I ended up here cuz my preferred spot down the street is closed on Mondays, and I needed to get my smog check done on this day. With the SmogTips coupon online, I was able to get everything taken care of for under $40 total, including the certificate fee. No wait for service on a weekday afternoon, just pulled into the garage, filled out a form with my name, address, and signature, and it was ready in less than 10 minutes (there's no separate office/lobby). There was a table and a few chairs in the garage right next to my car, to hang out as he did the smog test. As many have mentioned, the owner/technician is a man of few words, and barely responsive, so this place isn't exactly friendly and welcoming. But he got the job done at a reasonable price, so that's good enough for me. read more

21st Avenue Smog STAR Test Only - Outside (garage is last one at the end of the driveway) - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I come here every time I need a smog because of the very fair price (with coupon) and how quick it is. That being said, I know some people mentioned the hours aren't accurate and the guy working there isn't the nicest, so just be prepared. He gets the job done and is quick but isn't very welcoming. I personally don't care to have a conversation as I just want to get in and out of there, but sometimes I feel awkward even mentioning I have a coupon or asking him a question. When it's a warm day, that back area and waiting can be pretty uncomfortable and hot. read more

Well.. I really think you shouldn't be in a business if you don't want to accept the business. Went there with my 1991 Toyota... there's no price list anywhere, and it's pretty clear the guy just charges whatever he feels like charging... or if he feels like doing the smog check on that car that day at all.. and me + older car apparently = $150!!! For a smog check!!! CRAZY!!!!!! Will never have the family take any of their newer cars there, ever. And neither should you. Went to another place - TW Automotice 2nd/S. Claremount - which had an honest price list and kept to it, the guy was very helpful, too.. for a lucky $88 all said and done, no nickel-and-diming (not cheap, but the older the car, the more difficult things get in CA...) read more

I've used this place in the past, and they were good. Yesterday, though, I showed up 45 minutes after they were supposed to open (they don't take reservations) and it was closed. The shop next door said they usually open 90 minutes later than the posted hour. read more

Seamless transaction. He is thorough does a great job getting you in and out. The price is pretty standard for a smog check in this area. I simply enjoy how quick and seamless the whole process is. Sometimes I come and there is a line of cars waiting and other times, it's just me. read more

21st Avenue Smog STAR Test Only - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The guy is super efficient and gets you in and out of there fast. I would recommend taking your car here.

Advertised price is quite good, but not keeping to your advertised business hours is unacceptable. It's unprofessional and disrespectful of people's time. Their phone message says they open at 9:30, but at that time, they were still closed. By 9:45, they had yet to show up, and I checked with the shop next door who said they typically saw this place open around 10:30. At that point, I gave up and went somewhere else, having wasted a bunch of gas and my time. Very frustrating. read more

It was fast, and the coupon accepted. The tech wasn't friendly, but everyone gets a pass 2 days after the Presidential election. Whatever, it was quick and easy. read more

Steve is efficient and get the smog check done in a reasonable time frame. I already hate having to take my car to a shop for a smog test every two years, but appreciate the fact that this fast and gets you out of there less than 25 mins. Great job! read more

Where do I start. Place says it opens at 9:30am. I get there, not opened. I ask a business near by and the guy says, come back after 10am and they should open them. I come back at 10:30am and the worker is just opening. I asked the guy can I get a smog, guy says I need to back this car out. He was really rude like he didn't want to be there. He tells me to pull it in the garage. Place was filthy, crap all over the place. Smog was quick but the guy was rude. Friendliness 1 star Cleanness 1 star Price 2 stars If you can, stay away from this place. read more

The only reason i marked this 1-star is because their posted hours of opening at 9:30AM is simply not true ... the guys next door informed me that i'd be lucky if they opened at 10:30+. So although the coupon looks good, can only get smogged if the business is open. read more

I get there at 8:30--no one. I call and check online to confirm when they are open--says 8:30. I wait until 8:45 when someone shows up. I don't know if they were having a bad morning or what, but they were not exactly the most friendly--stern, to the point, no smiles, no "Good Morning, how are you today?". Service was the same as everywhere else (15 minutes and standard smog test) and comparable price so I would rather go somewhere that appears like they want my business. read more

21st Avenue Smog STAR Test Only - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Smog time this is the place To go to my husband is a mechanic and Takes all of his customers cars here the crew where are all nice just get your car tuned and move along no hassle with a smile read more

We have been coming here for years. We am always nice and cheerful. Unfortunately this shop gets some bad reviews because some people don't like that Nation is not very talkative. We are not here to make friends. He isn't being rude. We are here to get a smog certificate. We appreciate that he gets the job done. People need to realize that everyone has some baggage that they carry with them, and no one knows what he is dealing with, so there should be no judgement. read more

