Touchless (touch-free): high-pressure water and detergents only — nothing physically contacts the paint, so there’s no risk of brush-induced swirl marks or scratches. Best for clear-coated, wrapped, or ceramic-coated exotics. Trade-off: struggles with heavy caked-on mud or bugs.

Self-serve wand: you hold a high-pressure wand. Skip the foam brush and it’s effectively touch-free, with full control over delicate areas — an enthusiast favorite.

Hand wash / detail: washed by hand with mitts, no machine brushes. Highest quality when done with proper two-bucket technique; the go-to for show cars.

Soft-touch / friction tunnel: spinning cloth or foam physically scrubs the car. Cleans heavy grime well and is fast and cheap, but the contact can introduce fine swirls over time. Fine for a daily driver, riskier for show paint.

Low and wide? Watch clearance — conveyor tunnels use track rails and can catch a low front splitter. Drive-in touchless bays, self-serve, and hand washes have no track, so they’re friendlier to low exotics.