Every licensed station can perform a standard Smog Check. But only a STAR-certified station can issue a certificate of compliance to a vehicle the DMV has specifically directed to a STAR station. A regular station simply can’t close out those cases — if you take a directed vehicle there, you’ll be sent somewhere like us to finish the job.
How do you know if you’re affected? Check your DMV registration renewal notice. If it includes wording such as “this vehicle must be inspected at a STAR station,” that’s your cue. Bring the notice in and we’ll take care of exactly what the state is asking for — no guesswork, no second stop.
The STAR program exists to put the state’s toughest emissions cases with the stations it monitors most closely, which is why the certification is a genuine mark of consistent, accurate testing. It costs you nothing extra here: a STAR smog is the same $49.75 for most 2000-and-newer cars. When you pass, we e-file the certificate and can even complete your DMV registration on the spot. If you don’t pass, our pass-your-smog guide walks you through what’s next, and you can always grab the $49.75 coupon before you come in.