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    College Smog Check

    4.8 (240 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

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    Test only smog check here
    Rich M.

    These days it seems there as as many smog check stations as there are tacos shops in my neighborhood. This is not a bad thing really, since a multitude of choices is typically better. My daughter had put off getting her Jetta a necessary smog check so she wanted a place quick and close by. I searched for her. I found this one with the help of Yelp! I had been using the same place in University Heights for years with the little Reader coupon. The price was identical here without the coupon, so this made it easy, being only about a mile from home. Not only that, the technician is really friendly, fast and will explain everything if you want and have you back on the road in about 10-15 minutes! No hidden charges at all. This came out to $38 total! So I took my Subaru here a couple weeks ago and got mine done. Mind you, this is for 2000 and newer vehicles. 1995 and older will cost $60 total and the test is longer. Still, these are the best prices near me and now my new place to go for sure.

    My truck getting a Star Smog check
    Raul R.

    My truck getting a Star Smog check. Only $38 with certificate. Only took 15 minutes once he got started on it. Very nice guy. One man shop !!! Walk ins welcomed. He doesn't do appointments. You can usually wait as he tests your vehicle, or leave it and have a bit to eat across the ways at several places to eat. Highly recommend this place

    5/1/2021-New location sign
    College Area B.

    Alway have my car smog checked here. Mr. Slavko is everything people say. Hard working, honest etc. highly recommend!***By the way, College Smog Check relocated around the corner to 4622 College Avenue sharing space with Bowmans Auto Repair! ***

    Martha W.

    I decided to give this place a try because it was convenient to drop off my vehicle to get it smogged while I ate lunch at a nearby place I wanted to try. It looks like the guy runs it out of his home. The office could use a makeover, but I'm not going to hold that against the guy. It worked out well for me. He did it efficiently and told me I should celebrate that it passed. I guess when your vehicle is 12 years old they start saying stuff like that to you. I don't know, maybe he was just kidding. I appreciate that because things are just too serious most of the time. A little brevity goes a long way in my book. That's why I am giving this place 4 instead of 3 stars. That and the 29.95$ special.

    Michelle S.

    My auto shop (Tune Craft) recommended College Smog Check as a test-only station. I noticed that this listing shows only Mon-Fri hours but I decided to call...found out they are open Saturday 8-3pm. I submitted a change to Yelp and maybe you'll see Saturday hours listed by the time you read this review. Anyway, today I drove over there and as everyone says, Slavko is super friendly and professional. Someone else drove up shortly before me and he was just starting with her car...Slavko told me my car would be done in 25-30 minutes. I came back in a half hour and my car was done and it was $38 with cert. BTW there's a really cute little waiting area (see the photo I uploaded). I HIGHLY recommend Slavko & College Smog Check!

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    3 years ago

    Quick and professional. I asked if I had to make an appointment and they just told me to come in.

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    6 years ago

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    Simon T.

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    3 years ago

    Fast, kind, fair price. In and out in 15 min. Def come here if you need an affordable, reliable, efficient option.

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    2 years ago

    Quick service at an affordable price. Provided paperwork to show car passed the smog test

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Been coming here ever since I moved to SD. Friendly and quick service. Highly recommended!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Super quick with no appointment! Very professional and cordial. Will return in two years when I have to get my car re-smogged!

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    5 years ago

    Quick and reliable. Great guy, paid $38 and was done quick. Place was a little hard to find.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - College Smog Check

    Is this a STAR station?

    I wasn't the one who asked the question, but I am the one who took the time to make a call and find out the answer. Yes. It is a STAR station.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - College Smog Check

    I learned from Slavko (owner) that older cars require about 15 minutes to check; newer cars are much quicker.

    Mentioned in 25 reviews

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    Thao Auto Repair

    Thao Auto Repair

    4.4
    (249 reviews)

    It's unfortunate because I really wanted to give this place a try, it would've been convenient for…read moreus since we manage multiple vehicles, and I was hoping to build a solid business relationship. On 4/14 I brought in an Escalade after replacing the rear brakes because it started throwing multiple warning lights, even though the ABS sensor and brakes were already replaced. I understand newer vehicle technology can sometimes cause glitches even with simple repairs, so I trusted they'd be able to diagnose and fix it. They charged a $130 diagnostic fee, which I was completely fine with. The next day, they said they needed to reset the computer for $390. Since I had already paid for the diagnostic and was told it would go toward the repair, I agreed. The following day, I was told they couldn't reset it and that I'd need a new module for $3,468.54. I declined and decided to get a second opinion from our regular mechanic. I still paid the $390 plus a $13.65 service charge, which I later found out was a credit card fee. The next day, I took the vehicle to our regular mechanic. Within 2 hours, they cleared the stored codes and the vehicle was ready, total cost: $120. No waiting days, no module replacement, and no unnecessary upsell. I waited a couple of weeks before writing this review to make sure the issue didn't come back, and also spoke with Barry to see if anything could be done about the $403.65 I paid. I felt it was unfair to be charged for a service that ultimately wasn't completed. I would've been completely fine just paying the $130 diagnostic fee. Unfortunately, he declined, stating the charge was for their time. I understand time was spent, but from a business standpoint, I wouldn't feel right charging a client for a repair that wasn't successfully completed, especially when the vehicle left in the same condition it arrived. Because of this experience, I wouldn't return or recommend this shop to others. I think it's important for people to know that you may end up paying for work that doesn't actually resolve the issue.

