Is air drying safer than towel drying a car?

Air drying reduces physical contact and therefore reduces the chance of wash-induced fine scratches and swirl marks, especially when the vehicle is fully clean. However, simply leaving droplets to evaporate can create water spots. Forced-air drying with a blower or filtered air works best, combined with a soft towel for any remaining water. Blowers are also useful for clearing water from mirrors, grilles and trim gaps.