diff --git a/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js b/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
index d9e6cbfa..8d8fd17b 100644
--- a/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
+++ b/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
@@ -153,8 +153,16 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
       }
     });
 
-    nearestDepartment.value = currentNearestDepartment.id ? currentNearestDepartment : null;
-    departmentSelectionStrategy.value = currentNearestDepartment.id ? "distance" : null;
+    if (currentNearestDepartment.id) {
+      nearestDepartment.value = currentNearestDepartment;
+      return nearestDepartment.value;
+    }
+
+    const fallbackDepartment =
+      guestDepartments.value.find((department) => department.self_serve_enabled === true) || guestDepartments.value[0];
+    if (!nearestDepartment.value && fallbackDepartment) {
+      nearestDepartment.value = toDepartmentViewModel(fallbackDepartment);
+    }
 
     return nearestDepartment.value;
   };
diff --git a/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue b/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
index d31e0df4..6010e149 100644
--- a/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
+++ b/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ const {
   enableMachineRelay,
   downloadAttachment,
   answerQuestion,
+  removeAnswer,
 } = useSelfServeLogic();
 
 const {
@@ -1204,6 +1205,7 @@ const onSelectVehicleType = (selection: VehicleTypeTemplate) => {
   markStartFormUserInput();
   vehicleStepError.value = null;
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   vehicleTypeSelect.value = selection.id;
 };
 
@@ -1211,6 +1213,7 @@ const onUpdateCustomerNumber = (value: string) => {
   markStartFormUserInput();
   vehicleStepError.value = null;
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   const authenticatedCustomerNumber = getAuthenticatedCustomerNumber();
   customerNumberInput.value = authenticatedCustomerNumber ? String(authenticatedCustomerNumber) : value;
 };
@@ -1219,18 +1222,21 @@ const onUpdateRegistrationNumber = (value: string) => {
   markStartFormUserInput();
   vehicleStepError.value = null;
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   licensePlateInput.value = normalizeLicensePlate(value);
 };
 
 const onUpdateSelectedLaneId = (laneId: number) => {
   markStartFormUserInput();
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   radioLaneOption.value = laneId;
 };
 
 const onUpdateWashType = (washType: string) => {
   markStartFormUserInput();
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   radioWashType.value = washType;
 };
 
@@ -1407,6 +1413,7 @@ const onCloseCompleted = () => {
   editAnswers.value = false;
   vehicleStepError.value = null;
   washActionError.value = null;
+  answerSyncError.value = null;
   hasStartFormUserInput.value = false;
   markQuestionReviewRequired();
   resetGuidedWashStep();
@@ -1836,6 +1843,15 @@ watch(
                   @toggle-edit="toggleEditAnswers"
                   @answer-question="submitQuestionAnswer"
                 />
+
+                <b-message
+                  v-if="answerSyncError"
+                  type="is-danger"
+                  :aria-close-label="$t('common.close')"
+                  data-testid="self-serve-answer-sync-error"
+                >
+                  {{ answerSyncError }}
+                </b-message>
               </b-step-item>
 
