diff --git a/src/components/pagination/departmentTabs.vue b/src/components/pagination/departmentTabs.vue
index 50edb9a9..ab680847 100644
--- a/src/components/pagination/departmentTabs.vue
+++ b/src/components/pagination/departmentTabs.vue
@@ -48,10 +48,13 @@ export const getDepartmentDescription = (id) => {
 
 export const getDepartmentsGuest = async (queryParams = {}) => {
   isLoading.value = true;
-  const queryString = new URLSearchParams(queryParams).toString();
-  const request = await unauthenticatedRequest("/guest/departments" + (queryString ? `?${queryString}` : ""), "get");
-  departments.value = sortByDepartmentPriorityOrder(request.data.data || []);
-  isLoading.value = false;
-  return departments.value;
+  try {
+    const queryString = new URLSearchParams(queryParams).toString();
+    const request = await unauthenticatedRequest("/guest/departments" + (queryString ? `?${queryString}` : ""), "get");
+    departments.value = sortByDepartmentPriorityOrder(request.data.data || []);
+    return departments.value;
+  } finally {
+    isLoading.value = false;
+  }
 };
 </script>
diff --git a/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js b/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
index 195a9555..e6c6e5f4 100644
--- a/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
+++ b/src/composables/useWashDepartments.js
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@ import { computed, nextTick, onUnmounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
 import { getDepartmentsGuest } from "@/components/pagination/departmentTabs.vue";
 import { locations } from "@/components/displays/department/pos/steps/mobile/objects/PosDepartmentStepMobileFlow.vue";
 
-const isLaneSelfServeEnabled = (lane) => !(
-  lane?.selfserve_enabled === false
-  || lane?.selfserve_enabled === 0
-  || lane?.selfserve_enabled === "0"
-  || ["false", "off", "no"].includes(String(lane?.selfserve_enabled ?? "").trim().toLowerCase())
-);
+const isLaneSelfServeEnabled = (lane) =>
+  !(
+    lane?.selfserve_enabled === false ||
+    lane?.selfserve_enabled === 0 ||
+    lane?.selfserve_enabled === "0" ||
+    ["false", "off", "no"].includes(
+      String(lane?.selfserve_enabled ?? "")
+        .trim()
+        .toLowerCase()
+    )
+  );
 
 const toDepartmentViewModel = (department, distance = null) => ({
   id: department.id,
@@ -18,12 +23,22 @@ const toDepartmentViewModel = (department, distance = null) => ({
   self_serve_enabled: department.self_serve_enabled,
 });
 
+const extractDepartmentFetchErrorMessage = (error) => {
+  const candidates = [
+    error?.response?.data?.data?.message,
+    error?.response?.data?.message,
+    error?.response?.data?.error,
+    error?.message,
+  ];
+
+  return (
+    candidates.find((candidate) => typeof candidate === "string" && candidate.trim() !== "") ||
+    "Kunne ikke hente vaskeafdelinger. Prøv igen."
+  );
+};
+
 export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
-  const {
-    includeLanes = false,
-    refreshIntervalMs = 0,
-    canAccessSuperUser = () => false,
-  } = options;
+  const { includeLanes = false, refreshIntervalMs = 0, canAccessSuperUser = () => false } = options;
 
   const guestDepartments = ref([]);
   const nearestDepartment = ref(null);
@@ -31,6 +46,7 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
   const forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId = ref(0);
   const isSearchingDepartments = ref(false);
   const lastDepartmentFetchTime = ref(null);
+  const departmentFetchError = ref(null);
 
   let refreshInterval = null;
 
@@ -57,13 +73,18 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
     return nearestDepartment.value.self_serve_enabled === true;
   });
 
-  const buildGuestDepartmentParams = () => (
-    includeLanes ? { include_lanes: true } : {}
-  );
+  const buildGuestDepartmentParams = () => (includeLanes ? { include_lanes: true } : {});
 
   const fetchDepartments = async () => {
-    guestDepartments.value = await getDepartmentsGuest(buildGuestDepartmentParams());
-    lastDepartmentFetchTime.value = Date.now();
+    try {
+      guestDepartments.value = await getDepartmentsGuest(buildGuestDepartmentParams());
+      lastDepartmentFetchTime.value = Date.now();
+      departmentFetchError.value = null;
+    } catch (error) {
+      departmentFetchError.value = extractDepartmentFetchErrorMessage(error);
+      console.warn("Failed to fetch wash departments:", error);
+    }
+
     evaluateLocationDepartments(locations.location.value);
     return guestDepartments.value;
   };
@@ -74,19 +95,15 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
     }
 
     const currentTime = Date.now();
-    if (
-      !lastDepartmentFetchTime.value
-      || (currentTime - lastDepartmentFetchTime.value) >= refreshIntervalMs
-    ) {
+    if (!lastDepartmentFetchTime.value || currentTime - lastDepartmentFetchTime.value >= refreshIntervalMs) {
       return fetchDepartments();
     }
 
     return guestDepartments.value;
   };
 
