Pros: low priced, do-it-yourself car wash and is centrally located. Cons: often overcrowded at lunch hour and the neighborhood is sketchy once the sun goes down. A nice older gentleman who has been on site the last couple years replaced the old tokens for new ones place and helps maintain the place. There was an awful younger man who was working there who was hostile to the customers and he may be the person that other reviewers were commenting on. Highly Doubtful that he was an owner, rather someone with an anger management issue who intimidated the customers. Equipment is soso and you have to be careful with the hoses, so as not to scratch the roof of your car. Wouldn't recommend bringing any new car there ever. But if you're on a budget with an older car, it's a good place. read more

I love the nasty comments from the creeps that most likely are the selfish people , that hold up the lines, by staying in stalls too long , being on their phone, or tossing trash on the ground. I have found the owner to be nice always, he is just trying to keep a very busy car wash running smooth in a condensed city area, where "some" people can be very rude. The time is long on the timer, boar brush so my car doesn't get scratched and the right amount of soap, better than any self car wash around. dont go on the weekend, its and house , I go during the week never a problem. read more

I tried to wash my company's truck With 2 of my coworkers. While waiting for my coworker to pay , the "owner" tells me to move my truck I politely said no I was waiting to get in there , he said no they're (a car in line) waiting so move now. He sees my coworker on the phone then he's like there's no phones allowed here. He proceeds to tell me to f*cking move the truck. He takes pictures of our logo and license plates and finishes taking a picture of me. As if I was rude in his establishment of business. Sir have better manners to your customers all we were trying to do is wash our company's truck after long weeks of work. Best wishes and I hope you have a better attitude moving forward. and remember to speak at a lower tone there's no need to yell at your customer! I do not recommend to go here! read more

The owner is absolutely the most disrespectful person. Do not go to this car wash. I was in my spot waiting to get my coins ready and he said I had to move my car because people are waiting. Came at me with a disrespectful, rude tone and yelled get the fuck out of here. I will never be returning. You should neither. Go to blue wave instead right down the street. At least you get treated with respect and they are professional with great services. I'd rather pay more money then to ever be disrespected like that again. read more

Better coin/paying system. It was very difficult to get my car clean after learning they don't have a proper change coin machine

Clientele here don't follow the rules and you may wait 45 minutes for one person to finish detailing their truck before they will let you pull I to a wash spot. Other places to go without this issue and better maintained. read more

Went to this place today again and for the second time I was accosted by the owner. He sits in his dirty white Land Rover and watches for you to do something that upsets him. Our first interaction was to ask me if everything is okay, to which I said sure. He then went on a rant that it's a good day, he hasn't been shot at and the sun is shining. A few minutes later he started yelling that I wasn't using the brush to his liking. He came over to me screaming, so close that the spit from his mouth was raining down on me. He told me to get the f*ck out and go back to Oakland? I live in Marin, somehow he assumed I was from the East Bay? I would recommend for anyone not wanting to get in a confrontation from this crazy guy, to stay away. He's bonkers. You will surely do something to piss him off if he doesn't like the way you look. He'll tell you he hasn't raised prices in 30 years to make it seem like he's a good guy. Probably inherited it from his grandpa and just stands around to collect the quarters every day so he can go to the Silver Peso and drown his sorrows with a PBR. read more

Felt unsafe here. Equipment old and poorly maintained. Prefer the self serve wash in Fairfax.

