My wife took our Toyota Sienna there for their standard service safety inspection. When she came home, she told me the vehicle was acting funny because the doors would malfunction. Being a DIYer for our vehicles I popped the hood and immediately noticed the battery was out of place - the wing nut that secures the hold-down bar / J-hook was missing so the battery slid around freely. For those who know what I'm talking about, in order for this to happen the wing nut / washer has to be deliberately loosened with a socket wrench on to remove - it's not something that comes loose and pops off easily. Not pointing fingers, but I have concerns for sure. 1 - why does the battery hold down bar need to be tampered with? 2 - I torqued that bolt to OEM standards + installed the battery myself a few weeks before and then checked on it personally just to make sure things were good a few days before this safety inspection, so definitely didn't come off on its own. 3 - if this was an honest mistake, again, what are you doing tampering with the battery hold down bar for a safety inspection? Did you think it would disconnect before my wife drove off so you could score extra $$$ on maintenance repairs? While the service and price here are comparable to other gas stations in the area, this place certainly has lost my trust - I will be steering well clear of this place; don't want them under the hood for anything and have told everyone in my DIY crew about it. read more

I use apps for everything these days. Even to pay. I ran off and forgot my wallet this morning. I wanted to get some gas and this was the closet station. I wanted to use their car wash as it is now open consistently. So I found out about the Shell app. I downloaded it. Entered a virtual card into the wallet of that app that had a spending limit on it. My car never holds more than $40 even when close to empty even with today's high gas prices. So I set up the payment in the app for $60 as the maximum purchase (again I wanted to get the $13 car wash I think it is). It said there was a problem. I lowered the max purchase in the Shell app to $40. Again it said there was a problem. So I just left as I had enough gas to get back home even though it was below a quarter of a tank and who knows what accident and road construction would have be sitting for 30 minutes or longer. I received texts saying that Shell pinged my purchased limit card for $100 each of the two times I tried the Shell app at the station which would require me to increase the max purchase for that card to use it virtually. So why ask for your max purchase if you are going to preauth for $100? Why not just say we are going to preauth for $100 no matter what? Someone at Shell needs to go to mgmt school. Too many mgmt issues over the last year read more

This Shell Station is located in the Virginia Gateway retail complex in Gainesville, VA: http://www.gatewayshellandservicecenter.com This location used to be a Citgo station. This will be the third time I have written a review for this business - and someone at Yelp keeps changing it to Citgo! Are you paying attention Yelp? STOP IT! This Shell offers gas obviously, but they also do auto repairs, oil changes, inspections, and they have a full convenience store, including a full walk-in humidor for you cigar fans! I gas up here periodically using my Giant gas points! read more

Gateway Shell & Service Center - Gas Stations Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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I went to this gas station on 1/22/21 around 3:30pm. Walked in after pumping gas and got a can drink. As I was 2nd in line waiting to check out, I was on the phone (talking in Spanish). I had a white gentlemen in front of me (checking out) and I notice he was having a pleasant conversation with the cashier. Cashier said thanks, see you later, take care, etc... when it was my turn I said " hey how are you"... no reply. As I gave him the can to scan, he scans it and places it upside down on the counter and slides it back to me (aka the rim that goes on your mouth to drink is touching and sliding across the dirty counter top). I didn't say anything, just simply observed. I finished the transaction and said "thanks" and once again no reply. I stepped to the side to do some Lotto (mega millions was at 1 Billion). In the meantime, 2 more customers came in (one white lady and one middle eastern man). Cashier once again was super nice to the white lady (smiling, joking around, very pleasant, smiling) and then when the middle eastern man approached the counter,the cashier quickly changed his demeanor and was the complete opposite. Extremely rude, unnecessary comments, and answering back with an attitude. This is the moment I realized and puzzled together all the pieces and realized this guy is a racist. I don't know his name, I know he's a white guy, bald, light colored eyes. It's bc of people like this that this country and the world is a mess! Mind you I speak Spanish but I'm Italian descent (aka I look white). So it's without a doubt in my mind this guy is a racist. Both the middle eastern gentle and I were courteous and respectful and it was unfortunately not reciprocated to us but it was for the other 2 white people that came into the store. This type of ignorance should not be tolerated and it's unnecessary. I will be filing a complaint with shell as well. Just wanted to share on here I'm case anyone else has had a similar incident. read more

