Photos & videos
Services Offered
Verified by Business
Auto detailing work
Engine cleaning
Tunnel wash
Car wash
Handwashing
Wheel and rim detailing
Review Highlights
“Chris was really helpful and made it super easy since the instructions are a little confusing and it's not clear.” in 9 reviews
“This is a DIY car wash place, I knew that going in from reading on yelp.” in 3 reviews
“The lady who called listened to my tall of woe and apologized and told me I would receive reimbursement in the mail.” in 5 reviews
About the Business
Cheap, Reliable, and Environmentally friendly way to wash your car!! Family owned and operated since 1972, we take tremendous pride in providing you a safe and efficient way to wash your car. Try one of 7 East Bay locations!! Water Conservation: Our high pressure wands use half the water of the typical gas station and tunnel automatic car wash, and a fraction of the water from your garden hose. Save Water Wash With Us All our sites have: High pressure wash hoses, super vacuums, and car cleaning supplies. We recently installed credit card machines at all sites for your convenience (except Pinole). Try one of our two "Value bays" for the most value for you money- $5 /10min wash BEST VALUE for your money in the Bay Area @ El Cerrito car wash on San Pablo ave, and Berkeley car wash on San Pablo
Location & Hours
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Overall rating
114 reviews
5 stars
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- Quyen T.Berkeley, CA8128171May 27, 2007
The hubby insisted on doing his own car wash - yes, the manual labor, at $3 for 3 minutes. He claims that the automatic car wash for $3 sucks because the bristles scratch your car. Anyway, let me tell you...because he didn't want to pay more than $3 for this car wash, it was the most intense, quickest car wash I have ever seen - 1 minute for the initial rinse, 1 minute for the suds, and another minute for the rinse and wax...we didn't bring towels because we're ghetto like that (You can pay another buck to borrow their towels to dry off your car). Yup, we drove off and let the car dry off on the freeway - au naturale. Minus one star for the sucky vaccums. Minus another star for how they charge you for everything. I'm sure they don't think that people will spend only 3 minutes on a car wash (a normal person simply can't do this as quickly as us)...but 3 minutes later, and voila! a totally quick ghetto carwash. It does it's job, but don't expect perfection...for that, go to Touchless in Berkeley, where I normally go sans hubby (believe me, I'm not going to sweat and get my pants wet just to save a few dollaroos).
Helpful 6Thanks 0Love this 9Oh no 0 - Barbie B.Walnut Creek, CA46May 6, 2024
Great location, always clean and the vacuums do an amazing job sucking my kids snacks off the carpet and seats!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Derek K.Berkeley, CA277814Sep 19, 2023
When a person really cares about doing a quality job, it shows. You should try Solar for your next car wash.
From the layout of the car wash, to the powerful vacuums (nothing worse than a weak vacuum), to the low water, solar machinery, Solar Car Wash reflects just how much these owners and their employees care about their customers.
To top it off, the company is veteran- and family-owned. 5 stars!Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - 359227128Mar 11, 2022Updated review
I came back a bunch of times for the self wash. It mostly works but the last few times I went, adding more time via the button didn't work and I had to get tokens. Wish the machine took quarters too (although I'm not sure if you can mix and match)
My one complaint is that the hoses are sometimes hard to swivel around so I end up tangling it up. Keep one hand up to move the hoses.
Tip: the water takes a bit to switch from soap to rinse water (need to empty the hose out)
Also, allow extra time for rinsing. I often get soap splashed everywhere even when I try to be directional.
Yelp check in got me 4 tokens, not 5 for a full free washHelpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0Oct 3, 2021Previous reviewReview is for the automatic car wash. I did not use the self service one this time and I did not interact with anyone.
My car was extremely dirty after months of not washing it. I decided to just go for the cheapest wash since the paint condition isn't the best to begin with and I just wanted the visible dirt off the car. The windows were also so dirty it was hard to see through the back.
I recall seeing a picture saying to wait until the car inside is done to pay so I waited. Then selected the $5 wash and paid. You then drive in until it tells you to stop and wait.
The wash brushes themselves seemed to be made of plastic. They looked rough and a bit dirty, so I definitely wouldn't take a nicer car here.
