What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in Camarillo?

A STAR station is one the Bureau of Automotive Repair has certified to higher performance standards. You need one only when your DMV renewal notice says “Smog Certification Required at a STAR station”, or after a gross polluter fail. Camarillo has 6 STAR certified smog check stations: 1 test-only and 5 test-and-repair, out of 10 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in Camarillo has a priced coupon listed right now. In BAR’s September 2026 report, STAR test-only stations averaged $63.30 and STAR test-and-repair stations $71.80, plus the $8.25 certificate.

Updated

STAR smog check stations in Camarillo

Why you were directed to a STAR station

Your DMV renewal notice says “Smog Certification Required at a STAR station” for one of two reasons. BAR’s statistical profile picked the car as more likely than others to fail, or it was one of the 2% BAR selects at random in Enhanced areas to evaluate the program (BAR Smog Check Reference Guide). A car that failed as a gross polluter also needs a STAR station. Any STAR station below can certify it; a regular station can’t. More in what a STAR smog check is.

Does a STAR smog check cost more?

At test-only stations, yes on average. At test-and-repair stations, no. These are BAR’s statewide averages for September 2026, before the $8.25 certificate:

Average smog check price by station type, September 2026
Station typeSTARNot STAR
Test-only$63.30$56.77
Test-and-repair$71.80$75.26

1 STAR test-only station in Camarillo

STAR certified test-only smog check stations in Camarillo, CA
StationGoogle ratingCouponAddress
Las Posas Smog Test Only––2145 E Las Posas Rd

5 STAR test-and-repair stations in Camarillo

STAR certified test-and-repair smog check stations in Camarillo, CA
StationGoogle ratingCouponAddress
Auto Tech International––2157 Las Posas Rd
Camarillo Independent––1955 East Daily Drive
Carmen Auto Center––256 Carmen Drive
RK Smog––341 North Dawson Drive
Smog Check Only––1955 E Daily Drive Unit 107

Frequently asked questions

Only when your DMV renewal notice says "Smog Certification Required at a STAR station", or when the car failed as a gross polluter. BAR directs a car to STAR when its profile says it is more likely to fail, or at random (2% in Enhanced areas). Any car can still be tested at a STAR station.


Yes. All 6 STAR stations listed in Camarillo can certify a directed car: 1 test-only and 5 test-and-repair. Pick test-and-repair if the car may fail and you want it fixed in the same place.


At test-only stations, a little on average: BAR's September 2026 averages were $63.30 STAR vs $56.77 non-STAR. At test-and-repair stations STAR averaged less, $71.80 vs $75.26. All before the $8.25 certificate.


Not necessarily. "Star" in a shop's name says nothing about BAR's STAR certification. Every station in the list above is STAR certified in BAR's records; check any other at bar.ca.gov before you go.


BAR updates STAR scores every January and July.