STAR Station Smog Check
If your renewal notice says you need a STAR station smog check, don't worry: it is a California Smog Check done at a shop that meets higher performance standards set by the state. The DMV renewal notice tells you if your car must use one. If so, it will read "Smog Certification Required at a STAR station."
Why was my car routed to a STAR station?
A STAR station has met the state's higher standards and can inspect any vehicle, even ones that pollute a lot. SmogTips lists 3 main reasons a car gets routed to one:
- It failed an earlier smog test with very high readings. These are called gross polluters.
- It is in a group the state expects to fail more often, called a High Emitter Profile vehicle.
- It was picked at random from registered vehicles.
A STAR notice does not always mean your car has a problem. Thanks to that random sample, even a well kept car can be sent there.
Test-only and test-and-repair STAR stations
There are 2 kinds of STAR stations, and a STAR-directed car may use either. A test-only station does the Smog Check but does not fix emissions problems. A test-and-repair station can do the test and the emissions repairs.
STAR certification is optional for shops, so not every smog station near you will have it.
What to bring to the smog check
If you have your DMV registration renewal notice, bring it, since the station uses it to confirm your vehicle information. Before any work begins, the shop has to give you a price estimate, and the test cannot start until you say yes.
Plan on the test taking roughly 30 minutes. After a pass, the certificate goes to the DMV electronically, so you do not need to turn it in yourself. The certificate stays good for 90 days.
How to get the car ready
If the check engine light is on, the car will fail, so have that looked at first. RepairPal says an emissions diagnosis averages about $61 to $90.
If the battery was disconnected or replaced not long ago, drive as usual for a week or two before testing. The car needs drive time to finish its self-checks, called readiness monitors, after a battery change. For a gas car from 2000 or newer, all of these self-checks need to be finished except the fuel vapor one, so a short wait now can save you a failed test.
STAR smog check cost
Smog Check prices vary by shop and are not set by the state. On top of that, every station adds the state's $8.25 certificate fee. It's worth calling a couple of shops to compare.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shop's charge for the STAR check (SmogTips estimate) | $29.95 to $59.95 |
| State certificate fee | $8.25 |
How to find a STAR station near you
The DMV smog inspection page sends you to the Bureau of Automotive Repair's Auto Shop Locator. Enter your area and look for shops marked STAR.
Common questions
How is a STAR smog check different from a regular one?
The difference is the shop: a STAR station has met the Bureau of Automotive Repair's tougher performance standards, and it can inspect any car, including ones that pollute heavily. Assembly Bill 2289 created the program in 2010. It started on January 1, 2013, and took the place of the older Gold Shield program.
Does California help pay if my car fails smog?
The Bureau of Automotive Repair offers a Consumer Assistance Program. If you qualify, the program offers financial help for emissions repairs or for taking your car permanently off the road. The Bureau's page gives the amounts and eligibility rules. California also offers a one-time repair cost waiver that requires at least $650 in emissions repairs at a licensed smog check station.
What happens after a failed STAR test?
At a test-and-repair station, that shop can quote and handle the fixes. A test-only station can't do emissions repairs, so you'd take the car to another shop, and if money is tight, the Consumer Assistance Program may help pay for them.