Polite, and clean place. I have been getting my safety inspections here for years, and had some work done on my car as well. I would recommend this local shop to anyone looking for an honest mechanic. read more

The end of 2022 I took my 3 vehicles for their safety inspections and everyone has been friendly and courteous. The technicians have been awesome. Nice store with a Cashier with a great attitude and wonderful smile. I will continue to bring my vehicles for service, fuel and goodies from the store. read more

This Shell station was extremely helpful fixing a tire that had picked up a screw. They got me right in and not only fixed my tire but scanned the tire sensors and identified a weak battery in one of my sensors. Super nice and so thankful that they got us taken of on New Years Eve. read more

Mechanics are unnecessarily rude and have no courtesy. Absolute jerks. Go to VA Tire and Auto instead. read more

One star because I can't give zero. Don't bother. Drive right past. Go to Piedmont. The first time I went here last year they failed my inspection because my tail light was out, and quoted me $250 to replace the LED assembly. I went to the dealer and it cost me $90. My wife went here in a pinch this year, and they failed the inspection because of the tires and brakes. They quoted her $500. I took it to Piedmont an they said there's nothing wrong with the tires and quoted me $350 for the brakes. This place is a joke and will only tip you off. read more

I usually call ahead and make an appointment but thought I'd take a chance. Dale worked me in for service and inspection and I was back on the road in a reasonably short time. They even gave me a ride to and from another nearby appointment! Excellent customer service. read more

I've been taking my car here for inspections for State & emissions for about 10 years! Each time I get amazingly fast & courteous service. It's the gem of Gainesville/Haymarket for auto service of this nature. I am thankful for their commitment to providing convenience and thorough care! read more

This place is the absolute worst. My car started overheating and they were the nearest place I could stop. We pulled up at 12:15, and they refused to even look at my car because they were closing. Their sign clearly says they close at 1. Now, my car won't start, it's not even 1, and they won't help. Updated to add that the mechanic decided to chase me down at the shop I finally was able to get my car looked at to sarcastically "thank" me for my review and then to threaten I suggest you stay far away from this station! read more

Dale is amazing and if I could give 10 stars I would. The Shell Station has a great staff always friendly and polite. Dale is the most honest and trusty worthy mechanic I have ever had work on our cars. He explains what you need to get and why and what can wait until the next visit. Dale always has my family safety in mind. The car detailing is 10 stars as well. They make the cars look like show room new. The car shines both inside and out. Neighbors have said they like our new car. For your safety and peace of mind take your car to Dale at Shell you will be happy you did. Dake makes repairs affordable while maintaining quality. Bill G read more

My boyfriend took my car to get my emissions and inspection done. We've never been to this one before so he wasn't sure where to go. He went up to the bay to tell one of the workers what he needed done. The guy said "okay..?" Like he didn't care. So my boyfriend was like where do I go? Where should I wait since I've never been here before. And the dudes response, "see that over there? (Points to the side of the road where apparently the line was) Thats a line. Behind there where they've all been waiting" in the RUDEST way possible. That's not necessary. And definitely NOT how you treat a customer. Needless to say, we went to VA Tire & Auto. Never coming back to this station again. For anything. read more

Bunch of rude immature asshole mechanics, they have a bad attitude won't even let you talk and explain yourself and then if you disagree with them they tell you to "get the hell out of here".... this place sucks ass and would definitely recommend somewhere else, being rude to customers because your frustrated on someone else's car.. unacceptable, their work is cheap and and their communication skills are even cheaper. No wonder it's family owned, bunch of dickheads. read more

