Bad bad experience, this is the first time I used Brown Bear Car Wash. The person that takes your receipt before car wash is extremely inpatient and grumpy. When I hand him my receipt, he questioned me: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? Excuse me?! Your receipt machine is not working properly, first time printed me a blank receipt, had to swipe my credit card again to make the transaction goes through. The whole receipt-machine-not-working situation didn't even lasts over 3 minutes and your staff gets unhappy about it. Considering this is my first time going thru machine wash, Unbelievable attitude, wouldn't recommend it to anyone else! The machine wash is not even that clean in the first place, still have bugs in my front bumper after the car wash. Go find urself a hand wash place that has nicer and pleasant staff! read more

I get the car dirty enough to warrant cleaning almost every week, but only ever go to this car wash anymore when I have free coupons, despite its convenient location. The problem is that the car never ends up clean on the first pass (the photo below shows the result of my most recent wash), so I'd have to get out of the car to inspect it, go queue for a second pass, and explain myself to the attendant. It's less of a hassle (and much cheaper) to just spray down the car myself at a self-wash. Other people seem to have reached the same conclusion, which must be why Brown Bear shut down their nearby self-wash... read more

Brown Bear Car Wash - Not "Beary Good" - Car Wash Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It costs twice what the Shell in the Udistrict charges and all they do is a quick scrub before you enter the wash. I'd rather drive a few more minutes and pay half for the same car wash. I do like that you can drive up, hand over plastic, and within a few minutes you're on your merry way... but then again, that's just me being lazy. I give 'em 3 for convenience and for laughing at the lame joke I made about their car washes being the 'beary best.' Hilarious, I know. read more

"BIG Scratch!" car wash! Horrible. This was my favorite car wash, frequented forever. But they clearly have changed their maintenance program, as when I came out today, all sorts of scratches in the paint from one of their defective rotary brushes. $600 to repair. Avoid at all costs. read more

I'm skeptical of automated car washes, but have been using this one regularly for a few months. I purchased the monthly pass and use the lowest level of service because I prefer not to have coating sprayed on my car. The car wash has been well-maintained, so no paint scratches, and wash results are good. So far, it's been safe, fast, and convenient. read more

Being a bear myself, I dig all things bear-related. Even my car wash, you ask? Well, sure. If it works. Which it only kinda did. The automated kiosk system is handy but the first one I pulled in to was stuck in some sort of infinite loop so I had to back out and go to another one. Once I got access, the process was decently fast. My car was covered with salt and grime from diving up during the first PDX snow of the 2013/14 season, so I desperately wanted to get that salt off my new whip. While they did scrub down the back of my ride, they didn't even prime the front with a quick spray or anything (like my Washman does at home). My car came out faaaaairly clean, but it didn't get things all the way live. I'll give that my car was extra filthy when I rolled in and purchased the "Brown Bear Best" or whatever top of the line option they gave me. And when I came out there were some streaks and still some dirty wetness on the Hyun. I guess it's cool that I got a discount with my gas fill up next door, but hey, maybe think about priming the hood with a little dirt-softening water spray next time. And have someone nearby in case the kiosk isn't working? Either way, keep the bear theme going strong. read more

"I'm fixin' to get that bird crap off your car for ya" Now that's what I call service. They are always so totally sweet and professional at Brown Bear. You really do get the "Beary Best". BAH! Get it - "Bear - y"? HAHA! Taking a swing through BB is one of my favorite things to do on a "me" day. Don't be scared off when there's a huge line! They are so fast you really get through the line quick. read more

Note: when you take a pick-up truck through the car wash, make sure you don't have anything sitting in the bed. Unless you need it to be cleaned as well. The guys working this place were extremely friendly. Wow. I just wish they had imparted that bit of 'remove stuff from your pick-up bed' knowledge on us. Also, you'll get a buck off if you put at least 8 gallons of gas in your tank before you wash. Filling up AFTER you wash does you absolutely no good. The car was sparkling, but we were a dollar poorer, and our stuff was a little wetter. read more

Relatively inexpensive car wash located in Interbay. I opted for the $10 car wash option - it worked just fine, see pictures of the car post wash. The line can be long, but it is fairly fast moving, so you can be in and out within 10 minutes. They have commercialized vacuum's that you can rent for a $1 - I really think should be free, consequently 4 stars. read more

Brown Bear Car Wash - The $10 car wash option at Brown Bear, definitely does the job. - Car Wash Near Me - Seattle, Washington

