Control system for the operation of a car maintenance equipment

The installation uses a card (2) having an optical identification code (3) and a corresponding optical reader (4). The reader is connected to a data processing unit (7) linked to memory (8) storing object identification data (9) and inhibition/validation data (10) for operation of equipment. Recognition or not of the card validates or inhibits the operation of the cleaning or maintenance equipment. The validation/inhibition data is in the form of a value counter unit and the data processor drives a value reducer (11) after each use. The data processor is also associated with a value recharging unit (13). The validation/inhibition data is in the form of time with a validity limit duration for the card. Several maintenance equipment's are in a station, each equipment has a reader linked to a corresponding dedicated data processor or the readers are linked to a common data processing unit.