Helpful or harmful? In Los Angeles it is illegal to wash your neighbor's car

In Los Angeles, you aren’t allowed to wash your neighbor’s car on the street in certain circumstances.

All vehicle owners love nothing more than a clean exterior and shiny windows, but in the Californian city, you’ll simply have to do all the hard work yourself.

Your car can only be washed in certain places and under restrictions, such as ownership.

Strangely enough, though, unusual car laws do not start and end with washing your daily driver – other states also have other odd laws that must be followed closely on the road.

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

In Los Angeles, you simply can’t wash your neighbor’s car

When it comes to owning a vehicle, there are many different things to think about besides keeping the car on the road.

From driving lessons to tax and even insurance, cars have many elements that require dedication and attention.

But, in Los Angeles, there are rules that simply must be followed when it comes to washing cars on the street.

Unless you own the car, you cannot wash it in the street.

“No person shall dust, wipe, wash or otherwise clean, […] any vehicle or portion thereof while on any street unless such vehicle is owned by or under the direct control or supervision of the person doing any of the acts herein enumerated,” explained Section 80.74 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

Parking a car and washing it is also not allowed ‘unless it is owned by or under the direct control or supervision of such person’, according to part B of the legislation.

So, you really cannot wash your neighbor’s car, unless you buy it as a present in your name.

The city on the West Coast isn’t the only place in the US with odd car laws

Now you have to admit, the Los Angeles vehicle washing law is slightly out of the ordinary, but there are some other very surprising laws that exist both in the US and across the world, too.

In fact, in Germany, it is illegal to run out of gas on the Autobahn, the famous road with no set speed limit.

Plus, as the shift from gas-powered cars to EVs becomes increasingly prevalent across the world, parking a gas car in a space designated for EVs is now often illegal, and in Arizona, it carries a minimum fine of $350.

So, for LA residents, maybe think twice before washing your neighbor’s car as an act of kindness.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie