This review is of the gas station (particularly the convenience store.) I haven't used the car wash. They do have a good selection of snack foods available. The prices on some of th snack are a bit high, and others are standard for the area. I've been a bit disappointed by the quality of some of the pasteries. There's one person who is working there almost every time I've been there, and thier choices about how to treat customers can be arbitrary and questionable at best. Thier restrooms are decently clean, though they're located at the car wash instead of the store. Be aware to need to get a key at the store and walk across the parking lot to the bathrooms, so it's not a super quick restroom stop. The main appeal is a snack selection, and that they do have restrooms. read more

Irwin Shell 834 Irwin St San Rafael, CA 94901 When you take the Central San Rafael exit from Hwy 101-N, you will pass this Shell Gas Station. It has a prime location, and a constant flow of traffic goes by most of the day. The station consists of a carwash, a food mart, and four gas islands. It's a very spacious lot. Okay, I rarely get gas here. Always too much traffic, and the place is a little dirty. On Jan 16, UL Reg was $4.69, which was about average for this area. So I stopped to get gas on a rainy night. When it was time to leave, I went around the block and saw that gas was higher at the Chevron. This is not the last gas station along Hwy 101.....unless you're on EMPTY. read more

See all

My gf and I were headed up to Napa from SF and needed gas. I did a quick search on Google Maps for gas along the way and saw this station was only a 2 min detour. We got here on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 around 11am. I wasn't paying much attention to the pricing that day, so I'll talk about the location instead. Getting here off 101N was super easy. We just exited, went straight, and it was in our right. However, getting back to the freeway proved to be more of a challenge. There are a lot of one way streets in the area, so there wasn't an easy way to hop back on to the freeway. The exit we took involved making a left on a one way street and crossing something like 3 or 4 lanes so we could immediately take a right. There were a lot of cars at that time, so we missed the turn and ended up going some round about way. The gas station itself seemed fine. But there are faster more convenient ones off 101N. read more

It's a car wash but it's definitely not brushless. It's going to put high speed whipping brushes all over your finish

The gas pump grabbed on to my credit card like a shark chomping a fish. It would not come out. Employee managed to yank it out and then to my horror, inserted it again in the same pump! Stuck again. Definition of crazy - when one does the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Told I must pay inside. When I asked for 10 gallons, she said I had to give them a dollar amount. Seriously, has she no basic math skills? I worry about the future of this country. Anyway, don't go there. read more

I came in and bought some Vuse. Upon opening the package (still in store) I found that it was rotten/expired. Staff was totally unapologetic and incredibly rude. Especially the young guy. They flatly refused to return/replace it. "Because it had been opened" - like how else would I find out it was rotten? We were regular, good customers; buying gas, water and such every few days. Not any more. Ownership needs to teach these people about customer service and how to treat regulars. read more

Slowest car wash on the planet. Get your gas and wash elsewhere unless you have 40 minutes to kill. Reaaallllllllyyyyyyyy slow. Takes FFFOOOORREEEEEEEEVVVVVVEEEERRRRRRRRRRR. It is brushless, but it has the swatting rubber strings, probably as bad for paint as brushes. read more

Irwin Shell Brushless Car Wash - I have been staring at the back of this car for 25 minutes!!!! Aaarrrggghhhh!!!! It wasn't even busy. - Gas Stations Near Me - San Rafael, California

I can't give zero stars. Went through car wash with an older land cruiser the machine bent my antenna and CRACKED my windshield and the "manager" basically told me to go f*** myself. Absolutely garbage and told I should have seen on the sign that my car can't go through. Doesn't say this anywhere. read more

Irwin Shell Brushless Car Wash - Crack in windshield - Gas Stations Near Me - San Rafael, California

See all

Wow- after waiting 1/2 hr the car wash was horrible- left soap all over the car and could not print a receipt. Old brushes, dirty brushes and a poor drying system. They need to invest in their wash system or close it down. read more

Does not do a good job, and very slow. I have a black car and it still looks dirty. Their automated wash takes upwards of 5 minutes. If you're 3 rd in line, be prepared to spend 20min for your wash. Then, when you next park your car, you will notice most of the dirt that was on there, still there! It's spring in Marin, and the car was washed 10 days previously, so we are not talking a big rainstorm or major filth accumulation, just dusting of the pollen and some light pollution removal. Other cheap automated machines do a much better job. Maybe their machine needs adjustment? read more

Claim to be open later but close at random times with clerks inside. I also needed a receipt due to using a corporate card, the pump printer said see clerks, when I walked up to the door it was locked with clerks inside, I yelled that I needed a receipt, the clerk mouthed "too bad". I'm planning on calling shell corporate to let them know what's going on. This is the second time with the same clerks who have refused to give me a receipt. read more

SOOOOO SLOOOW. Each car takes 10 minutes so if you are 4th in line prepare to wait a long time.

