Car Washing and Polishing
Registration Application
All businesses engaged in car washing and polishing in California must register.
Steps to register:
- Gather the required documents.
- Complete the required tax authorization form.
- Complete the new application or renew your existing registration online or by mail.
Exceptions to the registration requirements are in place for the following:
- Motor vehicle repair
- Charitable, youth, service, veteran or sports group, club or association that occasionally holds car washing and polishing fundraisers.
- Licensed vehicle dealers or car rental agencies that clean their vehicles as part of their business practices
- Self-service or automated car wash businesses that only have employees at the cash register or maintaining the equipment
Fees
Car wash and polishing businesses must pay $300 per location for annual registration and assessment fees. The fees are due when you submit your application. If you are mailing your application, please include a cashier’s check or money order payable to DLSE.
Posting Requirements:
Car washing and polishing businesses must post their current, valid registration where it can be easily read by the employees during the workday.
Record Keeping Requirements:
-
Pursuant to Labor Code section 2052, every employer must keep accurate records for three (3) years showing all of the following:
- The names and addresses of all employees engaged in rendering actual services for any business of the employer
- The hours worked daily by each employee, including the times the employee begins and ends each work period
- All gratuities received daily by the employers, whether received directly from the employee or indirectly by deduction from the wages of the employee or otherwise
- The wage and wage rate paid each payroll period
- The age of all minor employees
- Any other conditions of employment
Resources
- Verify a car washing and polishing business registration using the registration search tool
- Check list of license denials, revocations, or suspensions
- Rules and Regulations
Contact Us
Questions? |
dlse.licensing@dir.ca.gov |
Report an unlicensed carwash |
Call the DLSE car washing enforcement hotline: |
April 2020