Car wash damage claim for 900 euros rejected in Estonia

A car owner's claim for 900 euros in damages after a car wash allegedly broke a light fixture has been dismissed by Estonia's consumer disputes commission.

The owner took their vehicle to an automatic car wash, expecting a clean car, but instead found a damaged light fixture. Following the incident, the owner filed a claim with the consumer disputes commission, seeking compensation for the repair costs.

However, the commission ruled against the car owner, stating that the car wash was not liable for the damage. The commission's decision highlighted that automatic car washes are not responsible for ensuring the integrity of all vehicle accessories, particularly those that may be vulnerable or improperly secured.

The ruling clarified that while car washes are expected to clean vehicles, they do not act as insurers for every component of a car. This decision sets a precedent that vehicle owners must ensure their accessories are robust enough to withstand standard car wash procedures or bear the risk of damage.