Welcome to San Pablo Smog – Oakland’s premier STAR Test Only Smog
Station. We are open Monday through Saturday, and can smog any
vehicle currently on the road, including diesels and RVs.
If you ever wondered what is the difference between a regular smog
station and a STAR smog station, wonder no more. STAR certified smog
station is simply a smog station that conforms to the high standards
established by the Bureau of Automotive Repairs (BAR). There are two
kinds of Oakland STAR stations: STAR Test Only smog stations and STAR

Both types of STAR stations can perform both regular smog checks as
well as STAR smog checks. The difference is that the STAR Test Only
station performs smog checks, but does not do any repairs.
STAR Test & Repair stations can do smog test, and if your vehicle fails
the test, they can perform repairs as well.

At our STAR Test Only facility we only do one thing – smog test vehicles.
We are fast and through, and we are totally objective – your vehicle
either passes or fails. There is no financial incentive for us to fail a
vehicle. We don’t do repairs, so we cannot benefit from a vehicle failing
a smog check.
So when your vehicle requires a smog check – whether regular or
START check – give us a call or simply come and get your vehicle tested.

Why would your vehicle be selected for a STAR smog test?

California uses a few strategies to decide which vehicles will need to
undergo a smog check at a STAR smog station:
1) A random sample of all vehicles registered in California and being
driven on public roadways – some vehicles will be randomly
selected to go to a STAR station.
2) Gross polluters – vehicles which have failed a previous smog
inspection with very high emission readings
3) High Emitter Profile vehicles. These vehicles have been
determined by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as having a high
probability of failing a smog inspection.

So if you receive a notice that your vehicle is to undergo a STAR smog
check, no need to be alarmed. You can go to any STAR smog station,
though naturally we think that your best choice is to visit San Pablo
Smog – we are conveniently located where Oakland, Emeryville and
Berkeley meet, so anyone from these three cities can easily reach our
STAR smog test facility and get their car tested. We are open 6 days a
week for your convenience. Our friendly staff is ready to serve you.