I know I paid for the cheapest so I wasn't expecting much, but the bristles completely missed my back window and barely got the trunk so there were steaks of dirt and my window still had all the streaks from beforehand. The wash also doesn't dry the car so make sure you bring towels.
Overall I would come back but only with old cars that you don't care too much about the paint. Also, you do get what you pay for so don't expect the best wash. - Bryan G.Oakland, CA025Dec 23, 2023Updated review
I decided to try SCW again despite a less than acceptable wash during the opening. Hoping the wash would have improved.
Sadly, it has not. My car came out wet and had to be hand dried. Also my rims came out dirty.
Please install better dryers and rim washer. Or explain why?Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Oct 2, 2023Previous reviewDryers didn't dry my car. Water used was muddy. Left spots. I appreciate that they use recycling water. Need more dryers.
- Leigh S.Berkeley, CA838Nov 29, 2023
Consistently a good value and equipment is reliable. The soap is soapy, the wax is waxy. DIY at its best
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Isaac G.West Berkeley, Berkeley, CA03Sep 21, 2023
Ive always had my gripes with this place but never been the type to leave a bad review. To start off the automatic car wash is terrible to say the least, it leaves the area between the hood and windshield untouched, uses very harsh rubber bristles that absolutely wreck your cars paint. Also does not have a drying cycle at all.
Today I came back to this place to use the self service wash and went to change dollars for their "solar coins" since the machines have never taken quarters only their coins, not to mention how expensive it is for how little time you get.
After exchanging 8 dollars for coins I went to begin my wash, shortly to discover they no longer accept their own coins! credit only! So how are they still selling their coins that are virtually useless at their own car wash? a complete scam. I will not be returning here no matter how many opportunities I've gave this place in the past.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Seth Z.
Sep 21, 2023
Hi,
The car wash still accepts tokens. Over each bay, there are signs that say if the bay is credit card only or token/credit card.
Sorry the auto does not have driers but the city won’t allow it due to noise.
All through and post covid in a world where the cost of everything is inflated, we have not raised our prices. We also kept all our employees fully paid through covid. At our sites, you can wash your car for less than a cup of coffee, gallon of milk, or 1 gal of gas. - Arda S.Gündoğan Belediyesi, Turkey1653Aug 1, 2023
The button for credit cards only adds minutes. I wanted 3 minutes and kept pushing thinking it would reset back to 1.. Nope just goes up and up till infinity. I was over charged $8.
Edit: to the business owner: so if someone presses it 1000 times you will charge $1000 for a car wash because that's what the sign says? How about putting one more button for 'cancel?'Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0Business owner information
Seth Z.
Aug 1, 2023
I don’t understand? The instructions at the swiper say, “each button press is $1 and adds 1 minute”. What you are describing is exactly how it is supposed to work.
- Brittany L.Oakland, CA645393Aug 3, 2021
When someone is having a really bad day and they ask the attendant working there to please just leave them alone. Even tho they are trying to help. I get it thank you for trying to help but when someone is on the verge of tears and literally asks the attendant to leave them alone and they proceed to enter your personal space takes your card out of your hand and continues to talk to you is not help,
Leave me ALONE if I've asked you many times. Idgf if I need help technically I'll figure it out on my own as I told this man.
He works here or owns it. Be completely invades your personal space and still is following me to "watch" my car now in the car wash area.
Dude leave me ALONE
And as I sit here waiting to get my car washed he's literally invading every woman's space and talks to them whether they like it or not.
I get you work here bro but leave women alone unless they ask you for your help. And don't TAKE THEIR PERSONAL ITEMS OUT OF THEIR HANDS.
I added a photo of him.
I haven't seen him invade a single dudes space.
Won't be coming back even tho this is my favorite spot.
And now another woman pulled up and he walks to her car and sits on his phone right next to her car.
You have your blue truck here please go sit in your blue truck until someone needs actual help.
Very uncomfortableHelpful 6Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Joseph P.Pittsburg, CA072Oct 8, 2023
This location has an exchange for tokens from cash but then does not allow you to use tokens. Instead says credit card only but all the card readers do not work. I'll stick to the location in El Cerrito. Not sure how they make money.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Seth Z.
Oct 8, 2023
The far right bay and the vacuums across from it all accept tokens. The signs above the bay indicate if it is a token/credit card bay
We check all our credit card systems regularly. If you had an issue with one it would have been helpful to just let us know.