Every certified STAR station in California, one search away

DMV renewal notice says STAR? Enter your ZIP or city — or tap once for your location — and see every certified STAR station near you, sorted by distance.

3,153 certified STAR stations statewide Straight from state STAR program recordsSorted by distance — closest firstNo signup — tap to call
8,897 Google reviews across the featured network stations
Enter a California ZIP code or city — or use your location — to see every STAR station near you, sorted by distance.

Browse by city

Anaheim Bakersfield Berkeley Burbank Carlsbad Chino Chula Vista Clovis Compton Concord Corona Costa Mesa Daly City Downey El Cajon El Monte Elk Grove Encinitas Escondido Fontana Fremont Fresno Fullerton Garden Grove Glendale Hawthorne Hayward Hemet Hesperia Huntington Beach Indio Inglewood Irvine La Mesa Lancaster Long Beach Los Angeles Manteca Menifee Merced Modesto Moreno Valley Murrieta National City Norwalk Oakland Oceanside Ontario Orange Oxnard Palm Springs Palmdale Pasadena Pomona Poway Rancho Cucamonga Redding Redlands Riverside Roseville Sacramento Salinas San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Marcos San Mateo Santa Ana Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Clarita Santa Rosa Simi Valley Stockton Sunnyvale Temecula Thousand Oaks Torrance Tracy Tulare Turlock Vallejo Van Nuys Ventura Victorville Visalia Vista West Covina Westminster Whittier All cities →

Straight answers, before you search

What does STAR smog check mean?

STAR is BAR's higher-standard certification.

  • Stations meet stricter equipment requirements
  • Directed vehicles must use STAR
  • Look for the STAR seal at the station

Per BAR (bar.ca.gov/smog-check).

How much does a smog check cost in California?

Typical range $30-$90.

  • $8.25 certificate fee separate
  • Diesel/hybrid often higher

Per BAR (California Bureau of Automotive Repair).

Does a STAR smog check cost more than regular?

Not automatically — BAR doesn't set a price difference between STAR and regular stations. Each shop posts its own price.

  • STAR and non-STAR stations both set their own posted prices — there's no state-mandated STAR markup
  • Some vehicles are required by your DMV renewal notice to test at a STAR station, regardless of price
  • See our posted price on-site or on our services page

Prices are set per station, not by BAR — see our posted price for the exact cost.

How often do I need a smog check in California?

Every two years for most vehicles.

  • At sale or transfer
  • First 8 years exempt for new cars
  • Out-of-state imports need one

Per California DMV registration rules.

How many times can I retest after failing?

Unlimited retests allowed.

  • Must pay inspection fee each time
  • No certificate fee until pass
  • CAP can help with repair costs

Per BAR Consumer Assistance Program guidelines.

What is a STAR station?

STAR stations are smog check stations certified by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to meet higher performance standards. If your DMV renewal notice says your vehicle requires a smog check at a STAR station, every station listed here qualifies.

How this works

Search by ZIP code, city name, or your location to see certified STAR stations near you, sorted by distance, with phone numbers and one-tap directions in Apple Maps or Google Maps.