Can I wash my car during a hosepipe ban?
Under most Temporary Use Bans, cleaning a private motor vehicle with a hosepipe is restricted because the ban applies to any hosepipe connected to the mains water supply. The exact wording is set by each water company’s notice, so the summary below is a guide rather than your supplier’s legal text.
What the notice usually says
Cleaning a private motor vehicle with a hosepipe is typically prohibited while a ban is active. The restriction follows the hosepipe connection to the mains, not the act of washing: using a bucket of water or a watering can is generally still allowed, and so is washing at a commercial car wash.
- hosepipe washing of cars, vans and motorbikes is usually restricted
- a bucket, sponge or watering can is generally allowed
- commercial car washes that buy water separately are not usually affected
- some notices allow cleaning for safety, for example a windscreen that must stay clear
Check your supplier’s notice
Water companies word their exemptions differently. Otter links each local result to the official supplier notice so you can read the exact rule for your area before washing a car.
Specific hosepipe ban questions
Check the exact notice for your supplier. Each ban has its own scope, dates and exemptions — see the current status per water company or check by postcode for your area.