Different techniques of car washing are presented in this paper, along with issues of water use, water contamination and its purification. Nowadays, technological advancements in the car wash industry fall into specific categories such as, new washing technologies (touch-free and hybrid washing technology), advanced water recycling systems (based on biological water treatment), water desalination and purification (by reverse osmosis) and other ecological and economical innovations (e.g. energy savings). Our conclusion is that as the water quality demand increases, viable water recycling systems are becoming a critical element of the modern car wash facilities.