works also includes Ceramic Body Wax®, which provides a protective coating to your paint. The more you wash, the easier it is to clean your car, keeping your ride cleaner for longer. 

Once again, check your Tommy’s Express’s holiday hours before visiting. We look forward to cleaning up your ride for Christmas Day, Hannukah, or whatever you may celebrate this season. 

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Tommy’s Express’s headquarters is at 648 S. Point Ridge Dr., Holland, Michigan. After years of expansion in West Michigan, Tommy Car Wash Systems and Tommy’s Express’s operations were spread across several buildings in Holland. 

The new building consolidates the operations of Tommy’s Express and Tommy Car Wash Systems, referred to together as Tommy’s, into one facility. This increases efficiency and quality of support internationally. 

The company celebrated the building’s Grand Opening ceremony on August 25th, 2023, after 710 days between groundbreaking and move-in. 

Designed for support 

“The design of the building is intended to show our franchise partners and employees (they’re) the center of our business,” said Alex Lemmen, CEO of Tommy’s Express and Tommy Car Wash Systems, in an interview with Holland Sentinel.  

As the car wash franchise continues to expand, space for new team members is essential.  

Leadership found it equally critical to provide a space that would ensure the highest level of innovation and collaboration. Built from the ground up by EV construction, the facility is top-notch and intentional, down to the inch.  

Flooded with plenty of natural light and noise-dampening features, the office space provides an inviting and collaborative space to drive site development, opening, and support. 

Tommy’s Express understood when planning the headquarters that a world-class car wash can only be achieved with top-tier support. This starts with a modern supply chain center, primed for innovation and support.

With 23 loading docks and 210,000 sq. ft. of space, Tommy Car Wash Systems’ new warehouse takes up nearly 85% of the new headquarters.  

The warehouse contains a full fabrication lab, a blending department for Tommy’s detergents, and office space.  

Between the warehouse and the offices, the new location is expected to add hundreds of new jobs to Holland in the years to come. 

A headquarters positioned for growth 

The new Tommy’s Express headquarters location is selected with purpose. 

Tommy’s Express has over 160 franchise locations to support across the United States. The new headquarters is placed perfectly alongside the interstate to deliver washes and equipment nationwide more efficiently. 

The land was chosen with the future in mind. With plenty of space for expansion, Tommy’s is poised well for the future. 

With a variety and abundance of seating, the multi-purpose space serves team members well. The spacious cafeteria is a landing zone for meetings, team lunches, and all-company gatherings. 

The road ahead 

The new building is an exciting step for Tommy’s Express and Tommy Car Wash Systems. 

Finally, together under one building, the team is more equipped to Enrich Lives, Add Value, and Serve Communities. 

Are you interested in joining Tommy’s Express in our growth story by owning a wash? Learn more about becoming a franchise partner today. 

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When it comes to how often you should wash your car, opinions vary across the board.

We all see neighbors in the driveway every weekend with their buckets, sponges, and soaps (going down the storm drain, unfortunately, and into natural water sources).

At our wash locations, we often see the same smiling guests week after week, on their predictable wash schedule. We love a good clean routine!

Others believe that once a vehicle reaches a certain age, it’s not worthwhile to keep it clean. 

Car washing (or the lack thereof) doesn’t have to fall into these extremes. Depending on your lifestyle, habits, and even career, you should wash your way.  

Let’s chat about best practices for how often you should wash your car, and make sure you are staying on schedule with this often-overlooked preventative maintenance.  

Your region (and climate) matters 

Washing off everyday chemicals, pollen, and debris is important wherever you live. As a baseline, living in a moderate climate and parking in a garage, it’s best to keep your car washed every two weeks.  

Protecting the clearcoat and paint on your vehicle is not a responsibility you can “set and forget.” UV rays, leaves, and pollen all have the potential to damage your car’s exterior. Vehicles in snowy climates deal with road salts, too. Nature always has another reason to keep your car clean in any climate.  

A wash package including an underbody flush, like our WORKS package, is what makes washing most beneficial no matter where you live. 

Even if your windows and hood look great, you need to be mindful of keeping the underside your vehicle just as clean and protected. 

Corrosion is a big concern and one you don’t want to deal with in a body shop. 

Washing more than every two weeks keeps all areas of your car cleaner and more protected from the elements, wherever you are.  

And sometimes, what you do all day might require you to wash a little more often.

Work and lifestyle habits drive how often to wash. 