They installed a broken part/glass on my car, charged me full price, after i noticed and went back (drove the car only 3.5 miles to my house) they denied and want to convince me that i broke it, such a rip off. read more

Overpriced gas, broken down car wash and the worse customer service you can get. It may be convenient but I'll drive a mile into Gainesville to get better quality, better gas prices and friendly customer service read more

MAJOR CAR WASH PROBLEMS Let me preface this review: I've been going to this gas station for about 10 YEARS, since they were a CITGO station. I've had state inspections (both safety and emissions), oil changes, tires plugged, and various car repairs done here. I've bought MANY gallons of gas here. Never any real problems before today. Today, I wanted a car wash. I paid for the Ultimate car wash ($13). The machine would not give me a receipt. Then I pulled into the wash and the washer stopped mid-cycle. There was no drying and no wax cycle. I went into the store to talk to the guy behind the register. He's worked at this store for as long as I've been going there. I told him that there was a problem with the car wash and he just abruptly told me "no problem with car wash." I told him about the dryer not working and he said that there had never been a dryer?!? This statement is COMPLETELY FALSE. MANAGER/OWNER: IF YOU'RE READING THIS, KNOW THAT YOUR STORE HAS SOME SERIOUS CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES THAT ARE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN YOUR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I TRIED TO WORK OUT THE ISSUE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEE, BUT HE FALSELY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH YOUR CAR WASH. AVOID THIS PLACE IF YOU ATTACH ANY VALUE TO YOUR MONEY. read more

I have had multiple vehicles taken to Gateway Shell and have got wonderful experience from folks here.I have had a few emergencies and Dale has always gone out of his way to accommodate me even though they were super busy.They have a waiting area and a very super clean store with gazillion tempting snacks/drinks :-) My last repair he did not even charge me but fixed the issue ,How cool is that, Also gave me ride to and from home. Ask for Dale , He will give an honest assessment of what needs to be done. read more

This place is great, the only place my husband takes our cars. We have even been in a pinch and they have worked us in. Very honest people and pricing is fair. We have never had any issues. It's hard to find a honest mechanic and they have never tried to sell us anything we didn't need. It is also not a hard sale, they tell you up front what the pricing entails. Great place. read more

If zero was an option, this is what I'd rate them. They have no idea what state laws are related to state inspections. I will never use this location again. STAY AWAY! read more

False advertising. Sign said change off every gallon of gas and did not receive at pump. Manager didn't know how to work new system to credit me back. Out of date car wash and gas is way over priced! read more

False advertising! I bought a car wash advertised with an air dry. Didn't get one, even though the sign said a power dry is available on all washes. Went inside to complain and get some of my money back. Pointed to the price list which clearly showed a power dry with each wash. The attendant at Gateway Shell said the car wash isn't even equipped with a dryer! Then the vacuum didn't even work, another $1.25 down the drain. We used to be regular customers, especially for car repairs and inspections. But now... never darkening this gas station's door again. read more

If I could I would give them negative 10 . Very bad car wash place . Don't waste your money. Nothing is good about this place. Car wash is a joke and they r ripping people off . No dryer and it doesn't cycle through soap n wax n stuff . Very very bad .. Don't go there . Please save your hard earned money !!! read more

Gateway Shell & Service Center - This's the tire after the car wash .. What a joke - Gas Stations Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