When it's time to wash all that bird crap off your car, this is the place you want to go. Living in the city, I've hand washed my car a few times. I know that hand washing is better. But you have to get cash and enough quarters, and wear your dirty shirt & shoes, and scrub away. Oh and you have to bring towels or buy the heavy paper towels for drying off the car. So after a few hand car washes, I have been going to brown bear regularly. Payment is easy. The wash tunnel is quick. Grab a few towels and dry off the car. It's so convenient and fast, for an exterior wash. It does get busy! So go early or late. Cheerios! read more

I bring my car here pretty often. Definitely not the way to go if you have major crap on your car, but in general, it's great. If you get gas at the adjacent station, you get a discount here, which is cool. read more

Wow. Arturo with Brown Bear gas station was so incredibly helpful. I needed air and didn't know how to use the machine. He walked me through it with a smile and patience. It is the best air machine as it reads the pressure and beeps at you when full. He even showed me where to find my tire pressure numbers on my car. Thank you Arturo! I will buy gas from you always. read more

I come here all the time for the best car wash in town. I typically get the Beary Best but have gotten all levels of carwashes and all do the trick. There is an abundant amount of bays to vacuum and clean your car after your car wash and the gas station on site even offers a air station to pump up your tires. I appreciate that the air station takes debit cards and my only complaint is that the vacuum machines do not. Hard to come up with 4 quarters sometimes and would be easier to slide a card. read more

Depending on your car model there is a chance the dryer will bend the license plate bracket straight up. Especially if your bracket is higher up and is mounted using two screws instead of four. I brought my new to me G37XS to brown bear and my plate got torn almost all the way off. I never had this problem with my 370Z, but the plate sat much lower. I recommend they offer to remove and reattach the front plate for cars they suspect will have issues. Other than that the wash does a good job cleaning. It would be best if you wiped down your door jambs and hand dried your panels afterward. read more

My only complaint is not your fault... I think. I am used to washing my car about once a week - being from Arizona, where car washes are about $3.00 it was totally normal. AND on your receipt, there is a coupon that if it rains within 48 hours of your car wash you could come in for another one - free! You guys don't do that here... sadness... : ) But I give the nice guys my money - and drive and it comes out the other end clean - seems like an oxymoron but NO! I like that they also have towels there to dry off your car when you are done... Sell gas as well for a one stop shop situation. Enjoy the bubbles! read more

here is all I have to say, the guys at this location are super efficient. I have had the UNLIMITED CAR WASH for over a year and if for some reason it doesn't read it, they always handle it super quick. Also, I usually only keep during the spring and summer and cancel during the fall/winter months...that's usually because the weather is so crappy in Seattle that I would have to wash my car every day...BUT, when I called to cancel the membership...the guys at the corporate office couldn't have been more friendlier and helpful. I was pleasantly surprised, they didn't try to oversell me, the cancelled my membership and told me how easy it was to renew. I will definitely be renewing using my same sticker TAG that I can leave in the car. Just an overall excellent experience. read more

Entiendo que el sistema es automático pero podrían ser los empleados un poco más educados y dar las instrucciones. Uno de ellos casi me rompe el cristal. Diciendo que tenía que poner mi caro en neutro Además muy malos productos mi carro quedó con restos de algo que no se que era me tocó quitar a mano esos en esa. Muy mala espereincia. Y. No justifica el precio. read more

I redeemed a free basic car wash from them and upgraded to the best car wash using Teflon protection. I had to get my car washed after my recent horrible detailing experience at Derek's Auto Detail on Aurora. SO I WENT HERE. Typically I get my Volvo washed at the Pink Elephant, but this time I used Brown Bear and I have to say I'm very satisfied with the results. I really am allergic to washing my own car, so it is nice to have a reliable, inexpensive car wash tunnel to wash my car for me. I recommend! It is right across the street from the Whole Foods in Interbay. read more

How could I feel better after a car wash? 1. It was free. I had a coupon from my dealership. 2. They helped me get the topper off and stuff it in my car. 3. My car was so dirty they sent me through twice. 4. They were just so damn nice! A+ After reading the other reviews, for full disclosure if a scratch happened at a car wash I would never notice or care, and I don't have a car I'm trying to keep pristinely clean (see 3 above). read more

After reading all the horrible reviews for Elephant, I decided to give Brown Bear a go, and luckily decided to get gas beforehand. Imagine how stoked I was to find I got a dollar off my car wash with the purchase of 8 gallons of gas! Add to that the smiley workers and a squeaky clean car, and I'm sold. read more

