What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in Perris?
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. Perris has 5 STAR certified smog check stations: 4 test-only and 1 test-and-repair, out of 13 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in Perris 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 Perris
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 |
4 STAR test-only stations in Perris
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe's Express Smog | – | – | 145 Ramona Expy Suite B 4 |
| Perris Smog | – | – | 130 West Walnut Avenue |
| SNG Smog | – | – | 425 W Rider St Ste B-3 |
| Speedy Auto Smog | – | – | 45 E Morgan St Suite 1 |
1 STAR test-and-repair station in Perris
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perris Auto Repair Center | – | – | 5168 Western Way |
STAR stations near Perris
- Prieto Smog Center in Moreno Valley, about 7 miles from the center of Perris
- 215 Smog in Moreno Valley, about 7 miles from the center of Perris
- Paisano Smog Test Only in Lake Elsinore, about 10 miles from the center of Perris
- Zeit Smog in Lake Elsinore, about 10 miles from the center of Perris
- D&S Automotive in Jurupa Valley, about 18 miles from the center of Perris
- DMV Smog Check in Jurupa Valley, about 18 miles from the center of Perris
- Ace Smog Center 2 in Norco, about 19 miles from the center of Perris
- Cal Smog Inspection Center in Norco, about 19 miles from the center of Perris
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 5 STAR stations listed in Perris can certify a directed car: 4 test-only and 1 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.