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I hate having to do this because these guys perform good work and Dale is a very nice guy, but the reason I am giving two stars is due to the gross inaccuracy on estimates given. Earlier this year I took my 2005 Jeep Liberty in to get the window regulator replaced. I was quoted at a price of $300-350, and it ended up costing closer to $450 and I didn't even get a phone call about it. It wasn't a huge deal, but still considerably off in price. Presently, I have a 2014 Chrysler Town & Country that is in need of an Oil Level Sensor/Switch replacement. I called Dale at Gateway Shell and he told me that it would run me about $30-40 in parts, and about $100 for the labor. Mind you, I already had the OEM scan completed on my own that indicated the part needed to be replaced. I received a call this afternoon that my vehicle (although was left there the night before) was not ready and would need to be kept another day. On top of that, the labor was going to be considerably more and now the part cost was going to be closer to $100. I can understand the cost of the labor going up, but I don't quite get how the parts would end up running an extra $60-70 on top of that. Now, for an oil level sensor/switch the cost is going to run me $328.00, which is absolutely ridiculous. I called Goodyear and another local shop, and I received a quote of $229. I only called them first because Goodyear is known a the barometer for high prices. I was very surprised that Gateway Shell came in at $100 higher than them. I then called two more shops locally who quoted me at price of $180 and $205. I even explained to them that this particular vehicle may take longer to access the switch, and they fully understood that. Over the past 5 years, I've had Gateway Shell perform multiple oil changes, state inspections, emission tests, had window regulators replaced, various maintenance work and even had a mouse removed from the A/C fan housing last summer. Each time, they did excellent work. Although the guys at Gateway Shell perform quality work tomorrow will be without question the last day I do business or even fill up my gas tank there (I fill up at least 2 cars a week there). I could be wrong, but the past few times I've done business with them it almost feels if they are underestimating the cost of the repair just to get the business through the front door. Hopefully that is not the case, but at this point it is hard to believe otherwise. read more

I have had difficulty finding a fair price and quick turnaround for service repairs on my Durango, now that it's getting older. I asked friends for referrals and I'm so glad I did. The Service Station here does an amazing job. Their owner, Dale, and his people in the shop are wonderful. Where Other shops, individuals and my dealership have really taken advantage of let me down, Dale does not. He is thorough, doesn't immediately hop to the most expensive solution and completes work quickly when you coordinate in advance. I am so glad I found him and his team. Also: Bonus - The bathrooms really are some of the cleanest in town. Thanks for all you do at this station! - Steph read more

Been going here for years. Dale always greats us and takes care of our vehicle needs. He goes out of his way to help. Gives honest pricing. Top notch. Supports Military, Law Enforcement and First Responders. Won't take my vehicles anywhere else read more

This station deserves the highest rating because the staff is professional and courteous. The quality of the work is first-class!

Ive been filling up my car here for almost 3 years now, the ladies in the morning are some of the nicest people you will ever meet! The owner Dale has come through for me on multiple occasions, my wifes car died and he was kind enough to lend me a jump box to go get it started! Thanks for everything! read more

Took my car in for an inspection. Rick told me two problems.... So I took care of it. I go back to get it reinspected by another guy at the same location but on a weekend and he gives me a laundry list of stuff. I go in and speak with the "manager" (heavy set white male always wearing shorts walking around never appears to be working) and he tells me to bring the car another day because we are done looking at cars and they are about to close. Then he walks away from me. Yeah I'm really coming back...... Since I've lived in Gainesville I always thought this place was shady and they confirmed my suspicions. If the world was ending and this was the last functioning gas station on earth I wouldn't step foot in this place and give them another cent! Clowns.... read more

Beware! DO NOT get your safety inspection here. Failed my daughters Volvo for rear brakes. Went to change pads and they looked almost new. Rotors were not new but still in good condition. read more

Gateway Shell & Service Center - Gas Stations Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

A1 shop and store. Get your car repaired and while you're waiting light up a cigar from the fully stocked humidor.

