In my state you’re legally required to remove the snow from your car before driving, because it’s a danger to the people around you. So I think it’s rude.
this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026
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This.
You shouldn't set off with snow or frozen chunks still left on your car. If you brake and it slides forward it can obscure your view, or when you get up to highway speeds it can fly off and damage whoever is behind you.
Please be considerate of others and don't do it :)
I've laughed a number of times watching a car stop at a light or stop sign only to have the entire contents of their snow covered roof slide down the windshield completely obscuring their view. Like had to put flashers on and get out to clean.
As a sidenote to things flying off, if you're in an area that's had snow, ice, or even just freezing temps, stay far back from any semis pulling a trailer. Guarantee that they don't get up there to remove what's there, and large chunks of ice can not only do damage to a following car, it could be lethal. It is absolutely the responsibility and even maybe the legality of the truck driver, but that doesn't help the dead.
As a semi driver, I can confirm that pretty much everything to do with the vehicle is legally the driver's responsibility, including times when it's unreasonable. Snow and ice on top of the vehicle is one of them. Yes, I know how this sounds but those trailers we pull don't come with ladders or anything and we commonly have to park up in the middle of nowhere, so also consider it from the angle of "How the fuck do I get up there to get rid of sheet ice?"
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Since the car wash is right down the street from you ChatGPT says you should just walk there.
I think it's rude to drive around without removing the snow from your car to begin with.
I think it's illegal in most states.
If definitely is in the state of social awareness.
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The company I work for owns some car washes and I asked some guys. No one said it was rude, but the responses I got were:
"Snow can can cause the brushes to slush up" "If there's a layer of ice under the snow the brushes can catch" "You'll get a shitty wash"
Sweet! Thanks for asking! I'm glad it's not rude, and it sounds like you would want to get as much snow off of the car as is practical before going through to prevent the slush buildup.
I've never noticed the brushes catching, but I'll watch out for it now. I'm not sure I would go through with hard ice on the car. I would probably wait until the temperatures are solidly above freezing if I could.
I'm not concerned with the car looking good as much as I am trying to prevent the bottom from rusting. I should probably get the undercarriage treated or whatever, but I'm pretty inexperienced with car ownership and it is a lot to decide and manage.
The brushes are designed to break away from the rollers, so its unlikely you would notice as the person in the wash since the brush would come free and then be washed off / blown off throughout the wash.
Depending where you live underbody treatments may or may not be a good idea, if they HEAVILY salt the road it can get trapped above the liner and rust the car faster, bur admittedly I've only ever had second-hand cars with those treatments so maybe if done early in the car's life and maintained its a non-issue
As others have said: the rude part is driving with snow on your car in the first place. It can be dangerous to others.
Less rude and more potentially dangerous tbh. The metal of the roof will conduct just enough heat to melt the snow into a thin sheet of water and the second you stop or slow down a little too hard all of the snow on your roof is now obstructing your front view. For the sake of yourself and everyone else you share the road with please brush off any significant snow on top of your vehicle before you start moving
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As someone who used to work carwashes for a few years, I don't really give a shit, it's my job and I get paid by the hour. If I wasn't rinsing off your car I'd be rinsing the next one, and if there wasn't one to rinse then I'd be cleaning something in the wash bay or something, and tbh I'd rather clean cars than the wash bay.
As a driver, that's kinda dangerous, even if it's only for a short distance. It's only a few seconds to brush off the snow, it takes barely more time than scraping the windshield.
Here's my routine: with my arm brush off enough snow around the door that I can open it without any falling inside, start the car, turn on defrost, efficiently push snow off the car with broad strokes (I'm not getting every flake, but anything you could make a snowball out of, you know?), scrape windshield and if necessary mirrors and other windows I need to see out of. By now it's been a couple minutes and you've at least given your engine the chance to warm up a little bit, which you should do in the winter anyway.
EDIT 2: I think I’m gonna go in and ask the workers today what they think.
Ya, you are rude. Don't do that either. Just stop. Remove the snow before you leave the driveway. It is unsafe for you and everyone around you on the road. Also, in general, yes, making someone do extra work above and beyond what is being offered, at the same price, is a rude thing to do. By your description they "did a lot more work than usual" - did you pay them a lot more money than usual?
Well usually when you go through, the person with the sprayer maybe spritzes the car for a split second, and sends the car through. On the snowy day, the carwash place had two employees stationed there with sprayers, and they were much more thorough spraying the car. That's why I thought maybe this is something they are prepared for, and factor into the membership.
I pay $35 for unlimited car washes a month, only in the winter, so no I didn't pay any more. It is kind of a lot, but I do it to try to keep the bottom of my old car from rusting from all the salt. And I count it towards entertainment too because the carwash has lots of colorful lights and stuff, and I listen to Plantasia real loud in the car as I go through.
It seems like you've already decided that I'm an asshole, though.
Just clean your damn roof off. It's not that hard.
This is nostupidquestions, not insulttheOP.
me reading this thread as a Floridian
Q: can I go thru the carwash with gators still on the car? :P
Yes, it is. It’s absurdly rude because in order for you to get there, you would’ve had your driven with all that Snow on that car.
And people who drive with a bunch of snow on their car are assholes. So rest assured that today you were that asshole.
Lazy
If an employee needs to do more work than they normally would, give them a tip and a thank you. Judge tip based on how much effort/time required. If you don't have cash for a tip, clean the car off yourself before going.
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Honestly I have never seen a car wash that isn't automatic.
I have, but they're essentially just pay per use pressure washers.
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the car wash is automated, it won't care
it won't wash your car as well, though
My main goal is to get salt off the bottom.
You are driving the car though, even if it's just down the street, that's not a great move: Knock the snow off before you get onto the road, even if it's a short trip.
I get most of it off before leaving the driveway.
By driving down the street before clearing snow you are driving with snow on it. Don’t do that. Not for 500m or 5km.
They need to remove snow because it could clog up the drains etc. at least temporarily and if there’s a lot and water temp is low it can build a dam. If everyone did what you’re proposing it takes a lot longer to prep cars and they’ll need to shovel frequently.
Just scrape your car.
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If its more work than tip more than usual.
It's definitely a bit lazy. But everyone is allowed to be lazy sometimes. Or maybe you're short, I guess, and legitimately can't get to the top of your car.
The real question is: how well did you tip? People in these types of service jobs have an easier time doing that sort of thing if they get something extra out of it.
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(9 replies)
Google a "Sno Brum" and get yourself one.
For the benefit of others:
$24.95
I have something like this with soft grips from both sides and a removable scraper. A game changer if you live in snowy areas.
OK cool this is the kind I have. Thanks!
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