What is a STAR smog check, and do you need one in Westminster?
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. Westminster has 14 STAR certified smog check stations: 8 test-only and 6 test-and-repair, out of 23 licensed stations in the city. No STAR station in Westminster 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 Westminster
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 |
8 STAR test-only stations in Westminster
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| All American Smog Test | – | – | 7301 Westminster Blvd Unit #b |
| Best Smog Test Only | – | – | 14911 Moran St Suite B |
| Smog Check Test Only Center | – | – | 14036 Goldenwest Street |
| Smog Doc | – | – | 15081 Moran St Unit J |
| Trans Smog Test Only | – | – | 15193 Moran St |
| West Coast Smog | – | – | 6551 Westminster Blvd #a |
| Westminster Only Smog | – | – | 7179 Westminster Blvd |
| Z1 Smog Test Only | – | – | 14841 Dillow Street Unit #b |
6 STAR test-and-repair stations in Westminster
| Station | Google rating | Coupon | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Stop Smog And Repair | – | – | 13142 Goldenwest St |
| Alpha Complete Auto Repair | – | – | 8961 Bolsa Ave |
| LD Auto Smog & Repair | – | – | 15167 Moran Street |
| Pro Auto Service | – | – | 7421 Westminster Blvd |
| Smog Tech | – | – | 14032 Rancho Rd |
| United Auto Service | – | – | 5000 Westminster Blvd |
STAR stations near Westminster
- Beach Smog Check in Huntington Beach, about 3 miles from the center of Westminster
- Expertec Automotive in Huntington Beach, about 3 miles from the center of Westminster
- CJ Smog Check in Garden Grove, about 4 miles from the center of Westminster
- Garden Grove Star Smog Check in Garden Grove, about 4 miles from the center of Westminster
- Emission Test Center Norwalk in Norwalk, about 12 miles from the center of Westminster
- M & M Auto Clinic in Norwalk, about 12 miles from the center of Westminster
- Downey Smog in Downey, about 15 miles from the center of Westminster
- JJ's Auto Service in Downey, about 15 miles from the center of Westminster
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 14 STAR stations listed in Westminster can certify a directed car: 8 test-only and 6 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.