The latest statistical release from the Home Office reveals hand car wash businesses were fined £2.38m for employing unregistered workers in the final quarter of 2025, a 35% jump on the same period in the previous year.
But the Car Wash Association says the fact many firms reappear in the government’s quarterly figures indicates “fines are not a deterrent”, while the organisation says “here is little evidence” that hand car washes are closing as a result of immigration raids.
Brian Madderson, chair of the Car Wash Association comments: “This seems an encouraging statistic released by government but closer scrutiny makes one wonder - what is the point and where is the value for money?”
Previous research by the CWA indicates as many as 95% of penalties go unpaid, while there remain around 6,000 non-compliant hand car washes in the UK.
A total of 34 valeting firms received penalties in the last quarter of last year – one of the most prominent types of business to have been caught by government officials for employing staff who don’t have the right to work in the UK.
Restaurants, beauticians, vape shops and convenience stores were also subject to immigration raids between October and December 2025, as was Cheshire West & Chester Council, which was fined £45,000 for employing unregistered staff.
