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While automobile owners can absolutely use a garden hose and a bucket of soapy water to keep their cars clean, a pressure washer for cars blows that method out of the water. We tested six pressure washer tools designed for use on cars before landing on a favorite: the ProFlow PM2000 from Chemical Guys, which took top honors thanks to its 2030 max PSI, four spray tips, and rolling caster wheels that made it super easy to maneuver.
While pressure washers speed up the process of washing a car, many are far too powerful and will damage a car’s finish. To ensure we selected and tested options appropriate for automobiles, we enlisted the help of Isaac Lee, senior vice president of operations for San Diego-based car wash Soapy Joe’s. Read on to see the best pressure washers for cars and find out how the following models earned a spot on our lineup.
- BEST OVERALL: Chemical Guys ProFlow PM2000 Electric Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Ryobi RY1419MT Electric Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HAND CARRY: Westinghouse ePX3100v Electric Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR BIG JOBS: Greenworks GPW3000 Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review - BEST SMART GUN: Kärcher K5 Premium Smart Electric Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WALL-MOUNTED: Buyplus Wall-Mounted 5000 PSI Pressure Washer
↓ Jump to Review
Pressure Washer for Cars Comparison
| Product | Maximum PSI | Flow Rate | Hose Length |
| Chemical Guys ProFlow PM2000 Electric Pressure Washer | 2030 PSI | 1.77 GPM | 25 feet |
| Ryobi RY1419MT Electric Pressure Washer | 1900 PSI | 1.2 GPM | 25 feet |
| Westinghouse ePX3100v Electric Pressure Washer | 2100 PSI | 1.76 GPM | 20 feet |
| Greenworks GPW3000 Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer | 3000 PSI | 1.1 GPM | 25 feet |
| Kärcher K5 Premium Smart Electric Pressure Washer | 2000 PSI | 1.55 GPM | 32 feet |
| Buyplus Wall-Mounted 5000 PSI Pressure Washer | 5000 PSI | 3.6 GPM | 100 feet |
Our Top Picks
The list below includes pressure washers best suited for washing a car. These models produce a safe amount of pressure for cleaning vehicles and come with accessories and features that make the job easier.
Best Overall
Chemical Guys ProFlow PM2000 Electric Pressure Washer
Buy at Chemical Guys
What We Like
- Delivers 2030 PSI; powerful but safe
- Smooth-rolling caster wheels
- Generous reach for cleaning
What We Don’t Like
- Not designed for heavy-duty use
Specs
- Maximum PSI 2030 PSI
- Flow Rate 1.77 GPM
- Hose Length 25 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 5/5 | Performance | 4/5 | Maneuverability | 4.8/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 4.8/5 |
Leave it to a company that specializes in car-specific products to understand exactly what auto owners need in a pressure washer for cleaning their cars at home. We’ve used high-PSI washers in the past to clean cars, and we’ve had to stand way back to keep from damaging the car’s finish. But with the ProFlow 2000, washing our cars was simple, safe, and quick.
We liked the shorter-than-average wash gun, which made it easier to wash the tops of the cars, but that wasn’t our favorite thing about the ProFlow. What we liked most were its four caster wheels, which allowed the washer to roll smoothly along behind us as we tested—no struggling or tugging needed. If you’ve ever had to hold the washing wand in one hand and tilt and put a pressure washer with the other, you’ll know what we mean.
The ProFlow PM2000 has a 25-foot flexible hose and a 35-foot cord, so we were able to park anywhere on the driveway and wash all sides of the cars. The washer comes with four spray tips and provides a max PSI of 2030 and a flow rate of 1.77 GPM, which is just right for washing cars.
What our tester says: “I couldn’t get over how smoothly the ProFlow 2000 rolled behind me while I washed my car. I didn’t have to lift it, tug on it, or push it. Just a gentle pull on the hose, and it followed me around like a puppy.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews writer and tester
Get the Chemical Guys pressure washer for cars from Chemical Guys.
