Price
Call for price
Hours
Open Mon–Fri
Station type
Test Only
Appointments
Walk-ins welcome
Hours
- Monday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Good to know
Languages
English
Payment
Cash, Credit Card
What to expect at High Desert Smog
High Desert Smog is licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as a Test Only smog station in Alturas. It runs the inspection and issues the certificate but does no repairs. It is not STAR certified, so if your DMV renewal notice says "STAR Station Required" you will need a different station.
Walk-ins are welcome. Most smog checks take 15 to 30 minutes, and most visits are closer to 20.
What to bring
Your registration or DMV renewal notice
It says whether the car needs a STAR station.
The car, with the check engine light off
On a 2000-or-newer car, a lit check engine light fails the test on its own.
A way to pay
The $8.25 state certificate is paid on top of the test when the car passes, unless the station's price or coupon includes it.
What if I fail?
- High Desert Smog doesn't do repairs, so the car goes to a repair shop and comes back for the retest.
- Each station sets its own retest price, so ask before the first test.
- BAR's Consumer Assistance Program pays up to $1,450 toward emissions repairs for income-eligible owners.
38851 CA-299, Alturas, CA 96101
Get directions →Hours
- Monday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Other stations near High Desert Smog
Questions about High Desert Smog
High Desert Smog is open Monday 8 AM to 5 PM; Tuesday 8 AM to 5 PM; Wednesday 8 AM to 5 PM; Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM; Friday 8 AM to 5 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so call ahead if you are cutting it close.
High Desert Smog accepts Cash, Credit Card.
High Desert Smog has held a BAR smog license since 2026. You can verify the license status at bar.ca.gov.
High Desert Smog has not published a price on SmogCheckDeals. The Bureau of Automotive Repair puts the statewide average at $69.16 as of August 2026, about $65 for a 2000-or-newer vehicle and $73 for 1999-or-older, plus the $8.25 certificate fee. Call (530) 708-2912 for a quote.
High Desert Smog does not take online bookings here, but walk-ins are welcome. Call (530) 708-2912 to check the wait.
Staff at High Desert Smog speak English.
The closest alternative in Alturas is Straub's Smog (1.8 mi). It is listed further up this page with its rating and hours.
How we get this data: BAR licenses and STAR status, Google hours and ratings, coupons published by the station.
Verify this station’s license and STAR standing at bar.ca.gov.
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BAR field office: Sacramento • Licensed since 2026