In and out in literally 10 minutes. You have to pull into the driveway, I got lost on my drive over and was going back and forth on the main street for a bit. Literally no-nonsense. The worker was a man of a few words but I got what I needed in a quick amount of time and that's really all I care about. My old shop in Millbrae closed down so I will be coming here from now on. read more

Since getting a smog check falls under things I have to do, the best I can hope for is to get it done as quickly as possible with as little hassle and hopefully minimal expense as possible. Check, check and check at 21st Ave Smog test! I mean even the name makes it easy to know where it's located. No appointment needed but it is first come first serve. However tests are completed quickly and efficiently so my new go to smog test shop for all my four wheel toys. read more

Rude to say the least and unprofessional. Don't except the place to be open when it's supposed to be. Says place opens at 9:30am but didn't show up until almost 11am. The business next door says this is the norm. Was charged 10 dollars extra for a STAR fee which is nonsense since I've never been charged this with any other place I've gotten a smog done. I won't be returning. read more

Quick and easy. I'm very pleased with my smog. I got today on my 2007 Camry very nice guy did everything perfect. I'm very happy with his place will be back. I highly recommend this smog shop! read more

There really isnt a visible sign to mark the place. Drive up the parking lot immediately beside 71-21st Ave storefront which doesnt belong to this biz. Located at the last garage door at the end. The place doesnt open at 8:30 for sure bc went at 9 am only to return an hr later & he immediately worked on the car which passed. Was my first time watching the procedure bc waiting space is not separated. The price was reasonable wo any coupon. A bit unconventional maybe but efficient. Should add what is on the agreement: THIS SMOG TEST-ONLY STATION CANNOT PERFORM ANY DIAGNOSTICS, ADJUSTMENT OR REPAIRS. read more

Been taking my folk's old cars here for star certified smog checks for years. Love the service and location!! read more

21st Avenue Smog STAR Test Only - Been taking my folks' old cars here for star certified smog checks for years. Love the location and service. - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

I typically don't write yelp reviews, but I thought I needed to say something here. I've been going to this smog center for years without problems. The technician might be moody on given days but I figured that's because of all the customers he has to deal with. This time was no different, I was in and out within 20 minutes. The only thing I noticed was that he was struggling with something under the hood, but I figured he knew what he was doing; he had smogged my other cars before. However, when I got back to my house and parked the car, I heard a pop and a lot of smoke coming from the hood. Coolant was leaking everywhere and I quickly opened the hood to check what was going on... My car has a cover over the radiator hose which I guess he had removed to smog the car. However, he didn't replace it and instead left it on top of the engine and closed the hood. When he closed the hood, I guess he clamped down on the radiator hose... there was even a yellowish mark on the cover that coincides with the yellow inner lining of the radiator tube. I included pictures of the whole thing (minus the smoke because my first instinct during the ordeal was not to take out my phone and snap selfies with my burning car). Of course that's probably not enough proof to go back to the shop, and I'm not sure why it happened after I parked it instead of right after I left. I doubt they care. Plus, I can't drive my car back there now until the tube is replaced. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and replace the radiator tube and coolant. I'm definitely not going back there for my next smog though. All in all, bad experience. We had a good thing going 21st Ave smog, until this happened. Other people needing smogs be warned... I hope radiator tubes for older mercedes aren't too expensive. read more

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I do not know if the manager was the bald black guy with the beard who possibly doubles as the technician but he seemed moody & mildly rude..plus I feel like I was up charged because I paid $75. Regardless tho in terms of service it was quick, it took like 15 minutes max. If you have the money & temper to deal with these sorts of people then go for it read more