If your job requires a great first impression every time, you need a clean car to complete the look. Consultants, lawyers, salespeople, and real estate agents, might wash their car every day to nail the first impression, close the sale, and give clients confidence in their work. 

Construction workers, delivery drivers, and farmers face dirtier daily job sites than others.  

If grit and grime are part of your commute, you may want to find your way to a car wash more than once a week. 

Any vehicle that transports kids deserves to be washed more often. 

Taking kids anywhere generally involves getting your car dirty, inside and out. Tommy’s Express has free vacuums*, mat washers, and unlimited wash memberships to make frequent trips to the car wash quick, easy, and relaxing.  

From driveways to dirt roads and to and from school, a day’s errands can leave your ride’s exterior looking like the road it’s traveled on. Washing a few times a week might be what you need to keep your vehicle clean and protected.

Unlimited washing

How often should you wash your car? The every-two-week rule is a great place to start for protecting your car’s paint and lifespan.  

But if you wash more than twice a month, an Unlimited TommyClub membership is a great deal. Unlimited washing and access to the timesaving app lane are even better when you choose a WORKS plan.  

The WORKS comes with Ceramic Body Wax, which helps keep your car easier to clean and adds a protective layer of wax to your paint. It looks and feels cleaner and stays that way longer. The more often you wash with the WORKS, the better that protective layer gets.  

In the end, it’s up to your best judgement for how often you should wash your car. Everyone has a different lifestyle, environment, and standard of clean for their car. 

Find your local Tommy’s Express and start your clean routine today!

*At participating locations only.  

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1. How does the first month free promotion work?

Are you a new guest? Welcome! Download our app from your favorite store, and your first month of washing is free! (This promotion is only available for your first vehicle.) 

Simply download the app, enter your payment and vehicle information, accept our terms and conditions, and start washing.

You’re welcome to choose any wash package you’d like (but our favorite is The WORKS!) You’ll get an email confirming your 30 days of washing has begun, and a reminder when it’s about to end. 

2. Can Tommy’s Express wash dually pickup trucks?

Yes! We can wash vehicles up to 96 inches wide and 84 inches tall. With our conveyor belt entry, we’re also able to wash low-profile vehicles. That means that most Jeeps, lowered vehicles, dually pickup trucks, and even lifted vehicles fit comfortably through the arches.  

If you’re unsure, stop and ask a team member if your vehicle can go through at your local Tommy’s Express location. 

3. Does Tommy’s Express have towels? 

You’re in luck! Tommy’s Express uses a specialized drying agent with our spot-free rinse. These two products, and our powerful heated dryers, create a potent synergy to send your vehicle off the belt with little to no water left behind. As you exit the belt and the wind hits your vehicle, the combination should blow the rest of the water off.

You will leave our wash 85% dry, but with our spot-free water, there is no need to dry off your vehicle! Simply drive 2-3 miles down the road and your vehicle will be completely dry and spot-free.

Additionally, our reverse osmosis systems use a powerful filtration system to produce purified water for the spot-free rinse. Even if some water is on your vehicle, once it does dry, you’ll never know it was there! No towels needed. 

Do you have more questions? Our Guest Services team is here to help you!  

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Quality Car Wash, the precursor to the Tommy’s Express franchise model, started in 1969 with one car wash in Holland, Michigan.  

Since then, we’ve learned through decades of car wash operations and launched Tommy’s Express Car Wash as a nationwide car wash franchise in 2016.  

With over 140 locations across the U.S. and counting at the time of publishing, we’re primed for steady growth. 

“We foresee many years of 60 to 120 car washes a year,” CEO Alex Lemmen said, in reference to openings, “but with mature support for our franchise partners and a mature infrastructure.” 

Process of building a Tommy’s Express franchise

There are many items to check off the to-do list between signing a franchise agreement and washing cars. We call this the Tommy Journey. These are the four main steps:

1. Discovery 
   Future partners begin with the franchise webinar to answer the most frequently asked questions. When ready, a potential franchise partner signs a Franchise Disclosure Document to begin. Next, we host a tour of our West Michigan locations, and finally, the partner signs a franchise agreement.
2. Site selection 
   Next, franchise partners work closely with our real estate team to help find the perfect piece of land. Often, the search is not just for the best single site but, instead, looking for an area with several great opportunities that allow for market saturation.
3. Project development 
   This is the fun part! We’ll assign a project manager to check the boxes with a general contractor and help the process go as smoothly as possible. Franchise partners have a permanent franchise business consultant and a franchise marketing coordinator. Then, the equipment is installed and calibrated.
4. Operational 
   When it’s time to start washing cars, our team provides you with soft opening and grand opening support, ongoing national and regional marketing campaigns, and continued team member education through Tommy University.

