What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in San Francisco?
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. San Francisco has 32 STAR certified smog check stations: 11 test-only and 21 test-and-repair, out of 56 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in San Francisco 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 San Francisco
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 |
11 STAR test-only stations in San Francisco
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th And Taraval Smog Test | – | – | 2399 19th Ave |
| 19th Avenue Smog | – | – | 1101 Junipero Serra Blvd |
| 415 SF Official Star Smog Check Station | – | – | 2399 Market Street |
| All Smog In N Out Test Only | – | – | 172 Harriet Street |
| Castro Smog Station | – | – | 376 Castro St |
| Clean Air Smog | – | – | 368 11th Street |
| Folsom Smog Test Only | – | – | 1379 Folsom St B |
| Official San Francisco Test Only | – | – | 2985 San Bruno Avenue |
| Richies Official Smog Test Center | – | – | 1798 Mission St |
| SF Star Smog | – | – | 388 Potrero Avenue A |
| Valencia Smog | – | – | 1298 Valencia Street Rm C |
21 STAR test-and-repair stations in San Francisco
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Care | – | – | 595 Newhall Ave |
| Auto Stop | – | – | 185 Mississippi St. |
| Best Auto Care | – | – | 1800 Alemany Blvd |
| California Star Test And Repair | – | – | 443 Divisadero St |
| Carl And Dan Auto Repair | – | – | 579 Potrero Ave |
| City Auto Tech | – | – | 269 Bayshore Boulevard |
| Golden Gate Auto Service | – | – | 2380 San Bruno Ave |
| Hao's Auto | – | – | 1200 Geneva Ave |
| Ka-Pa Tire & Auto Service | – | – | 4011 3rd Street |
| Masonic Smog & Repair | – | – | 1698 Fell Street |
| Pacific Auto Works | – | – | 564 Bryant St |
| Pacific Heights Chevron Auto Repair | – | – | 2500 California St |
| Potrero Service Station | – | – | 998 Potrero Ave |
| Precise Auto | – | – | 1890 19th Ave |
| Prestige Auto Service | – | – | 715 Brannan St |
| Quality Tune Up Shop #14 | – | – | 1175 Fell St |
| R & M Automotive | – | – | 854 Ellis St |
| Reliance Auto Repair | – | – | 4885 Mission St |
| Richmond Smog Service | – | – | 1934 Clement St 1 Floor |
| Sunrise Auto Service | – | – | 2800 San Bruno Ave |
| The Smog Shop | – | – | 276 11th Street |
STAR stations near San Francisco
- Brake Plus Smog Check Center in Daly City, about 5 miles from the center of San Francisco
- Car Solutions in Daly City, about 5 miles from the center of San Francisco
- 15 Minute Smog Test And Repair in Berkeley, about 10 miles from the center of San Francisco
- 4 Less Smog Check in Berkeley, about 10 miles from the center of San Francisco
- Xpress Star Smog Check in Oakland, about 11 miles from the center of San Francisco
- 4 Less Smog Check in Oakland, about 11 miles from the center of San Francisco
- Auto Repair Specialist in San Rafael, about 14 miles from the center of San Francisco
- Berry G T Automotive in San Rafael, about 14 miles from the center of San Francisco
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 32 STAR stations listed in San Francisco can certify a directed car: 11 test-only and 21 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.