               <b-step-item
diff --git a/tests/e2e/userMyWashStartFlow.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/userMyWashStartFlow.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df61be45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/userMyWashStartFlow.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,357 @@
+import { expect, test } from "@playwright/test";
+import { mockApi, primeMockSession } from "./support/network.js";
+
+async function suppressVueDevtoolsOverlay(page) {
+  await page.addInitScript(() => {
+    const appendStyle = () => {
+      const parent = document.documentElement || document.head || document.body;
+      if (!parent) {
+        document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", appendStyle, { once: true });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const style = document.createElement("style");
+      style.textContent =
+        "#__vue-devtools-container__, .vue-devtools__anchor-btn, .vue-devtools__panel-content { display: none !important; visibility: hidden !important; pointer-events: none !important; }";
+      parent.appendChild(style);
+    };
+
+    appendStyle();
+  });
+}
+
+async function seedGeolocation(context) {
+  await context.grantPermissions(["geolocation"]);
+  await context.setGeolocation({ latitude: 55.6415, longitude: 12.0803 });
+}
+
+function buildSavedProgress(overrides = {}) {
+  return {
+    washInProgress: false,
+    washLaneId: null,
+    washStartTime: null,
+    currentStep: 0,
+    licensePlateInput: "AB12345",
+    vehicleTypeSelect: 2,
+    radioWashType: "Manual",
+    radioLaneOption: 7,
+    customerNumberInput: "12345679",
+    answers: {},
+    completedTasks: {},
+    nearestDepartmentId: 6,
+    forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId: 0,
+    isForcingNearestDepartment: false,
+    savedAt: Date.now(),
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+async function seedSavedProgress(page, overrides = {}) {
+  await page.addInitScript((savedProgress) => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem("mywash_progress_v6", JSON.stringify(savedProgress));
+  }, buildSavedProgress(overrides));
+}
+
+async function fillRegistration(page, value = "ab12345") {
+  const registration = page.locator('input[placeholder*="registreringsnummer"]').first();
+  await registration.fill(value);
+  await expect(registration).toHaveValue(value.toUpperCase());
+  await registration.press("Escape");
+}
+
+async function selectVehicleType(page, vehicleTypeId = 2) {
+  await page.getByTestId(`self-serve-vehicle-type-${vehicleTypeId}`).click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-vehicle-selector-description")).toContainText(/Truck|Van|Car/);
+}
+
+async function answerRequiredQuestions(page) {
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-question-11")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  await page.getByTestId("self-serve-question-11-yes").click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm")).toBeEnabled({ timeout: 10_000 });
+}
+
+async function completeGuidedWash(page) {
+  for (let index = 0; index < 5; index += 1) {
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-guided-next").click();
+  }
+}
+
+function collectSelfServeRequests(page) {
+  const requests = {
+    departments: [],
+    vehicleTypes: [],
+    customerVehicles: [],
+    allowed: [],
+    conditions: [],
+    commands: [],
+    relays: [],
+    summaries: [],
+    activeWash: [],
+    inProgress: [],
+  };
+
+  page.on("request", (request) => {
+    const url = new URL(request.url());
+    const entry = {
+      method: request.method(),
+      url,
+      body: request.method() === "GET" ? null : request.postDataJSON?.() || null,
+    };
+
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/guest/departments")) requests.departments.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/modules/xlvask/internal/vehicle-types")) requests.vehicleTypes.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/vehicles")) requests.customerVehicles.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/department/selfserve/vehicle/allowed")) requests.allowed.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/department/selfserve/vehicle/conditions")) requests.conditions.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/modules/self-serve/lane/command")) requests.commands.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/modules/self-serve/lane/relay/machine/enable")) requests.relays.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/department/selfserve/washes/summary")) requests.summaries.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/modules/self-serve/lane/wash/my-active-wash")) requests.activeWash.push(entry);
+    if (url.pathname.endsWith("/modules/self-serve/lane/wash/in-progress")) requests.inProgress.push(entry);
+  });
+
+  return requests;
+}
+
+test.describe("User MyWashStart mocked flow", () => {
+  test.describe.configure({ timeout: 120_000 });
+
+  test.skip(({ browserName }) => browserName !== "chromium", "MyWashStart flow coverage is maintained on Chromium.");
+
+  test.beforeEach(async ({ page, context }) => {
+    await suppressVueDevtoolsOverlay(page);
+    await seedGeolocation(context);
+  });
+
+  test("manual wash selects vehicle, answers questions, starts, stops, and shows completed step", async ({ page }) => {
+    const requests = collectSelfServeRequests(page);
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: true,
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-manual-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-department-name")).toContainText("Roskilde", { timeout: 15_000 });
+    await fillRegistration(page);
+    await selectVehicleType(page, 2);
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-next").click();
+    await answerRequiredQuestions(page);
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm").click();
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-lane-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-lane-option-7").click();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-wash-type-manual").click();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm").click();
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-tasks-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-task-9001-toggle").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm")).toBeEnabled();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-live-elapsed")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+
+    await completeGuidedWash(page);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-complete")).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-complete").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-completed-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+
+    expect(requests.departments[0]?.url.searchParams.get("include_lanes")).toBe("true");
+    expect(requests.vehicleTypes.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.customerVehicles.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.allowed.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.conditions.some((request) => request.body?.question === 11 && request.body?.value === true)).toBe(
+      true
+    );