An update and explanation for my rating. Just smog'ed our 2 cars here again over the last couple of days; first car about 10 minutes, second car under 5 minutes. Same experience; maybe cheerier than usual ;-) So why do I rate him high...go read reviews and horror stories at other smog places. Unfortunately, the bar is set fairly low for these businesses, and standard business practice is to have a high list price that is discounted if you haggle, have special coupon, etc. and even then, may have issues. Most STAR places are $20 more than basic smog shops, so his list price of $78 ($68 test + $10 for certificate and electronic filing) is typical, or even a bit lower than other STAR places. I do wish these places would just skip the discount game and have a $40 or $50, etc price. However, as everyone here has pointed out, if you mention Yelp, call for quote, have a coupon, he doesn't balk or argue, he just draws line through his list price on quote sheet and gives you $28 off. Actually, these days, not sure if he remembers me, or sees that I am holding another piece of paper (coupon) behind my registration slip, but he gives me the discount without my even saying anything to him. However, I would still recommend being prepared with Yelp, coupon, called beforehand, etc., but that is advice for any Smog shop, and absolutely get the price settled before any work/testing is done. There is some fine print (which was on my non Yelp coupon) however: discount applies to 1999 or newer, $5 extra for STAR certificate, $10 for SUV. But that actually is exactly what I've experienced at other places that I'v used in Marin (in-laws car, see other review), or places before I started using 21st Ave. Smog. Should he have this posted on the wall more clearly, or on the quote sheet he uses? Yes! But clearly communications is not this guys strength. So even with his minimal communication skills and abrupt manner, I rate him high for: - speedy service - consistency: my experience doesn't vary much with him, and my price per vehicle has been the same for the last 6 years - minimal games: yes, even with having to do Yelp, coupon, etc., he is going to give you $45/$50/etc price that the discount provides for without arguing. But just be clear beforehand if the 1999, STAR, SUV, Large vehicle applies to you. - fair: yes, even this. When my vehicle failed because I had changed the battery and therefore cleared the smog memory out of our car's computer, he told me to drive around for a few days (google OBDII Smog drive cycle reset), and come back. Which I did, and no charge for the retest. - plus, as a STAR shop, he isn't trying to sell any work to "fix" issues. I wrote this long review, because I want him to stay around in business. As I said in my original post, my goal is to get in & out quickly, not have deal with any stupid games, or worry about what I am going to pay. Unlike many previous painful, and very sketchy, experiences with other Smog shops, even with customer service shortcomings I and others have listed, this is really one of the lowest hassle, and absolute fastest places around. read more

He's the best, friendliest, cheapest and most thorough of all the smog checks my car has passed! And she is 16 years old! So, that's a lot of tests! He runs through pre tests just to make sure you'll pass the official tests, gives amount of time each test will take, thoroughly explains each test and the final reports. My car never passed so well! Got zero emissions! After the pre tests he says will pass no problem and it did! It's true he is so nice and does clap when it passes the checks! Only 40 flat with no additional fees or charges! Highly recommended and worth the extra drive! 20 min and I'm back on the road with a big smile! You will be too! :) read more

21st Avenue Smog STAR Test Only - Shop front adjacent Golden Lotus Antiques parking lot - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Super quick and easy! Literally pulled my car into the bay, inspection took about 10-15 minutes, and only cost $45. I couldn't have asked for an easier hassle-free experience. read more

Quick and fast. They do not take appointments. Heads up, Steve is a man of very few words..., so do not feel "slighted" if he does not say more than 6 words to you. Ask for the discount--so the cost is $40 total. read more

This is a place that gets the job done. Not especially friendly or customer oriented but perfect if you just want to get in and out. I never sit on any of the furniture. :) read more

Came in because the place I was trying to go to was closed (despite them sayings m they'd be open). The owner was not very friendly, but answered my questions and got the job done. Said it would take 10 minutes, but I got out in under 5 (maybe because I have a Prius, but fast and efficient service)! Paid $10 more than I expected to, but a good price none the less. read more

Pros: Service is fast. Just went in this morning (Saturday) at 9:40am, no wait, was done by 9:49am. If you check in on Yelp, you get $28 off. Pulled up and asked the guy how much, he said $40, asked about Yelp discount, he said that is already with the Yelp discount. Cons: Steven is not friendly at all. Didn't smile once, didn't say hi or greet me, didn't thank me or wish me a good day when I left. But I'm not trying to make any friends when I get my smog checked, so that's fine with me. The reason I deducted one star is their price isn't listed online and I tried calling 3 times before I came to ask but no answer. Pulled up and he was sitting right there at the desk. read more

Straight forward, easy and fast. Waited less than15 minutes in a Wednesday afternoon.

I've come here for my past four smog inspections. The owner is always very fast and efficient and I appreciate that! It also felt very safe this year, because the garage door is completely open to the outside and the owner wore his mask the whole time. read more

This smog guy lacks communication skills and don't say more than a few words. I brought in my car for smog. He ran some checks and said I need to drive more and come back. I asked him how much more do I have to drive? He said "Drive more". So I drove the car for a couple more weeks 500+ miles and went back. He said "It's not ready. Drive more". I asked what is the issue and what do you mean by drive more? He said "Drive more". So I brought my car to another smog shop. This other shop told me it's the Catalyst Monitor not ready and I need to perform a drive cycle to clear it. I looked it up online and followed the steps (maintain speed between 40-60 mph for 15 minutes) to clear the Catalyst Monitor, and passed the smog in this other shop easily. I understand that a smog check station is not mechanic. But having done smog hundreds of thousands of times this guy at 21st Ave Smog should be able to give basic information to customers. Had he told me that it's the Catalyst Monitor not ready, that would give me enough info to look for a solution. With so many other competitors I will never go back to this place. read more