Quick, polite, very inexpensive. Exterior wash for as little as $8.00. Add other optons?: You're still only out-of-pocket about $15.00 Nice, friendly staff. Car came through the experience with a tip-top finish. Bravo, thanks! read more

Came here during the free car wash day. Staff was helpful and keep the busy lining going smoothly. Was able to get an extra scrub on my wheels before entering the car wash. You get a free air freshener, as well as a coupon for your next return back. The wash was decent. read more

It was, from a customer service point of view, good in that I was greeted with a friendly face. But it is pretty much a automated system beyond the payment kiosk. It was quick enough but by the time I got home I got a much closer look and my white car has black streaks all over it from presumable the dirty sponges and the automated blue sponges. There were also streaks on my windshield as well. AKA not clean. I am pretty much never going back again. I am going to have to go get my car washed again from a real carwash place that cares about your cars. If you care at all about your car's paint job or a good car wash I would look else where. I recommend that Brown Bear cleans their equipment more frequently. read more

This is one of the cleanest car washes you will find. Even the soap suds in the car wash smell nice. Ample places to vacuum here with large parking spaces. Great customer service! The best part is always hearing the silly Brown Bear talk. Love it!! Make sure and grab a towel and detail yourself. read more

You can buy your card o' Berry Best Washes at Costco and save yourself a bucket o' cash. They are getting pretty lazy with the brush. They used to do a bit of a scrub all around and pretend to take a swipe at the tires too. Now there's just that marijuana poster child look and off you go. Still a reasonably good deal; just not as good as it used to be. read more

This car wash/Chevron station is usually pretty busy. Sometimes you have to wait for both the gas pump and the car wash. Pretty efficient overall. They have rags to wipe down your car, and the coin-pay vacuums nearby for you to clean the inside of your car. The coolest thing is when they have the free car wash day - it's packed but so worth it. My car is sparkling and beautiful after the wash. Chevron also discounts its gas if you shop at Safeway, so that's nice! read more

A great place to get you car cleaned quickly. It is very inexpensive also. You have choice from 3 different options that range from $7 to $13 last time I went there. There is lots of space to park anywhere so you can wipe down your car with the towels they provide. There are also multiple spots to get your car vacuumed. Staff was prompt and great. What not to expect is when you come out at the other end, no one will wipe down your car, you have to do it. You also have to pay to use the vacuum, $1.00 for 3 or 4 mins. I also like the smell of the soap they use! read more

I'm doing a review for the gas station (Chevron), because a separate Yelp page isn't available for it. I've gassed up here before and the prices aren't cheap, but it's a quick in-and-out, and on my way to work in Ballard, so with all that in mind it's a convenient place to stop. With the long weekend ahead of us, my hubby and I decided we are going to bail from the city today a day ahead of time. What that means is we need to take our cooler full of camping food to work with us so we can make a quick escape after work. Unfortunately it means food spending several hours outside of the fridge. I needed ice to fill the cooler with, and I spied the ice freezer outside this Chevron - score! I love when it's quick and easy (ha- that's what he said). Speaking of ice, at $1.39 a bag it's cheaper than most places - even the convenience stores closest to our camping spot! Anyways, it was surprisingly busy inside at 6:30am, but the employees were efficient, surprisingly friendly and nice, and had good senses of humor! Not what I expected at a gas station in Seattle at 6:30am, but I'll take it! As silly as it sounds, this little interaction and purchase this morning really set my morning off on an extra happy note - that's awesome! Anyways, it's yet another gas station but I definitely think the employees care more than most places, and for that reason alone I will be back. read more

Excellent car wash which is really convenient. Their prices are cheap and they do a nice job. If you get the monthly pass it works out great. Super cheap and you get unlimited car washes read more

I pulled up to this Brown Bear after quite a few months of not getting my poor RDX washed. Now that I don't live in N. Seattle, Brown Bear is a little more challenging to get to on a regular basis. I have always gone to the one in Ballard or in Lakewood when I go visit my folks. So this location was new to me when I yelped to find the closest branch. When I pulled up, 3 automatic lanes greeted me up front before the wash. How freaking awesome! This sped the process way up and you can use your coupons or codes by just telling the machine you have one. The wash itself was fine and it dumps you out into the parking lot of a Chevron so you can pull aside to towel off, etc etc. The only 'downside' to this location (hence the ding of one star) is that unless you want to make a right out of there, you will be stuck forever trying to make a left. I ended up having to make a right and turning around in the giant PCC across the way to get back to where I needed to be. read more

