What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in Elk Grove?
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. Elk Grove has 9 STAR certified smog check stations: 5 test-only and 4 test-and-repair, out of 24 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove
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:
| Station type | STAR | Not STAR |
|---|---|---|
| Test-only | $63.30 | $56.77 |
| Test-and-repair | $71.80 | $75.26 |
5 STAR test-only stations in Elk Grove
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Pro Smog | – | – | 9255 Survey Road Ste 11 |
| Laguna Smog Test Only | – | – | 9190 Klagge Court |
| Smog N Go | – | – | 9580 Harbour Point Drive |
| Smog N Go | – | – | 8034 Orchard Loop Lane |
| The Smog Spot | – | – | 9914 Kent St Unit 4 |
4 STAR test-and-repair stations in Elk Grove
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Start | – | – | 9291 Bendel Place Ste 120 |
| Complete Performance | – | – | 8999 Elk Grove Blvd |
| Elk Grove Shell | – | – | 8901 Elk Grove Blvd |
| Speedee-Midas | – | – | 8573 Elk Grove Blvd |
STAR stations near Elk Grove
- AA Auto in Rancho Cordova, about 14 miles from the center of Elk Grove
- Asian Imports Garage in Rancho Cordova, about 14 miles from the center of Elk Grove
- 123 Smog in Sacramento, about 14 miles from the center of Elk Grove
- 5 Star Smog in Sacramento, about 14 miles from the center of Elk Grove
- AA Smog Test Only in Citrus Heights, about 20 miles from the center of Elk Grove
- 5 Star Smog in Citrus Heights, about 20 miles from the center of Elk Grove
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 9 STAR stations listed in Elk Grove can certify a directed car: 5 test-only and 4 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.