The car wash industry is undergoing a technological transformation. With growing customer expectations and the demand for fast, contactless, and accurate service, automatic systems are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. One of the most innovative advancements driving this shift is License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology.
At ShineWash, we’ve integrated LPR into our fully automatic touchless car wash machines to deliver smarter, faster, and more profitable operations. Whether you run a single station or manage a national fleet, this powerful feature streamlines the entire car wash experience—from entry to payment to performance tracking.
License Plate Recognition is an AI-powered image recognition system that uses cameras and software to automatically identify vehicles by reading their license plates. This information is then used to:
LPR eliminates the need for manual vehicle input, RFID tags, or QR codes, making it a truly unattended and seamless solution for modern car wash businesses.
Our LPR system is designed for accuracy and speed. When a vehicle enters the wash bay or tunnel car wash equipment, the system captures the license plate within seconds. But it doesn’t stop there.
Using dense photoelectric sensors and image-processing algorithms, it also gathers key parameters such as:
This data is instantly processed by the Mitsubishi PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), which determines the optimal wash cycle, brush path (for soft-touch car wash machines), and drying configuration. The result? A perfectly tailored wash every time—no delays, no errors.
The LPR system is tightly integrated with ShineWash’s cashless payment platform, enabling:
This not only improves the customer experience but also helps operators speed up throughput—especially during peak hours. No waiting for swiping cards, scanning codes, or interacting with staff. The car simply drives in, gets recognized, and the wash starts.
Discover Our Full Payment Ecosystem:
To maximize profitability, understanding the backend payment infrastructure is crucial. Dive deeper into optimized POS setups, management tools, and real-time analytics with The Ultimate Guide to Car Wash Payment Systems, POS, and Management Systems—your roadmap to seamless cashless operations.
Data is the foundation of any successful business, and LPR systems turn every car wash into a valuable data point. Our integrated dashboard tracks:
For example, a fleet manager can log in and review which vehicles were washed, when, and how often. An owner can compare site performance, optimize marketing campaigns, and identify underperforming hours.
| Metric | Description | Business Impact |
| Vehicle Visit Frequency | How often each car returns for a wash | Helps build loyalty programs |
| Preferred Wash Package | Most selected wash tier per vehicle/customer | Adjust upselling strategies |
| Peak Service Times | Time periods with highest wash volume | Optimize staffing or electricity usage |
| Payment Method Distribution | % of cashless, VIP, prepaid, and fleet payments | Plan marketing or upgrade POS systems |
| Repeat Customer Rate | % of customers returning within a 7 or 30-day window | Evaluate customer retention |
| Average Wash Duration | From license plate recognition to cycle completion | Monitor operational efficiency |
| Fleet Account Usage | Track how many times each fleet vehicle used the service | Improve fleet invoicing and reporting |
Business intelligence meets car wash operations—all thanks to LPR.
In tunnel car washes and large-scale stations, every second counts. Traditional barcode or RFID systems often require driver input or special tags, slowing down the process. With LPR, vehicle processing is entirely hands-free and 40% faster.
More cars per hour means:
Labor is one of the biggest expenses in car wash operations. By enabling completely unmanned operation, LPR helps eliminate this cost. Once a vehicle drives in, the system:
This is ideal for 24/7 car washes, highway service areas, shopping malls, or urban parking garages. You stay open all the time, without needing round-the-clock staff.
LPR not only improves speed and accuracy—it also enhances safety.
The system automatically detects vehicle size and position to prevent:
Thanks to real-time parameter adjustments, the wash arms adjust their paths, the dryers reposition, and chemical nozzles align perfectly for every vehicle, whether it’s a compact sedan or a large SUV.
Another important advantage of LPR integration is smart resource usage. Using historical data and vehicle size detection, the system optimizes:
This eco-efficient approach not only reduces costs but also meets growing environmental standards—making your car wash business greener and more sustainable.
Behind every high-performance ShineWash car wash system is a Japanese-engineered Mitsubishi PLC. This advanced controller acts as the brain of the machine, coordinating:
Because the PLC is designed for industrial automation, it ensures stable, durable, and responsive performance even in the most demanding environments.
LPR systems offer powerful benefits across a wide range of applications:
High vehicle traffic + small footprint = need for automation. LPR handles more cars per hour without added staff.
Taxi, delivery, and corporate fleets benefit from automatic billing, usage tracking, and 24/7 accessibility.
Boost fuel sales and foot traffic with seamless wash & pay solutions for loyal customers.
Maximize profits by staying open without employees—especially in high-cost labor markets.
License Plate Recognition is no longer just an optional feature—it’s a business-critical tool for future-ready car wash operations. It enables fast processing, accurate washing, contactless payments, and intelligent business insights.
With ShineWash’s LPR-enabled systems, powered by Japanese PLCs and optimized for eco-friendly operation, you’re investing in:
Ready to upgrade?
Contact ShineWash today to learn how our LPR-integrated touchless car wash machines can transform your business with smarter automation, faster service, and better ROI.