+    expect(requests.summaries.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.activeWash.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.inProgress.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.commands.map((request) => request.body?.command)).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining(["START", "STOP", "OPEN_PROPERTY_EXIT_GATE"])
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("machine wash enables the relay after START and rolls back when relay enable fails", async ({ page }) => {
+    const requests = collectSelfServeRequests(page);
+    await seedSavedProgress(page, {
+      currentStep: 2,
+      licensePlateInput: "AB12345",
+      vehicleTypeSelect: 2,
+      radioLaneOption: 7,
+      radioWashType: "Machine",
+      customerNumberInput: "12345679",
+      answers: { 11: true },
+    });
+
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: {
+        relayResponses: [{ success: true }, { success: false, data: { message: "Machine relay unavailable" } }],
+      },
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-machine-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-lane-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-wash-type-machine").click();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-tasks-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+
+    expect(requests.commands.map((request) => request.body?.command)).toContain("START");
+    expect(requests.relays).toHaveLength(1);
+    const firstStartIndex = requests.commands.findIndex((request) => request.body?.command === "START");
+    expect(firstStartIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-previous").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-lane-step")).toBeVisible();
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm").click();
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-action-error")).toContainText("Machine relay unavailable");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-live-elapsed")).toBeHidden();
+    expect(requests.relays).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(requests.commands.map((request) => request.body?.command)).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining(["START", "STOP"])
+    );
+  });
+
+  test("active wash restore reloads start route and resumes at WASH_IN_PROGRESS", async ({ page }) => {
+    const requests = collectSelfServeRequests(page);
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: {
+        inProgressByLaneId: {
+          7: {
+            lane_id: 7,
+            in_progress: true,
+            session: {
+              id: 801,
+              lane_id: 7,
+              department_id: 6,
+              reg: "AB12345",
+              customer_number: 12345679,
+              vehicle_type_id: 2,
+              machine_relay_enabled: false,
+              wash_started_at: "2026-06-02 08:00:00",
+              status: "IN_PROGRESS",
+            },
+            customer: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+            vehicle: { reg: "AB12345", type: 2 },
+          },
+        },
+        summaryBySessionId: {
+          801: {
+            session: { id: 801, lane_id: 7, reg: "AB12345", status: "IN_PROGRESS", vehicle_type_id: 2 },
+            lane: { id: 7, name: "7", department: 6 },
+            questions: [],
+            conditions: [],
+            rules: [],
+            tasks: [],
+            events: [{ id: 8011, type: "STARTED", created_at: "2026-06-02T08:00:00.000Z" }],
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-active-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+    await page.reload({ waitUntil: "domcontentloaded" });
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-live-elapsed")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-department-name")).toContainText("Roskilde");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-vehicle-step")).toBeHidden();
+    expect(requests.activeWash.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(requests.commands).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  test("server-completed wash refresh moves local in-progress state to completed", async ({ page }) => {
+    await seedSavedProgress(page, {
+      washInProgress: true,
+      washLaneId: 7,
+      washStartTime: Date.now() - 60_000,
+      currentStep: 4,
+      licensePlateInput: "AB12345",
+      vehicleTypeSelect: 2,
+      radioLaneOption: 7,
+      radioWashType: "Manual",
+      customerNumberInput: "12345679",
+    });
+
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: {
+        inProgressByLaneId: {
+          7: {
+            lane_id: 7,
+            in_progress: false,
+            session: null,
+            customer: null,
+            vehicle: null,
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-server-completed-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-completed-step")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-live-elapsed")).toBeHidden();
+  });
+
+  test("answer-sync failure shows an error and blocks progression", async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: true,
+    });
+    await page.route(/\/department\/selfserve\/vehicle\/conditions$/i, async (route) => {
+      if (route.request().method() === "POST") {
+        await route.fulfill({
+          status: 500,
+          contentType: "application/json",
+          body: JSON.stringify({ message: "Answer sync failed" }),
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+      await route.fallback();
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-answer-sync-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+    await fillRegistration(page);
+    await selectVehicleType(page, 2);
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-next").click();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-question-11")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+    await page.getByTestId("self-serve-question-11-yes").click();
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-answer-sync-error")).toContainText("Answer sync failed");
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-confirm")).toBeDisabled();
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-lane-step")).toBeHidden();
+  });
+
+  test("geolocation unavailable still provides a department-selection fallback", async ({ browser }) => {
+    const context = await browser.newContext({ permissions: [] });
+    const page = await context.newPage();
+    await suppressVueDevtoolsOverlay(page);
+    const requests = collectSelfServeRequests(page);
+    await mockApi(page, {
+      authenticated: true,
+      permissions: ["user"],
+      sessionData: { customer_number: 12345679 },
+      selfServe: true,
+    });
+
+    await primeMockSession(page, { token: "user-my-wash-no-geolocation-token", bootPath: "/user/wash/start" });
+
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-department-name")).toContainText("Roskilde", { timeout: 15_000 });
+    await fillRegistration(page);
+    await selectVehicleType(page, 2);
+    await expect(page.getByTestId("self-serve-nav-next")).toBeEnabled();
+    expect(requests.departments[0]?.url.searchParams.get("include_lanes")).toBe("true");
+
+    await context.close();
+  });
+});