What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in Visalia?
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. Visalia has 13 STAR certified smog check stations: 5 test-only and 8 test-and-repair, out of 26 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in Visalia 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 Visalia
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 |
5 STAR test-only stations in Visalia
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral King Smog Test Only | – | – | 1230b E Mineral King Ave |
| Quality Smog | – | – | 1950 W. Walnut Ave |
| Trimark Smog | – | – | 1526 E Main St #c |
| Visalia Green Smog | – | – | 2412 East Main Street #a 1 |
| Visalia Smog | – | – | 1902 E Main Street |
8 STAR test-and-repair stations in Visalia
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Tech | – | – | 1619 E Main |
| California Smog | – | – | 1000 E Acequia Ave |
| D & M Auto Repair & Transmission | – | – | 720 E Race Ave #b |
| Main St Auto Clinic | – | – | 1400-1402 E Main St |
| Mooney Shell | – | – | 2736 South Mooney Blvd |
| MTZ Smog & Repair | – | – | 1109 East Main Street |
| Visalia Auto Hause | – | – | 1741 E. Main St |
| Zylstra Automotive | – | – | 2230 E Main St |
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 13 STAR stations listed in Visalia can certify a directed car: 5 test-only and 8 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.