BEWARE OF CREDIT CARD THEFT!!!! DO NOT USE THIS STATION!!!! I used my CC there a few days ago and now my card has fraudulent charges!! It's the only place I've used this card and so it's definitely this gas station where its info was taken from!! DO NOT GO THERE!! I tried calling the station to let them know but they keep hanging up the phone after one ring. DO NOT USE THIS STATION!!!! read more

Would give zero stars if I could. The employees are absolutely unhelpful and unaccomodating, the car wash is low quality and has huge leaks of water flowing constantly, and you can't even connect the car wash purchase to lower the gas price. Absolutely absurd. Take your business ANYWHERE else. read more

Because, I when to buy the car wash and the machine got stuck, called their number and no one picked up. After 5 calls and different try's to fix the issue. I when in the store. I got a person by the name of Melvin who told my I'm checking it right now. Then showed up 15 minutes later to the car wash stall to check. Before agreen to their resolution I clearly stated to Melvin to give me my original receipt back he stated he will and at the end of the car wash gives me a different receipt. I had to parked and when in the store where Melvin and another older men. Started arguing with me like women in a car impound selling cars in the most ghetto and disturbing way. I had to call the cops for them to have some respect over me. He even estate it his personal macho opinion. I wasn't aware about their customer service but we are definitely making this vital. read more

I had been getting car washes for over a year with no problem. September 11 2021 I got a car wash and the brushes left marks all up and down the driver's side of the car. I went and showed the clerks right away. Drspite this they continued to let cars though the car wash. It cost me $200 to get it waxed the next day which luckily took out the scratches. I tried to talk to the manager for 2 weeks and got the runaround. I called corporate and they promised I would get an email within 10 days and nothing . I am filing a complaint with the BBB this week. This is not OK. read more

Pumps are poorly maintained and appear that the locks and seals have been tampered with. Displays are scratched, keypads are all worn. It appears no one maintains their equipment. Never encountered a station from a major brand in such disrepair. read more

Slowest car wash ever! There is nothing "express" about this place, each car takes 10 minutes and the dryer doesn't even work! Old broken down parts, nothing brushless about it, a dirty car is way better than ever coming here again. The management here is rude to boot, Told the customer In front of us, who's car was damaged, to F-off, not even a simple apology. I will not be visiting the Irwin Shell ever again. read more

Unbelievable. The car wash stopped as we were half way through and my car is full of water spots and soap stains. Went to the guy inside and he would not even offer me a refund or another shot to go through. Just absolute terrible customer service. Today is Sunday - SEP 10, 2017. read more

Lots of pumps here so never a wait. A tiny store. Bought a lottery ticket once and won a dollar after paying three. Have neve tried the car wash since I'm either on a motorcycle or have a kayak on my car. read more

Irwin Shell Brushless Car Wash - Gas Stations Near Me - San Rafael, California

$2.53 a gallon. For premium. So relieved, I even paid for $10 of gas for the lady at the pump next to me who forgot her purse. (But alas, no offer of a beej in the bathroom afterwards..) read more

Horrible car wash. Barely touched the back of my vehicle and it wasn't really even wet! Don't waste your time! Also, it isn't "brushless" as it says either. read more

Avoid this car wash if you want your car to really be clean. Not only it missed all the bug stains which I had to clean by hand afterwards, but the car was drenched wet when I got out. By the time I got home the car was full of dry water spots. Additionally, be aware that the wash takes 7-8 minutes per car. I was third in line and was there over 30 minutes! Definitely won't go back. read more

That feeling you get when you top off your tank because you really just want the car wash. Then you are the third car in line and two more get behind you and then there is mechanical failure. Yup I waited 45-50 minutes the other day to get my car washed. I only go to this gas station for the car wash when I'm to lazy to drive to Fairfax to do it myself. It's not " convenient" when it takes almost a hour. read more

Not a full serve wash- machine drop in quarters one car at a time - had to wait over 10 mins to just get started - this spot used to be manned with hand washers and a crew moving cars through and WAS much better then - sorry Shell this is a cheap fix and not customer focused read more

Avoid if possible. This car wash has a problem. It stripped out paint in the back of my car. There is no doubt that the brush created the problem. I was told that the owner of the car wash is not taking any responsibility. read more

