Carmax

No. Carmax is not STAR certified. If your DMV renewal notice says "STAR Station Required," you will need to visit a STAR certified station instead.

No. Carmax is licensed as a Test & Repair station. This station can run your smog test and, if the vehicle fails, diagnose and repair it in the same shop.

Carmax is open Monday 11 AM to 8 PM; Tuesday 11 AM to 8 PM; Wednesday 11 AM to 8 PM; Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM; Friday 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM; Sunday 12 PM to 7 PM. Hours can change on holidays, so call ahead if you are cutting it close.

Yes. Carmax accepts walk-ins, so you can drive in without booking ahead.

Carmax accepts Cash, Credit Card.

Carmax has held a BAR smog license since 2022. You can verify the license status at bar.ca.gov.

Carmax 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 (760) 992-3776 for a quote.

Carmax does not take online bookings here, but walk-ins are welcome. Call (760) 992-3776 to check the wait.

Staff at Carmax speak English.

Bring the car, your registration or DMV renewal notice, and a way to pay. Most smog checks take 15 to 30 minutes, and most visits are closer to 20.

Because Carmax is a Test & Repair station, it can diagnose and repair the problem in the same shop, then run the free retest within 30 days. If the repair bill is steep, California's Consumer Assistance Program covers up to $1,200 of emissions repairs for qualifying owners.

The closest alternatives in Palm Desert are Smog Dogs (2.5 mi) and Country Club Mobil (3.0 mi). Both are listed further up this page with their ratings and hours.