Washing the car on Sundays and public holidays: where does that work?

Thomas Wachsmuth 5 May 2023 Test sites, laws, offenses, information

Reading time 3 Min.

Some car owners attach great importance to washing their vehicle regularly, while others tend to neglect it and only clean it when it is absolutely necessary and they have time for it - usually at the weekend. However, care should be taken when washing the car on Sunday, because different regulations apply depending on the federal state. Because Sunday is the day of Sunday rest enshrined in the Basic Law and is used for rest from work and mental relaxation. Therefore, publicly perceptible works are generally prohibited. How this affects car washing is defined in the respective Sunday and public holiday laws of the federal states.

Wash car on Sunday / public holiday?

In Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Bremen, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, washing cars is prohibited on Sundays. And there are no exceptions to this rule, and those who break it even risk a fine of up to €100.000. In the rest of the federal states, car washes are generally allowed on Sundays allowed. However, it is advisable to examine the respective laws more closely. In Hamburg, for example, car washing is only permitted from 13 p.m. to 19 p.m., while in Hesse drivers have time from 7 a.m. to 20 p.m. or until 21 p.m. in summer. In Bavaria, the decision lies with the respective municipalities.

Not next to churches in Brandenburg!

Drivers in Brandenburg must be considerate of church services in the vicinity of churches and refrain from washing their cars during this time. And there are often exceptions for certain public holidays, such as Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday. But which rules apply in which state? The following listing shows this. Tip: If the car is particularly dirty, it may be worth driving to a neighboring municipality or state to have it washed there.

Baden-Württemberg: Verboten
Bavaria: Allowed on certain public holidays from 12:00 p.m. if the municipality allows it
Berlin: Verboten
Brandenburg: Generally allowed, but with exceptions on certain public holidays and during services near churches
Bremen: Verboten
Hamburg: Allowed in commercial and industrial areas from 13:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m., but not on certain public holidays
Hesse: Permitted with special permission and limited opening hours, excluding certain holidays
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Allowed but not on certain public holidays
Lower Saxony: Verboten
North Rhine-Westphalia: Verboten
Rhineland-Palatinate: Verboten
Saarland: Verboten
Saxony: Permitted at petrol stations with restricted opening hours, not on certain public holidays
Saxony-Anhalt: Allowed but not on certain public holidays
Schleswig-Holstein: Automatic and self-service car washes are allowed to open without exception
Thuringia: Counties, free cities or communities can allow the operation of car washes

Of course, that wasn't the end of it.

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