Best Bang for the Buck
Ryobi RY1419MT Electric Pressure Washer
Buy at The Home Depot
What We Like
- Budget-friendly but effective
- Built-in soap reservoir
- Compact and portable
What We Don’t Like
- Would be easier to move with 4 wheels
Specs
- Maximum PSI 1900 PSI
- Flow Rate 1.2 GPM
- Hose Length 25 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 4.5/5 | Performance | 4.5/5 | Maneuverability | 4/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 4.7/5 |
You don’t have to spend a lot to get a good pressure washer for washing cars. Ryobi’s 1900 PSI RY1419MT is economical, user-friendly, and comes with a convenient built-in detergent reservoir-—just add car wash soap for pressure washers for extra cleaning power.
We liked how compact this unit was and that it came with a handle, which allowed us to carry it along as we tested. Its 1900 PSI delivered plenty of pressure for powering away highway dirt and grime, and it comes with a 25-foot hose that delivers a 1.2 GPM flow rate.
We appreciated the hose and cord storage, but if we could change one thing, it would be for Ryobi to put four rolling caster wheels on this model rather than two rear wheels and a telescoping handle. We constantly had to bend over and tilt up the washer to pull it along behind us.
But other than that inconvenience, this model does a great job cleaning cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and more at an affordable price point. Like other Ryobi pressure washers, it lives up to the brand’s reputation.
Get the Ryobi pressure washer for cars at The Home Depot.
Best Hand Carry
Westinghouse ePX3100v Electric Pressure Washer
Buy at Amazon Buy at The Home Depot
What We Like
- Compact and lightweight
- Effective foam cannon
- Includes GFCI plug
- Handheld pressure washer
What We Don’t Like
- Can feel cumbersome to carry during longer washes
Specs
- Maximum PSI 2100 PSI
- Flow Rate 1.76 GPM
- Hose Length 20 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 4.5/5 | Performance | 4.5/5 | Maneuverability | 4.3/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 4.3/5 |
If you’re looking for something compact enough to carry along while washing the car, check out this electric pressure washer from Westinghouse. At 18 pounds, we found it lightweight enough to carry for quick jobs, something that’s not possible with many other pressure washers. It’s worth noting, though, that it did start feeling a tad cumbersome for longer tests when we needed to set it down frequently to pull kinks out of the hose or switch spray tips.
The foam cannon was great. It quickly covered the cars with foamy detergent that loosened soil and grime so we could rinse it away.
With a maximum pressure rating of 2100 PSI and a 1.76 GPM flow rate, the Westinghouse is well-designed for car washing. It comes with three spray tips and a mid-size wash wand that we found suitable for reaching most parts of the cars, including the undercarriages.
This model also has a GFCI plug, which many of the others we tested didn’t. We really appreciated this additional safety feature. Overall, this is a great little compact pressure washer that won’t take up too much room in a garage.
Get the Westinghouse pressure washer for cars at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Best for Big Jobs
Greenworks GPW3000 Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer
Buy at Amazon Buy at Best Buy Buy at Greenworks
What We Like
- Heavy-duty pressure washer
- Powerful cleaning performance
- Built-in detergent tank
What We Don’t Like
- Too powerful for gentle car washes
Specs
- Maximum PSI 3000 PSI
- Flow Rate 1.1 GPM
- Hose Length 25 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | Performance | 5/5 | Maneuverability | 4.3/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 4.3/5 |
For those seeking a unit capable of blasting away serious dirt and grime under wheel wells and truck undercarriages, it’s hard to beat the Greenworks 3000 PSI pressure washer.
This model delivers more pressure than the others we tested for washing cars, so we took care not to get too close to the car’s finish during testing. One of the nicest features is its detergent tank, which holds car wash soap for pressure washers. When we paired this with its soap spray tip, we were able to apply a thick, foamy layer of soap that effectively dissolved dirt, allowing us to rinse it away.
The Greenworks comes with four spray tips and a turbo tip for powering off caked-on dirt and mud. We like that it can be stored vertically along a wall in the garage, as well as the fact that it comes with large 10-inch never-flat tires.
If you’re just looking for a pressure washer for quick car cleanups, this much pressure may be too much. But if you live on an unpaved road, go off-roading frequently, or pull a truck onto muddy jobsites, the Greenworks offers enough power to get vehicles clean again.
What our tester says: “I love the extra power of the Greenworks GPW3000. After blasting the caked-on mud from my car’s undercarriage, I moved my car and used the pressure washer to clean the driveway, too.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer
See our full review of the Greenworks GPW3000.
