Everything you need to know before your visit to Davis Smog — no appointment required.
A smog check at Davis Smog costs $66.75 for the test, plus an $8.25 state certificate fee — a total of $75.00 for most 2000 model year and newer cars and light trucks.
We also offer a $10 coupon for 1996 and newer vehicles, bringing the total to just $65.00. You can show the coupon on our website — no printout needed.
Older vehicles (1999 and earlier) and full-size vans and trucks may cost more. Call us at (530) 756-6363 for a quote.
No appointment needed. Walk-ins are always welcome at Davis Smog. Just drive in during our hours:
We're open 7 days a week. The best times to avoid any wait are weekday mornings or early afternoon.
Most smog checks take 15–20 minutes from start to finish. We have free Wi-Fi in the waiting area if you need to pass the time. On busier days it may take a bit longer, but we work efficiently to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Just bring your vehicle. If you have your DMV renewal notice, bring it — but it's not required. We can look up your vehicle in the state system.
Pro tip: Drive your vehicle for at least 20–30 minutes before your visit so the engine is fully warmed up. A warm engine produces more accurate emissions readings and is more likely to pass.
Also make sure the Check Engine light is not on — a vehicle with an active Check Engine light will automatically fail the smog inspection.
A STAR Certified station is licensed by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to perform smog inspections to the highest state standard, using more sophisticated equipment and technician training.
A test-only station, like Davis Smog, is prohibited by law from performing any repair services. This matters for one big reason: we have zero financial incentive to fail your car. At shops that do both testing and repairs, there's a built-in conflict of interest. We don't have that problem.
Some vehicles are required by the DMV to be tested at a STAR station — including high-emitter vehicles, gross polluters, and vehicles flagged by the DMV. If your DMV notice says "STAR station required," we're the right place to go.
If your vehicle fails, we'll give you a detailed test report showing exactly which emissions readings were out of spec. You'll need to take the car to a repair shop to fix the problem — since we're test-only, we can't do repairs ourselves.
Once your vehicle is repaired, come back to Davis Smog and we'll retest for free. If the repairs don't fix the problem, you may be eligible for California's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP), which provides financial help for repairs or a retirement incentive.
Yes. We transmit your test results and certificate directly to the DMV electronically the same day. You don't need to mail anything or bring a paper certificate anywhere.
By the time you get home, the DMV already has your smog certificate on file. You can then renew your registration online at dmv.ca.gov, by mail, or in person.
Yes to all three:
If you're unsure whether your specific vehicle qualifies, just call us at (530) 756-6363.
We're at 2010 F Street, Davis, CA 95616 — the last bay of the Li'l Bears self-serve car wash building, at the corner of F Street and Covell Boulevard.
Drive all the way to the back of the parking lot. We're in the far bay of the car wash structure. Look for our sign.
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