First off i sat in line for 35 minutes, its the slowest car wash, I have ever seen. It did a terrible job, my car looked like a 5 year old washed it. Will never go back! read more

Just wanted to clarify that this was not the station I thought it was when I gave it a 1 star review. I have gone to the Irwin Shell and have had a positive experience. My negative experience was at the Northgate Shell. So sorry for confusion! read more

the good: car wash cleaned off the heavy water stains, bird droppings and dried mud. a lot of car washes have trouble with this. i noticed the wash ran the rinse cycle twice with generous amounts of water compared to other machine wash. the machine also ran 2 dry passes while your car is stationary. the bad: bumpers were not cleaned. it seems like the spinning brushes did not go low enough. overall i am satisfied. machine washes are not perfect but this one is one of the better ones out there. read more

Holy mother of God. I've been in my car for half an hour, and I'm fourth in line, and it will take at least another 20 to make it through this hellhole self service car wash. One car held it up for over 20 minutes because he couldn't get the code to work. read more

I don't know why they call it brushless if it uses brushes. Did a decent job cleaning up my car. But one main issue I had was the dryer not drying the car properly. The way the dryer is mounted allows water from the machine to drip onto your car after it dries it. For $11 for the ultimate wash, that isn't bad at all read more

I bought gas at this spot, and by accident I locked my keys in the car with my phone and wallet. I walked inside to ask if the guy at the front could look up AAA phone number for me because I had to pick up my child. The man looked at me and laughed at me. He said he wouldn't let me use the phone. He made me run around asking random people if they could call triple A. I mean I just bought fifty in gas! He was talking with his manager and laughing. I could see the manager laughing and shaking his hand. I got so stressed I had to flag down a cop. He was super awesome and called AAA for me. I cant believe how rude and inhuman the man who worked there on Friday the 7th 2017 in the afternoon. #Shell Seriously made me afraid and uncomfortable for no reason when all they could have done is help a neighbor out. I have lived here all my life and will never use this station again. I was almost in tears when the kind #SanRafael cop helped me out. Made the day a little brighter. read more

I waited in line for 1/2 hour during my lunch break today for a car wash. When it was time for my turn, I entered my code and drove in. NOTHING!! The car wash didn't turn on! I'm stuck in there with 4 other card behind me. I'm honking like crazy. I called the gas station on my cell phone, no answer! I have no choice but to exit because it would've been foolish to get out of my car in a car wash. I drove back to the station to speak with the manager. She is in the office ATTACHED to the car wash. She had to have heard me, there was NO CARWASH RUNNING. I told her what happened and she said, "well I was on my lunch break!" If you have someone stuck in a car wash and you are the manager, you get off your butt and do something!!!" I got my refund for the car wash, but what I really want is 1/2 hour of my life back and a clean car!! This manager needs a talking to by the owner. Nobody, miraculously had the phone number of the owner to give me and there's no website, contact info. So alas, no option but to vent on yelp. read more

This is probably the worst shell gas station I have EVER been to. I feel like shell should take their brand name away from this man because he tarnished it so badly. He has NO FOOD and the food there is expired or about to be. You ask to use the bathroom and he wants your ID even if you buy some of the only drinks and chips he has. His stuff is overpriced I would not ever go there and I hope none of you make this mistake too! read more

The car wash here did not clean my car. Too bad they switched to a fully automated car wash rather than having people pre-rinse and wash your car like it used to be. read more

Like the rest of the reviews, car wash is not very good, but what do you expect for $11. Was there yesterday, the keypad on pump 13 was acting up, had to hit the buttons multiple times when prompted before anything would take. Choose to buy the car wash, again buttons on the keypad, failed to work. Finally it allowed me to start pumping gas. Halfway through I realized it was charging me the full freight for the gas (you get a discount on gas when you purchase the car wash). After the pump finished I tried to get a receipt to print out, but it didn't. I went inside and explained the situation to the gentlemen behind the counter. He printed out a receipt and asked me if I wanted to buy a car wash and I said yes. He had no issues charging me for a car wash, but when I inquired at the discounted gas rate, he pointed to my receipt and said, "You clearly did not hit the right buttons, I can tell by looking at the receipt, you didn't buy a car wash." I again tried telling him that the keypad was not working properly. He again insisted that I did not hit the correct combination of keys, and would not adjust the purchase price of the gas. I don't have anything better to do than to walk into your station and try and cheat you out of $3.00. I asked for and got the manager's number. Lisa, thanks for not calling me back. Given what the rest of the reviews say and lack of responses, I take it the owners just really don't care. Plenty of other stations out there. read more