Ricks Car Care

Yes. Ricks Car Care is STAR certified with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, so it can test vehicles the DMV directs to a STAR station, including gross polluters.

No. Ricks Car Care 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.

Ricks Car Care is open Monday 8 AM to 5:30 PM; Tuesday 8 AM to 5:30 PM; Wednesday 8 AM to 5:30 PM; Thursday 8 AM to 5:30 PM; Friday 8 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so call ahead if you are cutting it close.

Yes. Ricks Car Care accepts walk-ins, so you can drive in without booking ahead.

Ricks Car Care accepts Cash, Credit Card.

Ricks Car Care has held a BAR smog license since 2018. You can verify the license status at bar.ca.gov.

Ricks Car Care 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 (805) 937-6033 for a quote.

Ricks Car Care does not take online bookings here, but walk-ins are welcome. Call (805) 937-6033 to check the wait.

Staff at Ricks Car Care 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 Ricks Car Care 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 Santa Maria are Jiffy Lube #609 (0.4 mi) and Stowasser Buick Gmc (0.7 mi). Both are listed further up this page with their ratings and hours.