Racist owner! I've been coming to this car wash for awhile. This morning I pulled in and there were three empty bays. I pulled in and took a phone call. A few minutes later this guy came pounding on my window saying no phones here! I have people waiting! I apologized but he wouldn't stop yelling at me as he seemed he was in a full on tantrum. He identified himself as the owner of the car wash. I told him to please stop yelling at me and that I heard him the first time. I got out to wash my car and he was still yelling at me then he said "what the fuck are you a Jew Mexican?! Get out." Then he threatened to call the cops on me. Obviously I'll never be back. read more

Not sure why I keep reviewing car washes lately but, it seems that I'm at these places a lot lately. ;) Canal Car Wash is located off the 101 freeway in a somewhat convenient location. There are a number of stalls and you'll always find a spot unless you're there Saturday morning. It's nothing spectacular but, what can you expect...it's a self serv car wash. Few problems: The spray guns don't have plastic tips to protect against scratching your paint. That's a must have so, Dear Management, take note. It's token only and there's no where to redeem loose change. Perhaps a CC reader would be a nice cheap improvement. Other than that, got the job done just fine. read more

They changed tokens and now the machines will not accept the old ones. They offer no way to exchange them either. Rip off.

I love these do it your self carwashes. Soak, brush, and wax with one simple sprayer and brush. The vaccuums really suck (in a good way). Easy in easy out. What more could you want. Oh...some place that takes credit or debit cards because who has all those quarters that you need ($2.50 will get you started but I probably put in another buck or two to keep it going til the car was all clean). read more

Canal Car Wash - Car Wash Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I have never experienced a worse customer service encounter in my life. The worker, who identified himself as "Elvis" is without a doubt the rudest, most profane man I have ever met. Elvis accosted me before I began a wash, because I had some dried, paint in the back of my truck bed. He accused me of intentionally violating a California Clean Water act and said it was a felony. Again, I hadn't even dropped a token in the slot. I immediately apologized, and said "No problem, I won't wash my truck here. But since I already bought $20 in tokens, could I please get a refund?" He unleashed a tirade of F-bombs, A--Holes, Idiots, called me delusional, and threatened to call the police... all because I asked if he could buy back my tokens. Then he threw in a few more F-bombs, all while trying to act menacing. Doubt his name is Elvis, but he's a big guy in his late 50s with white hair and a goatee. He really shouldn't be allowed to work with the public. I'd gladly report him to the ownership, but the listed phone number is not in service. The WORST, and I'll throw out $20 in tokens before I'd ever use this place. read more

It's the only car wash in the area, but it did the job. Water pressure was so-so, didn't manage to get off some bad bugs, should have scrubbed first. They only take tokens so be sure you have $1 bills or you'll end up with a bunch you won't use. read more

I love that this place is simply a great practical way to clean your car. All machines worked great and very resonably priced. I had brought a huge pile of quarters thinking that these would be used in the vaccuum and the washing booth. Whoops. Wrong. Nope only tokens. Two older gentlemen working there both helped out by exchanging my quarters into tokens cheerfully. It was even a great chance for me to practice my limited spanish with them and neither of them frowned at me or paid no attention to my sincere but limited attempt at espanol. read more

I took my car there to get the dirt off. Ouch. The brush that I used was filled with grease. I ended up brushing grease On My Car. I was so unhappy. I tried to tell a very nice man that was landscaping and show him the filth and grease that I could not get off but just put on with their brush! He was so sweet but spoke little English. He tried to help clean the brush but it was not good. I had to pay $10 more to re-wash my car with the sprayer. It still has grease on my car! I am so unhappy! Darn it! This place stinks and it cost me a good amount of money. The wash cycle is so short. Bad, bad, bad deal. Will not go there again. read more

This place serves no purpose as you cant actually clean your car here...poor water pressure, no soap, no wax...just a bunch of bullshit. The owner of this place obviously doesnt give a fuck. Find a bettwr car wash, you'll leave here dissatisfied. read more

Currently standing at this place and the worker here accosted my boyfriend and I for filling up the trash cans. He even took a picture of my license plate. I have never felt more insulted and I can't believe these people think it's okay to treat customers this way. read more

This place is nothing fancy, but it get's the job done. There aren't too many self-serve car washes in Southern Marin, so we're happy to go here. Rinse, foam brush, rinse again, and we're done - all for $7. The vacuum's got excellent suction. read more

Poor car wash, but still better than nothing. Pretty cheap though. If you need to do it touchless, you can do it here. Pressure is pretty poor and barely help if a car is very dirty. read more