I come here because I got free carwashes with my car purchase. The process is almost entirely automated, you may see one or two humans but don't really interact with them. My car comes out clean but not remarkably so... average carwash. read more

This is our favorite car wash in the city. Whenever we're even remotely close we swing through. We have a local car wash five blocks from our house in the CD but make our way to Interbay whenever we can for this one. First off, the line -- no matter how freaking long -- seems to move quickly. I'm not sure how it does that. It's magic or something. Second, you can tell going through the machine that it's really cleaning well. We only pay for the cheap wash, and we have never felt the need to pay for more. It's awesome! And that's pretty much all there is to say about that. read more

I suffered car damage to my Mercedes 3rd brake light. The Manager after arguing the point, sent an attendant to get the piece that was broken thus verifying my account..I told him to just give me the internet price that I made him aware of and all is settled..that was Jan 29th.. Today's the 19th..no check..I attempted to get the owner's ins info or contact information today and he refused stating the checks in the mail..Now That the dealer ship wants$450.00 and I was willing to settle for $150.00 for the part..I am lodging a formal report with the Better Business bureau and the State attorney general..the Manager refused to supply any information for an Insurance claim.. NEVER GOING HERE AGAIN.. N read more

I always get a great car wash at Brown Bear at the InterBay Seattle location. Keep up the great service.

I have a weekend routine - stop by Whole Foods for some groceries, Magic Dragon for a ton of delicious food and friendly people, and Chevron for gas. Sometimes I get a car wash too. Sometimes. The Brown Bear on 15th is one of the few automatic car washes in Seattle. Mechanical with brushes and all of that. It's a total party going through with all of the lights and foam and all. But there are three things, and I'm dinging a star for each one. 1) At least flash the right light for the wash I purchased. Twice now I've bought the $14 "Beary Best" as I've just finished up a bunch of driving with all the nastiness that comes with snow, etc (salt, whatever sort of chemicals WSDOT likes to use) - and Brown Bear flashes the $8 "Beary Clean" light. Did I just waste six bucks?? 2) Please be brushless so I don't feel as bad about the paint on my car 3 but really 2 and a half) Those brushes grab on to things and bend them up. Like front license plates. Or front license plates in cheap dealership plate frames. Hasn't happened to me, but I've heard rumors on the internets about people getting parking tickets for bent up front plates. read more

Meh. I'm all about clean and green and whatever (actually, not really, though I do appreciate a business that cares), but when it seems like the way companies stay green is by lowering the quality/quantity of the product I start to draw issue. We took my fiance's car in for an overdue wash since it'd been sitting under some sapping trees for a day or two. Paid whatever the big ticket wash price was ($15ish?) and went through. Came out the other end and started to hand-dry our own car (really?) when we realized there was still a legitimate sheen of sap on the car. I know sap is a pain to clean, but that's why we paid for the pricey wash. $15 bucks later we're hand scrubbing the car and thinking we probably could have done this on our own for a bit less. Seems like Brown Bear is a bit more for the regular washes (once a weekers) than the more sporadic. read more

I love this Brown Bear. I have never had a bad experience. I love Scott S. - deserves a tip for his kind and energetic personality. The equipment once broke my expensive rear windshield wiper and they paid for it without issue. Very happy the way it was handled and will go there again and again. read more

Not only is this car wash the most efficient and reliable one in the city, BUT ALSO have the nicest staff. I accidentally locked my keys in my car while cleaning it out, and Sal and Leo were incredible! They flawlessly helped me get back into my car and were lighthearted and sweet the whole time. Thank you thank you!! read more

It's a beautiful day and my car was disgusting! I rarely wash it but usually go to Brown Bear when I do. After the wash, I took full advantage of the clean towel AND the bonus glass cleaner. My windows were thick with "dog art" so I was especially pleased with the free supplies. The woman next to me commented about how nice it is to have convenience, good service and supplies, She said that some people write to complain about the lint from the towels. We decided that we were going to write and share our opinions. For the friendly service and value, you couldn't ask for more. If you are worried about lint (which blows right off as you drive), go pay 10x$s for the Beary Best and get the car detailed! Thank you Brown Bear Ballard. read more

I really like the drying system they have here. My car is 90% dry by the time I'm done. Unlike some places I have to towel dry afterwards; which I don't have time for it...that's the whole point of saving time going through car wash lol read more