What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in San Rafael?
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 Rafael has 11 STAR certified smog check stations: 4 test-only and 7 test-and-repair, out of 21 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in San Rafael 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 Rafael
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 San Rafael
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marin Star Smog | – | – | 77 San Pablo Ave |
| San Rafael Smog | – | – | 36 Lisbon Street |
| Smog Center Test Only | – | – | 108 Bellam Blvd |
| Vista Test Only Center | – | – | 18 Woodland Avenue Unit A |
7 STAR test-and-repair stations in San Rafael
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Repair Specialist | – | – | 1421 Francisco Boulevard East |
| Berry G T Automotive | – | – | 50 Lisbon Street #3 |
| Marin Car Clinic | – | – | 86 Medway Rd |
| Marin Fast Lube And Repair | – | – | 831 E Francisco Blvd |
| Marin Sports & Imports | – | – | 123 Jordan St |
| RPM Motors | – | – | 23 Lisbon St |
| Smog Pros | – | – | 1401 Second St |
STAR stations near San Rafael
- 19th And Taraval Smog Test in San Francisco, about 14 miles from the center of San Rafael
- 19th Avenue Smog in San Francisco, about 14 miles from the center of San Rafael
- 15 Minute Smog Test And Repair in Berkeley, about 15 miles from the center of San Rafael
- 4 Less Smog Check in Berkeley, about 15 miles from the center of San Rafael
- Brake Plus Smog Check Center in Daly City, about 18 miles from the center of San Rafael
- Car Solutions in Daly City, about 18 miles from the center of San Rafael
- Xpress Star Smog Check in Oakland, about 21 miles from the center of San Rafael
- 4 Less Smog Check in Oakland, about 21 miles from the center of San Rafael
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 11 STAR stations listed in San Rafael can certify a directed car: 4 test-only and 7 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.