Best Smart Gun
Kärcher K5 Premium Smart Electric Pressure Washer
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Rotating spray wand
- Adjustable pressure via app
- Built-in hose reel
What We Don’t Like
- Time-consuming assembly
Specs
- Maximum PSI 2000 PSI
- Flow Rate 1.55 GPM
- Hose Length 32 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 3.8/5 | Performance | 4.5/5 | Maneuverability | 4.3/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 3.8/5 |
Those who can get past the extended assembly time will find that this is a powerful model for tech-savvy users who want to tweak the pressure of the water for specific car-washing needs.
Our biggest complaint was that assembling the Kärcher pressure washer took almost 2 hours. It would really help if Kärcher could put together more of the unit in-house.
Once it was together, we downloaded the Kärcher Home & Garden app. It synced easily. We were able to select both the pressure and the soap concentration from the app. For someone who wants to use their car pressure washer for other cleaning projects, this is optimal.
The Kärcher has several unique features, including a rotating wand with integrated spray patterns, so we didn’t have to switch tips. Plus, it comes with a boost mode that temporarily adds a burst of pressure and a built-in hose reel that we really liked. This model offers numerous perks and advanced features.
Get the Kärcher pressure washer for cars at Amazon.
Best Wall-Mounted
Buyplus Wall-Mounted 5000 PSI Pressure Washer
Buy at Walmart
What We Like
- Wall-mounted convenience
- Extra-long 100-foot hose
- Built-in spray tip storage
What We Don’t Like
- Underwhelming water pressure
Specs
- Maximum PSI 5000 PSI
- Flow Rate 3.6 GPM
- Hose Length 100 feet
Our Ratings
| Ease of Use | 4.2/5 | Performance | 4/5 | Maneuverability | 4.3/5 | Noise | 5/5 | Value | 3.7/5 |
The Buyplus pressure washer had the longest hose of any model we tested: 100 feet long. A longer hose is necessary to reach all sides of a car sitting in the driveway, especially for those who have a big driveway.
This model mounts on a wall, and the hose is housed in a retractable reel for storage. We were able to pull out just as much as we needed, and once done, wind it back into the reel. That’s handy, but we had to hand-feed it back into the reel to make sure it didn’t tangle.
The Buyplus is advertised as delivering 5000 PSI of water pressure and a 3.6 GPM flow rate, but it didn’t seem as powerful as the Greenworks we tested. We were expecting commercial-grade car-washing power with those numbers. Still, it did a good job of washing away highway dirt and grime, and we really like the convenience of storing the extra tips right on the wand for easy access. And mounting the washer on the wall was straightforward, too.
We think the Buyplus is best-suited for someone who does a lot of car washing and doesn’t want to lug a portable pressure washer around.
Get the Buyplus pressure washer for cars at Walmart.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Pressure Washers for Cars
| Testing Stats | |
|---|---|
| Products tested | 6 |
| Time spent testing | 3 weeks |
| Tests performed | 4 |
| Price range | $150 to $450 |
We looked at more than two dozen of the best pressure washer models to choose the top ones for washing cars. We narrowed our picks for testing based on their ability to produce the appropriate pressure and flow rate for optimal cleaning power without the risk of damage.
In our hands-on tests, we used the pressure washers to wash several vehicles over a span of 3 weeks. We noted how easy they were to assemble and whether their design was user-friendly. We tried out every feature and awarded points based on a rubric. The better a model did, the higher the points.
After testing, we averaged the points to determine our best overall pick and to categorize the others according to their best use.
| Product | Ease of Use | Performance | Maneuverability | Noise | Value |
| Chemical Guys ProFlow PM2000 Electric Pressure Washer | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4.8/5 | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Ryobi RY1419MT Electric Pressure Washer | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Westinghouse ePX3100v Electric Pressure Washer | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Greenworks GPW3000 Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer | 4.8/5 | 5/5 | 4.3/5 | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Kärcher K5 Premium Smart Electric Pressure Washer | 3.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 5/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Buyplus Wall-Mounted 5000 PSI Pressure Washer | 4.2/5 | 4/5 | 4.3/5 | 5/5 | 3.7/5 |
What to Consider When Choosing a Pressure Washer for Cars
Understanding the differences between various types of pressure washers—such as gas vs. electric pressure washers—is key to cleaning your car without marring the finish. As Isaac Lee told us, “It’s important to use the right cleaning products, pressure, and nozzle if you’re thinking about using a pressure washer to clean your car at home, as there is a high likelihood of cosmetic damage if it’s done wrong.”
