Price
Call for price
Hours
Open Mon–Fri
Station type
Test & Repair
Appointments
Walk-ins welcome
Hours
- Monday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Good to know
Languages
English
Payment
Cash, Credit Card
What to expect at Valley Center Car Care
Valley Center Car Care is licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair as a Test & Repair smog station in Salinas, so it can run the inspection and, if your car fails, diagnose and fix it in the same shop. It is not STAR certified, so if your DMV renewal notice says "STAR Station Required" you will need a different station.
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?
- Valley Center Car Care can diagnose and repair the problem in the same shop, then retest the car.
- 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.
1029 South Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901
Get directions →Hours
- Monday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Tuesday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Thursday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Also listed on
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Questions about Valley Center Car Care
Valley Center Car Care is open Monday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Tuesday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Wednesday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Thursday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Friday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so call ahead if you are cutting it close.
Valley Center Car Care accepts Cash, Credit Card.
Valley Center Car Care has held a BAR smog license since 2016. You can verify the license status at bar.ca.gov.
Valley Center 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 (831) 422-8488 for a quote.
Valley Center Car Care does not take online bookings here, but walk-ins are welcome. Call (831) 422-8488 to check the wait.
Staff at Valley Center Car Care speak English.
The closest alternatives in Salinas are Torres Auto Service (0.8 mi) and Smogs 4 Less (0.9 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: San Jose • Licensed since 2016