The Best Two-Way Radios for Car Washes
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your car wash, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for car washes?
Car 4 has been sitting at the entrance for five minutes with no attendant in sight.
The drying team at Station 2 is backed up and running behind. A customer in Bay 3 just paid for an interior detail, but no one has been assigned.
The tunnel is clear, but no one knows.
These are all common issues in a car wash - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....
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Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your car wash, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your car wash needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small facilities, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger facilities (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Car Wash Teams:
- All-Staff/General Ops: Main channel for general communication, quick updates, and emergencies.
- Front Line / Greeters: For staff welcoming cars, upselling services, and managing vehicle entry.
- Tunnel Crew: Coordinates car movement, prep, and wash tunnel operations.
- Detailing: Handles drying, waxing, vacuuming, and quality control.
- Maintenance: Used by techs for equipment issues, resupplying soap, water, etc.
- Management Only: Private channel for managers to discuss staffing, issues, or escalations.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great car wash radio?
- Water-Resistant: Radios should at least be IP54 or higher to survive splashes or rain.
- Noise-Cancellation: Helps your team hear and be heard over the sound of pressure washers or vacuums.
- Clear Audio / Loud Speaker: Essential for understanding instructions in a noisy environment.
- Durable & Shock-Resistant: Dropped radios happen—get something rugged.
- Simple Controls / Large Buttons: Easy to use with gloves or wet hands.
- Long Battery Life: Enough to last an entire shift (8–12 hours minimum).
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Car Washes
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for car washes of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Car Wash
For typical car wash layouts, you’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
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User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
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There are a few reasons why you might choose a CLS radio…
- It has a proven track record spanning more than 15 years
- It is the most economical model
- CLS radios have a speaker
Some features of the CLS1410 that a car wash would find particularly useful…
- As a UHF Radio, it is optimized for spaces with both indoor and outdoor areas
- Four channels allow you to segment your staff easily
- Indoor range of 200,000 square feet or 15 Floors covers the space of most _
- Audible Call Alerts with Vibracall means that messages won't interrupt staff when they're speaking with customers.
- Voice-activated transmission (VOX) allows for hands-free use.
The Motorola CLS1410 would be a perfect addition to your car wash. Contact us today to receive a custom quote.
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Lightweight, discreet, and hands-free with excellent audio clarity.
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A car wash should consider the CLPe series because…
- It’s discreet. This helps create a more professional and upscale appearance for your staff
- It’s the smallest professional radio on the market
- It doesn’t have a speaker and must be used with an earpiece. The earpiece comes with the radio.
Here are a few of the fantastic features of the CLP1010e:
- This is a UHF Radio that will allow for communication inside and outside
- There is one channel (for up to 8 channels, look at the CLP1080e)
- The indoor range of this device is 100,000 square feet or 10 floors. That goes up to 20 floors if you're using a repeater.
- It comes with both a swivel belt holster and an earpiece to allow for discreet communication.
Want to learn more about the discreet Motorola CLP1010e for your staff? Reach out to us today for a free quote.
Honorable Mention
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Larger Car Wash - Multiple Buildings
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The digital Curve is the future of two-way radios:
- It’s an even more durable device that is also compact.
- There are no FCC licensing fees.
- Because it uses newer technology, digital communications are even more clear on Curve than the CLS or CLPe.
- 900 Mhz Digital Communication
With 10 channels, you can segment a much larger staff.
You're also able to save money on these radios because there is no FCC licensing. That means you won't have to pay any government fees to use your devices.
This is a portable two-way radio with an indoor range of up to 300,000 square feet or 20 floors. That range is ideal for most larger spaces.
Honorable Mention
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
REQUEST A QUOTE for our best pricing!
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your car wash – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!