As I was going through my bills, I came across one for vehicle registration for one my cars. My wife is pretty good with noting important info for the car registrations. When a bill comes in from the DMV, she opens it up, notes the due date and if smog is required, then writes it in big red ink on the envelope to get my attention. Weeks have passed, and lo and behold, my car registration is past due, and I need to have it smogged. Where can I go to have it checked? So many shops out there. Fortunately, I did a Yelp search for local smog check service, and a whole list came up. I narrowed down to two. I dropped by my first choice early in the morning so I can be first in line. Unfortunately, it was still closed as the manager was running late. Couldn't wait longer, so I called my second choice to see if they were open. No answer. Just as I was about to search for 3rd choice, my second choice, 21st Ave Smog Test Only, apparently looked at their caller ID and called me back. They just opened, and could take me now. I zipped on over, and was the first one there. He told me how much, and asked if I was a Yelper. I said yes, and he gave me the $30 off. The owner gave me a chair to sit, and 20 minutes later, he was done and told me my car passed. Quick service, smog test with passing certificate, and $30 off. Gotta love it! Will bring my other cars here when they need to be smogged. read more

Who has time to wait forever and a day now to get a smog check? Certainly not a new mother like me. 21St ave smog check is quick quick quick! I was in and out under 20 minutes. 10 min wait and 10 min check. What's even better is the $20 off when you check in on Yelp. $50 bucks and I was out the door with a pass on my smog. Highly recommend! read more

Absolutely no frills smog test. and I mean it. It's basically just a large, very empty garage. No waiting room, just a few seats off against one wall, a desk on the other side of the garage, and the smog-check equipment. Nothing else. But at least it's not cluttered and dirty! and hey, the no-frills attitude is probably what makes them one of the cheapest smog test centers on the peninsula! (The awesome price is the driving force behind my four-star rating - I just thought that should be emphasized) The smog-check technician was quite a character! His English was only so-so, but he was very animated and clapped a lot, and, after passing the smog check, he congratulated the cars like you would if it was a puppy or kid. They are a Test Only center, so no repairs done here, but if you fail, you can take it back here for a free re-test! read more

Fast service!! We came in without an appointment and we were in and out in less than 25 minutes!! The actual smog check was 10 minutes.

Avoid this place, they charge $79 for a smog check. I was shocked when I got the bill, you can get a much better deal elsewhere. I didn't see the Yelp deal until after the service and the business refused to honor it. This isn't a reasonable way to do business. read more

Quick and efficient smog check-STAR certified. Don't expect warm and fuzzy customer service or any chit-chats but the technician (Steve) gets the job done. I paid $40 (which was quoted over the phone) and was out in 15 mins. Tip: Call ahead to get a quote, he will honor the $40; otherwise he may charge you the standard rate of $70. I called a couple of other places, they all charge ~$70 smog test. read more

This is an update. Hopefully my previous review stays. After about 30 smog checks over many years with them as a loyal customer, I've moved on. They've started adding extra fees that I just can't justify. For example, if the DMV form says you need to get a smog check at only a STAR station, they charge $5 more. Yes, $5 more for the exact same thing. They don't do anything at all differently. It's like charging extra if your car is blue. And that's just one of the extra fees. Before writing them off, I tried to ask for an explanation or some flexibility. Not unexpectedly, the guy's bad customer service / communication skills did not lead to a positive result. I have not been back since they did that. Other places are more reasonable. read more

An update to my very first Yelp review! UGH. Smog test time again. This is NOT something you want to waste a chunk of your day doing. I remembered that this shop had handled my test pretty quickly, and so I rang them up to see if they had slots. They said yes, "If you can bring your car in by 4:30." No problem. I drove down and there was no line! (Though someone did drive up about a minute after me!) The guy (different from last time) said it'd take about 10 minutes. Well, I'm pretty sure it was actually less than that. But yep--done in under 10, and then I was on the road to pay my registration. It makes me wonder why this process used to take HOURS! As others have mentioned, this space is super low-frills. BYO coffee, and bring a jacket if it's cold (as the waiting area is right by the opening to the garage). But they do have magazines. However, if you hit them at the right time, you'll barely have enough time to even worry about being bored. Because there's no real waiting *room*, and you can't wait in your car, I'd avoid bringing small kids if you can. It does appear that they now have a bigger, better sign pointing you to where they are, and it's especially noticeable if you turn right from El Camino onto 21st. read more