-  const getForcedDepartment = () => guestDepartments.value.find(
-    (department) => department.id === forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId.value
-  );
+  const getForcedDepartment = () =>
+    guestDepartments.value.find((department) => department.id === forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId.value);
 
   const evaluateLocationDepartments = (locationValue = locations.location.value) => {
     if (isForcingNearestDepartment.value && forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId.value) {
@@ -191,19 +208,30 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
     }
   };
 
-  watch(() => guestDepartments.value, () => {
-    evaluateLocationDepartments(locations.location.value);
-  }, { deep: true });
-
-  watch(() => locations.location.value, (newValue) => {
-    evaluateLocationDepartments(newValue);
-  }, { deep: true });
-
-  watch(() => isSearchingDepartments.value, (isSearching) => {
-    if (!isSearching) {
+  watch(
+    () => guestDepartments.value,
+    () => {
       evaluateLocationDepartments(locations.location.value);
+    },
+    { deep: true }
+  );
+
+  watch(
+    () => locations.location.value,
+    (newValue) => {
+      evaluateLocationDepartments(newValue);
+    },
+    { deep: true }
+  );
+
+  watch(
+    () => isSearchingDepartments.value,
+    (isSearching) => {
+      if (!isSearching) {
+        evaluateLocationDepartments(locations.location.value);
+      }
     }
-  });
+  );
 
   onUnmounted(() => {
     stopAutoRefresh();
@@ -216,6 +244,7 @@ export function useWashDepartments(options = {}) {
     forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId,
     isSearchingDepartments,
     lastDepartmentFetchTime,
+    departmentFetchError,
     availableProductIds,
     doesCurrentDepartmentSelectionHaveSelfServeEnabled,
     fetchDepartments,
diff --git a/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue b/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
index ae0272d4..5fc93542 100644
--- a/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
+++ b/src/views/dashboards/userDashboard/wash/MyWashStart.vue
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ const {
   isForcingNearestDepartment,
   forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId,
   isSearchingDepartments,
+  departmentFetchError,
   availableProductIds,
   doesCurrentDepartmentSelectionHaveSelfServeEnabled,
   fetchDepartments,
@@ -436,6 +437,8 @@ const extractErrorMessage = (error: any, fallback: string) => {
   return fallback;
 };
 
+const getRequestStatus = (error: any) => Number(error?.response?.status ?? error?.status ?? 0);
+
 watch(dynamicImageUrl, () => {
   hideDynamicImage.value = false;
 });
@@ -779,7 +782,17 @@ const fetchServerActiveWash = async () => {
     return null;
   }
 
-  const response = await SessionUser.request(SERVER_ACTIVE_WASH_ENDPOINT, "GET");
+  let response = null;
+  try {
+    response = await SessionUser.request(SERVER_ACTIVE_WASH_ENDPOINT, "GET");
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (getRequestStatus(error) === 404) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    throw error;
+  }
+
   const details = unwrapApiData(response);
   if (!isAuthenticatedCustomerActiveWash(details, customerNumber)) {
     return null;
@@ -848,7 +861,10 @@ const applyServerActiveWash = async (activeWash: any) => {
 
   const summary = await fetchWashSummary(summaryParams, false);
   if (!summary) {
-    await fetchSelfServeDataInternal(departmentId || nearestDepartment.value?.id, selectedVehicleTypeId, laneId, reg);
+    const fallbackDepartmentId = departmentId || nearestDepartment.value?.id;
+    if (fallbackDepartmentId) {
+      await fetchSelfServeDataInternal(fallbackDepartmentId, selectedVehicleTypeId, laneId, reg);
+    }
   }
 
   saveProgress("serverActiveWash");
@@ -1439,6 +1455,28 @@ watch(
             </div>
           </section>
 