Horrible. I do Not recommended taking your vehicle here. to I don't like giving bad reviews, but people need to know. I paid way too much for 4 new tires (double there worth and over charged on labor) and an alignment. After receiving new tires and alignment my car shimmied and shook because 2 of the tires did not have the weights o them, I looked. I took it back, no apology, had it redone and the car still drove poorlyp. I took it back again and they adjusted the alignment apparently (still no apology). The car still drove bad; shimmied and shook. I finally took my car to the dealership to learn the tires were the bottom of the barrel brand that don't last long and they were worth half of what I paid, the tires were off balance, and the alignment was completely off. I had to pay for 4 new tires and to have the alignment done again. I was not pleased at all and extremely disappointed in their work. I will never go there again. Now I have 4 crappy tires that I need to try and sell. read more

My mom's car ran out of gas last month and after it was filled again it wouldn't start. It happened to be next to the Gateway Citgo so we left it with them. They told her it would be about $2000 to fix and my mother asked them specifically if they thought it was "worth" fixing since it was an older car and they said "oh yes, this car is worth a lot". A few days later, and $2000+, they got it running (although it never felt quite 'normal' again) and she brought it home. A week later it began losing buckets of gas. We drove it back there immediately and they put it on a lift and said "oh, this thing is completely rusted out and not safe to drive and you should junk it." We asked the obvious question of "why didn't you tell us this last week before we spent $2000 to fix it!??" and they said "we never actually put it on the lift so we didn't see this rust". Needless to say my 71 year old mother is out $2000, has a car that doesn't run and is shopping for an honest mechanic. read more

This is a great family owned station. They did a great job fixin my jeep at agood price. Staff was friendly and helped me out.

AVOID!!!!! I got a car wash and drove over to Target. Noticed that the car wash did not do a good job, then I immediately called Gateway Shell asking if I could drive back over and get a refund or another wash. He said yes, I drove back over, and the attendant immediately started to yell at me pretty much saying I was a liar. Their website says "Customer Service is our Priority" I would say this is far from the truth! read more

The gas prices at this Shell are generally $.20 higher than the surrounding and nearby stations. Then, they charge you for AIR! Then, while trying to pay/finish your transaction, their pumps harass you into purchasing something else...carwash, etc. The Wawa less than 1/2 mile down South Hwy 29 has FREE AIR...and less expensive gas! read more

The 2 stars is mainly for the car wash and the experience I had with the guy (who's name I did not get) working inside this evening (Thursday). My car wash code did not work, I called inside to let him know, he told me he'd have to check to be sure is was not a used code, which it was not! He told me it showed as used on the day the gas was purchased. I did not use it then, nor did anyone else! we went back and fourth a bit as he told me what the computer said. Long story short, I called the owner, Dale, (as I was quite annoyed because I was not wrong on this) and he told me the next time I come in I should ask for him to receive the car wash I was cheated out of. Those are my words not his. He actually sounded quite annoyed and did not even say goodbye, just hung up. That car wash DOES not accept codes that are not used the day of the purchase! This has been an issued more then once with my husband and myself. I've gotten the washes there because it's convenient and it works well (for cleaning that is). I certainly will not now, especially after this experience! Gateway Shell really should get this issue fixed if they care at all about their customers, which I kinda doubt but that's just me! Sorry it's such a long review. This is a short version of what I really wanted to post. read more

Beware. Do not get your safety inspection here just like some of the reviews in here. They tried saying that I had two bad lower ball joints in bad condition and needed to be replace and the manager quoted me $580+ to fix it. I said no way and took it home to check the ball joints and they were in good condition and knew a mechanic and he said I don't see any problem with your lower ball joints. Never again will I go back to this service station. Rip offs and gas price is at least 20 cents higher than anybody!!! How many others are getting scammed is my question??? read more

This car wash is the best around. The guys work their butts off and it shows in the car when you get it back!! My car is always sparkly and shiny. They take their time to make sure you are completely satisfied. To leave a tip you need cash. While you wait they have a table and TV inside the service station. I have had 2 small children in here several times and the Shell employee is always really sweet and changes the channel to a kid station and then I buy a juice box and crackers from the store. This is the only place to get your car washed in the Haymarket, Gainesville, Manassas area in my opinion. read more