Capital requirements and franchise fees

Have you thought about owning or operating a profitable franchise? Building and owning a Tommy’s Express requires a certain amount of capital. Financing options are available for qualified applicants. 

Full ownership requires liquid capital of US$2 million and a net worth of US$5 million.

Associated costs with running a Tommy’s Express franchise include a $50,000 initial franchise fee, 4% royalty, and 1% towards the national brand fund. 

Why Tommy’s Express?

When searching for a low-labor franchise opportunity, Tommy’s Express is an excellent choice.

Franchise Times named Tommy’s Express Car Wash the #1 smartest-growing franchise on the Fast & Serious List for 2023. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked us #1 in the car wash category on the Franchise 500 List for 2023.

We have owned and operated some of the busiest car washes in the world.

The strategies we’ve developed and the infrastructure we’ve built in these key areas give you the leadership and support to reach success faster than doing it on your own.

Interested in learning more? Fill out our application today, and our franchise development team will get back to you soon!

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We get asked this question often, and our answer is always the same.  

It’s far better for your vehicle (and the environment!) to wash at an eco-friendly car wash like Tommy’s Express. 

Water conservation and stewardship

How does our wash use so much less water than driveway washing? With high-quality car wash engineering. 

Instead of an open garden hose, our system works with targeted, high-pressure nozzles and precise cleaning product dilutions to provide the best cleaning and rinsing power possible with the absolute minimum water usage.  

We use industrial water softeners and reverse osmosis units to ensure that your spot-free rinse is leagues better than a hose. 

Water is vital in many ways. While we do our part to take care of the precious resource, we also give back to those around the world. For every car washed, Tommy’s Express contributes a donation to Water Mission. Every time you wash with us, you help too! 

What makes Tommy’s Express an efficient car wash 

When we talk about high-pressure nozzles and precise cleaning product dilutions, it’s more than just spraying products on a car. Too much can leave spots. Too little doesn’t get cars clean. 

There’s chemistry behind the magic.

Many factors in the wash—from the size of the nozzle to the shape of your specific car —play a part in how much product is applied and when. From adding bubbles in a specific order based on the pH levels needed to our spot-free rinse, we’ve engineered the entire process to perfection.

There will always be diehard car lovers who think, “They don’t know how to wash my car. I can do a better job.” And then proceed to use a do-it-yourself car wash or wash at home. 

But don’t forget that driveway car washing is a substantial source of water pollution. The detergent runoff and dirty water are harmful to storm sewers and drainage ditches.  

If you want to be efficient, a soft-touch car wash like Tommy’s Express does a better job than washing at home. 

Find your closest location and watch the magic happen in action! 

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The WORKS is the absolute best Tommy’s Express Car Wash package. 

Like ordering the works on your favorite meal, the WORKS at Tommy’s Express is full of delights. 

For car lovers, we always recommend they choose the WORKS to keep your vehicle clean, shiny, and looking its best.  

What comes with the WORKS?

These are some of the favorite features that make it the top wash experience:  

• Tire Gloss: Provides a clean, glossy, detailed look. 
   
• Ceramic Body Wax®: Fills in microscopic irregularities on your vehicle’s clear coat. Your car cleans easier because it forms a protective barrier over your vehicle’s surface.  
   
• Red Hot Cleanser: Soap is applied at the beginning of the wash to break down dirt. 
   
• Rainbow Coat®: A 6-colored poly-bond wax that seals out the damaging effects of sunlight, water, salt, and rain. It also produces a bright, glossy finish. 
   

• 3-Step Wheel Cleaning: An advanced 3-step process that uses a combination of soap and friction to shine the rims and wheels.
   
• Tommy Guard®: A rain repellent that shines, seals, and protects vehicles from the elements. 
   
• Underbody Flush: A low-pressure rinse of the vehicle’s undercarriage. It helps prevent rusting and keeps everything clean. 

When you choose the WORKS, your vehicle gets the most fantastic experience when it rolls through the tunnel.  

Cars love when you choose WORKS

New car owners are frequent users of the WORKS. For them, it’s essential to keep that pristine vehicle condition.