Gas vs. Electric
The vast majority of pressure washers for cars are electric pressure washers that top out around 3000 PSI. Most gas-powered pressure washers produce far too much water pressure to safely use on a car.
The majority of gas pressure washers have a PSI of 3,200 or more, which, when used with narrower nozzles, can easily damage a car’s paint.
Most electric pressure washers are corded, but there are a few cordless pressure washers. Though battery-powered pressure washers don’t produce the same amount of cleaning power, they’re useful when no power outlet is nearby.
PSI and GPM
When considering a new pressure washer, pay attention to both the water pressure (expressed in pounds per square inch, or PSI) and the flow rate (measured in gallons per minute, or GPM). We recommend choosing a model that operates at around 1,400 to 2,000 PSI and has a water flow of 1.5 to 2.5 GPM. That’s enough water pressure to remove most dirt and grime from the car’s surface without causing damage.
“Many pressure washers come with up to five nozzles, so choosing the best one is key,” Lee says. Use a wider nozzle that’s 25 degrees or above, and keep the tip at least a foot away from the car’s surface at all times. Never use a 0-degree nozzle. It’s also a good idea to test the pressure washer on an inconspicuous part of the car first.
Features
Pressure-washing equipment varies by model. These include nozzles of varying spray widths for applying and rinsing away pressure-washer surface cleaners. Pressure washers with more nozzles offer more versatility.
The machines can also vary in how they distribute detergents for pressure washers. While some have soap reservoirs built into the pressure washer itself, others use soap applicator bottles that attach to the pressure washer wand. While both are effective, units with reservoirs can hold more pressure washer soap and apply more before requiring a refill. Use a pressure washer with a soap cannon that creates a thick lather of soap for better cleaning.
Pressure washers also come with hoses that connect to the pressure-washer base. These hoses vary in length from 20 to 35 feet. The longer the hose, the greater the flexibility it has for maneuvering around a car. Choose a pressure washer with a swivel hose that resists kinking and tangling.
Portability and Storage
Pressure washers vary in size and weight. Smaller portable pressure washers are about the size of a tool box. They typically weigh under 20 pounds and come equipped with large handles. These features make them easy to store on a shelf in a shed or garage and carry from storage to the driveway.
Larger pressure washers are bulkier and can weigh 50 pounds or more. Most are equipped with wheels for rolling them from storage to the car. Since they’re larger, they take up more storage space in the shed or garage.
FAQs
Ahead, find quick answers and tips for pressure washers. Learn how a pressure washer differs from a power washer, and whether you can use one of these machines to clean the engine bay.
The difference between a pressure washer and a power washer is water temperature. Whereas a pressure washer uses high-pressure cold water to clean off dirt and grime, a power washer uses pressure with hot water. Hot water pressure washers are a better option for removing tougher materials, such as gum and grease.
A good PSI for a car pressure washer is between 1,400 and 2,000 PSI. This is enough to clean difficult-to-remove materials from your car’s surface, such as oily grime, salt, and brake dust, without the risk of stripping your car’s paint finish.
While it is possible to use a pressure washer to clean your car’s engine bay, it’s risky. Unless you use light pressure with a nozzle that produces a broad spray, you could accidentally force water into seals and electrical components, where it can do more damage than good. Leave this job to professional detailers.
With proper maintenance, a pressure washer can last anywhere from 3 to 8 years, depending on usage frequency and build quality.
Yes, high-pressure washers or using the wrong nozzle can strip paint or damage the car’s clear coat and trim. A pressure washer for car detailing should be powerful enough to remove dirt but not so powerful that it removes the finish.
Electric models make better automotive pressure washers due to their lower PSI, which is safer for paint and delicate surfaces.
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a contractor, product tester, and writer focusing primarily on construction, DIY tools, and home appliances. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.
Additional research provided by Tony Carrick.