+          <b-message
+            v-if="departmentFetchError"
+            type="is-warning"
+            has-icon
+            :closable="false"
+            data-testid="self-serve-departments-error"
+          >
+            <div class="is-flex is-align-items-center is-justify-content-space-between is-flex-wrap-wrap">
+              <span class="mr-3">{{ departmentFetchError }}</span>
+              <b-button
+                size="is-small"
+                type="is-warning is-light"
+                icon-pack="fas"
+                icon-left="sync-alt"
+                data-testid="self-serve-departments-retry"
+                @click="fetchDepartments"
+              >
+                {{ $t("common.try_again") }}
+              </b-button>
+            </div>
+          </b-message>
+
           <b-message
             v-if="selfServeDataError"
             type="is-danger"
diff --git a/tests/unit/use-wash-departments.spec.js b/tests/unit/use-wash-departments.spec.js
index 25140668..fb2ebc83 100644
--- a/tests/unit/use-wash-departments.spec.js
+++ b/tests/unit/use-wash-departments.spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // @vitest-environment jsdom
-import { defineComponent, h, nextTick } from "vue";
 import { mount } from "@vue/test-utils";
+import { nextTick } from "vue";
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
@@ -27,27 +27,30 @@ vi.mock("@/components/displays/department/pos/steps/mobile/objects/PosDepartment
   },
 }));
 
-import { useWashDepartments } from "@/composables/useWashDepartments.js";
+const { useWashDepartments } = await import("@/composables/useWashDepartments.js");
 
-const mountComposable = (factory) => {
-  let result;
+const mountedWrappers = [];
 
-  mount(
-    defineComponent({
-      setup() {
-        result = factory();
-        return () => h("div");
-      },
-    })
-  );
+const mountDepartments = (options = {}) => {
+  let departments = null;
+  const wrapper = mount({
+    setup() {
+      departments = useWashDepartments(options);
+      return {};
+    },
+    template: "<div />",
+  });
+  mountedWrappers.push(wrapper);
 
-  return result;
+  return departments;
 };
 
 describe("useWashDepartments", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
+    mountedWrappers.splice(0).forEach((wrapper) => wrapper.unmount());
     mocks.getDepartmentsGuest.mockReset();
     mocks.getDistance.mockReset();
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
     mocks.locationRef.value = {
       coords: {
         latitude: 55.5,
@@ -88,7 +91,7 @@ describe("useWashDepartments", () => {
       },
     ]);
 
-    const departments = mountComposable(() => useWashDepartments({ includeLanes: true }));
+    const departments = mountDepartments({ includeLanes: true });
 
     await departments.fetchDepartments();
 
@@ -104,11 +107,9 @@ describe("useWashDepartments", () => {
       { id: 2, name: "South", address: "B", latitude: 55.7, longitude: 12.6, lanes: [], self_serve_enabled: true },
     ]);
 
-    const departments = mountComposable(() =>
-      useWashDepartments({
-        canAccessSuperUser: () => true,
-      })
-    );
+    const departments = mountDepartments({
+      canAccessSuperUser: () => true,
+    });
 
     await departments.fetchDepartments();
     departments.startDepartmentSearch();
@@ -125,4 +126,43 @@ describe("useWashDepartments", () => {
     expect(departments.forceNearestDepartmentEvaluationId.value).toBe(0);
     expect(departments.nearestDepartment.value).toMatchObject({ id: 2, name: "South" });
   });
+
+  it("keeps the wash start page usable when the guest departments request fails", async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    mocks.getDepartmentsGuest.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("Network Error"));
+    const departments = mountDepartments({ includeLanes: true });
+
+    await expect(departments.fetchDepartments()).resolves.toEqual([]);
+
+    expect(departments.guestDepartments.value).toEqual([]);
+    expect(departments.nearestDepartment.value).toBeNull();
+    expect(departments.departmentFetchError.value).toBe("Network Error");
+    expect(mocks.getDepartmentsGuest).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ include_lanes: true });
+  });
+
+  it("clears the department fetch error after a successful retry", async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const department = {
+      id: 3,
+      name: "Glostrup",
+      address: "Fabriksparken 18",
+      latitude: 55.6,
+      longitude: 12.5,
+      self_serve_enabled: true,
+      lanes: [{ id: 7, status: "AVAILABLE", selfserve_enabled: true }],
+    };
+    mocks.getDepartmentsGuest.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("Gateway Timeout")).mockResolvedValueOnce([department]);
+    const departments = mountDepartments({ includeLanes: true });
+
+    await departments.fetchDepartments();
+    await departments.fetchDepartments();
+
+    expect(departments.departmentFetchError.value).toBeNull();
+    expect(departments.guestDepartments.value).toEqual([department]);
+    expect(departments.nearestDepartment.value).toMatchObject({
+      id: 3,
+      name: "Glostrup",
+      lanes: [{ id: 7 }],
+    });
+  });
 });