Or, if you finally have your dream car, you’ll want to use the WORKS to help maintain its luster. 

The more you wash with the WORKS, the better it protects your investment. Removing road grit regularly and protecting your finish with Ceramic Body Wax® and Rainbow Coat helps your car in the long-term.

If you’re looking to treat your ride to the best, choose the WORKS from our car wash menu.

Your vehicle will thank you! 

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Do you know the difference between a touchless car wash and a soft-touch car wash? 

A touchless car wash is a very literal definition: No piece of car wash equipment touches the car. Everything that touches a car is sprayed on, either by a machine that rotates around the car or by hand with a hose and blaster. 

But there’s a simple, critical problem with this approach: all touchless car washes leave out one of the three key factors for car washing: friction. 

After five decades of experience with car wash development, wash quality, and engineering, we’ve found that leaving out physical contact with a car during the wash process is exactly like spraying plates with soapy water without scrubbing them down afterward.  

It just isn’t enough to remove the stubborn, baked-on dirt and grime.

Tommy’s Express Car Wash is a soft-touch car wash 

Car washes of the past (or outdated washes still running today) use nylon bristle-style brushes to clean vehicles. And sometimes drivers avoid all car washes due to the bad reputation of automatic car washes of decades ago. 

Tommy’s Express is classified as a soft-touch car wash since we utilize the combination of detergent action, pressure, and friction for the very best car wash experience. 
 
Did you know our Tommy’s Express spinning brushes don’t use any sort of brushes?  

Instead, all Tommy’s Express Car Washes use either a closed-cell foam or dense specialty soft cloth material that feels like yarn but is far tougher and more unyielding.  

This is the soft-touch car wash advantage. Our materials are soft, but they get the job done when it comes to necessary car contact friction. 

Both the foam and soft cloth material are heavily lubricated with body soap. You can see for yourself—watch and see how foamy each touch of our ‘brushes’ leaves your car as you pass through! 
 
Our expert engineering team knows what works and what doesn’t in a soft-touch car wash. 

You can count on Tommy’s Express to continue to drive innovation in the car wash industry. We’re always researching and trying new ideas to make the wash better.  
 
If you’ve been hesitant to try car washes in the past, try Tommy’s Express. You’ll be amazed at the difference. 

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Tommy’s Express gift cards are an excellent way to give the gift of a clean car.  

They’re great for special occasions or events, giveaways, raffles, holidays, or even birthdays. Anyone who cares about keeping their vehicle in tip-top shape will love a car wash gift card. It’s practical but still a little bit of a luxury. Heck, you can buy them for yourself! We won’t tell. 

Where’s my gift card? 

Our gift cards are physical cards that are easy to slip into a card or card holder for the perfect gift display.  

You can purchase Tommy’s Express gift cards online or at your favorite location. 

If you ordered online, you’ll have an email receipt but will not receive an electronic gift card. 

After our team receives your order, we fulfill your request, package it, and place it in the mail to be delivered to your front door. Always be an early bird shopper! Gift cards will take about 2-3 weeks to be in your mailbox.  

If you have difficulties receiving your order, contact our Guest Services team. 

How to use Tommy’s Express gift cards 

If you haven’t already, start by downloading the Tommy’s Express app in your favorite app store. Follow these steps to redeem your 1 or 3 month(s) of unlimited car washing: 

Current Guests 

1. Log in to the app, then tap the navigation lines in the top left-hand corner. 

2. Tap Redeem Gift Card or Code. 

3. Enter or scan your coupon code. 

4. Tap Next – Bottom of the screen. 

5. Select the plan and vehicle you want to apply the code to. 

6. Tap Next – Bottom of the screen. 

7. Review and save your information. 

New to TommyClub? 

1. Log in to the app using your favorite email address. 

2. Tell us a bit about you and then add your vehicles in My Garage, by tapping the + sign. 

3. When selecting a plan after adding your vehicles, enter the redemption code on the line above the Unlimited/PayPerWash toggle. 

4. The gift card will automatically be applied, discounting the cost of the plan to 0.00. 

5. Tap and turn off Auto Renew. 

6. Tap Save. 

7. Tap Continue. 

8. Tap skip in the upper right-hand corner. This allows you to skip adding a payment method. 

9. Check the discount applied successfully in checkout and tap Join the Club! 

We hope you love the experience at Tommy’s Express. We truly enjoy seeing our guests go through the wash with a smile on their faces. It’s a highlight of our day. Happy washing! 

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