Price
Call for price
Hours
Open Mon–Sat
Station type
Test Only
Appointments
Walk-ins welcome
Hours
- Monday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday
- 8 AM – 3 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Good to know
Languages
English
Payment
Credit Card, Debit Card, NFC/Contactless
What to expect at Smogsters
Smogsters is licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as a Test Only smog station in El Cerrito. It runs the inspection and issues the certificate but does no repairs. It is STAR certified, so it can test vehicles the DMV directs to a STAR station, including gross polluters.
Walk-ins are welcome. Most smog checks take 15 to 30 minutes, and most visits are closer to 20.
What to bring
Your registration or DMV renewal notice
It says whether the car needs a STAR station.
The car, with the check engine light off
On a 2000-or-newer car, a lit check engine light fails the test on its own.
A way to pay
The $8.25 state certificate is paid on top of the test when the car passes, unless the station's price or coupon includes it.
What if I fail?
- Smogsters doesn't do repairs, so the car goes to a repair shop and comes back for the retest.
- Each station sets its own retest price, so ask before the first test.
- BAR's Consumer Assistance Program pays up to $1,450 toward emissions repairs for income-eligible owners.
10791 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Get directions →Hours
- Monday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Saturday
- 8 AM – 3 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Also listed on
Other stations near Smogsters
Nearby cities in Contra Costa County
Questions about Smogsters
Smogsters is open Monday 8 AM to 6 PM; Tuesday 8 AM to 6 PM; Wednesday 8 AM to 6 PM; Thursday 8 AM to 6 PM; Friday 8 AM to 6 PM; Saturday 8 AM to 3 PM. Closed Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so call ahead if you are cutting it close.
Smogsters accepts Credit Card, Debit Card, NFC/Contactless.
Google lists the following accessibility features at Smogsters: wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible parking.
Smogsters has held a BAR smog license since 2020. You can verify the license status at bar.ca.gov.
Smogsters 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 (510) 559-3332 for a quote.
Smogsters does not take online bookings here, but walk-ins are welcome. Call (510) 559-3332 to check the wait.
Staff at Smogsters speak English.
The closest alternatives in El Cerrito are Pauls Shop and El Cerrito Star Smog (0.4 mi). Both are listed further up this page with their ratings and hours.
How we get this data: BAR licenses and STAR status, Google hours and ratings, coupons published by the station.
Verify this station’s license and STAR standing at bar.ca.gov.
Own this shop? Add photos
BAR field office: Hercules • Licensed since 2020