What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in San Gabriel?
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 Gabriel has 4 STAR certified smog check stations: 2 test-only and 2 test-and-repair, out of 7 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in San Gabriel 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 Gabriel
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 |
2 STAR test-only stations in San Gabriel
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| AE Smog Check Test Only | – | – | 1523 S San Gabriel Blvd |
| Las Tunas Test Only Station | – | – | 5402 Rosemead Blvd |
2 STAR test-and-repair stations in San Gabriel
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Automotive Service | – | – | 8803 East Las Tunas Drive |
| All Car Specialist | – | – | 330 S Del Mar |
STAR stations near San Gabriel
- Alhambra Smog Center in Alhambra, about 3 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- Auto Pros 76 in Alhambra, about 3 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- All Smog Test Only in Pasadena, about 4 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- Altadena Smog N Repair in Pasadena, about 4 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- Downey Smog in Downey, about 12 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- JJ's Auto Service in Downey, about 12 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- ABC Eastern Smog Test Only Center in Los Angeles, about 14 miles from the center of San Gabriel
- ABC Olympic Test Only Center in Los Angeles, about 14 miles from the center of San Gabriel
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 4 STAR stations listed in San Gabriel can certify a directed car: 2 test-only and 2 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.