    It's September 2025. Here's an update…read more Service was better than expected. I took my car in for a diagnostics. Thao was the 3rd diagnosis for me. I need certainty. Since all three reliable and reputable mechanics disagreed, I went with my instinct. Thus, maybe my vehicle was complex. What I will say is that they provide fair pricing, they recommend a diagnostic despite what a different mechanic may have suggested, and they communicate in a timely manner without wasting your time. *No customer drop off/ pick up provided

    AA Smog Shop

    AA Smog Shop

    4.7
    (62 reviews)

    About a week, I made a verbal fleet servicing agreement with AA Smog Shop San Diego Auto Clinic…read more They're a small shop in a dicey location, but I like to support small businesses and have grown to trust many small businesses around San Diego for my fleet. I sent my 1st vehicle to them 4/9/13 and everything went as promised. Today, 4 days later, I sent a 2nd vehicle and the price was all of a sudden 15% higher. Same vehicle model, same engine, & same service. Having spent some time talking to the owners CJ and Nan when initially setting up terms, I thought it must be an honest mistake. When I called, Nan mentioned some additional fees that were not outlined in the first invoice. She said she was unaware of the exact deal we had made, but she would talk to CJ about it. It just seemed like miscommunication. CJ called me back, I explained the situation by calmly and politely referring back to the 1st invoice they sent me. CJ proceeded to go back on our original agreement citing oil prices (wasn't that calculated on the initial agreement?), told me to go somewhere else, and hung up. This was unexpected as my original agreement was discussed with them over the span of multiple conversations. It feels like a bait and switch. It feels like the additional charge was added on purpose in hopes that I would not be paying attention to my invoicing.

    I was due for my bi-annual smog test and, as usual, was waiting until the last minute. I decided…read moreto try my best to get it in during my lunch hour and was looking on Yelp for a convenient location with good reviews, and I had to find a required star station. I was not led astray. I pulled into AA Smog around 12:15 on a Wednesday afternoon. I was the only car there. However, right after that, two other cars pulled in behind me. The attendant, maybe the owner, jumped out to greet me. He took my info and DMV paperwork. He quoted me $65 dollars, which I found quite reasonable, as other nearby places charge more, even when they claim to be offering a discount. I sat down in one of of the few lawn chairs to wait. Literally, five minutes later, my car had passed and was ready to go. On top of that, the person who helped me was quite friendly and chatted with me about his four cockatiels who were there with him. Getting Smogged is never something was want to do, but something we have to do. AA Smog Shop made it easy.

    Miramar Auto Repair - Japanese Auto Plus

    Miramar Auto Repair - Japanese Auto Plus

    4.6
    (242 reviews)

    Highly recommend for road trip prep!…read more This is an amazing place to get your vehicle inspected before a long road trip. I booked online, noted my concerns in the text box, and dropped my car off the next day. After checking in at the office, I walked Joey through my concerns and opted for a Post-Purchase Inspection. Joey sent over the findings quickly and gave me his honest, upfront opinion on what needed immediate attention before my trip versus what maintenance could wait until I reached my destination. He also provided a clear copy of the inspection quotes so there were no surprises. In the end, they completed the full inspection, replaced the car battery, and fixed a coolant leak for around $550+ (including taxes). I definitely recommend this shop! Pro-tip: Try to get there early in the day, as on-site parking and road traffic can get a bit hectic later on.

    Bottom Line Upfront: Miramar Auto Repair is one of the best values of any auto shop in San Diego…read more Jason and Pedro were exceptional in taking care of me, and finding a solution to a very technical challenge. I brought in my Honda Ridgeline for an issue with my AC. Jason worked with me at the front-desk and went above and beyond to understand my issue and the troubleshooting I had already done. He explained to me CONCISELY what the feasible issue may be, and how they were going to approach a diagnosis. Jason was extremely knowledgeable, and followed up promptly to discuss the fix. Pedro was also exceptional. He found the issue (rodent-chewed wires) and repaired it perfectly. When I picked up my car, he was as excited as I was to have helped me. Before Miramar Auto, I took my truck to the Honda dealer, and they charged twice as much for a diagnosis, only to tell me that I would need a new compressor (incorrect diagnosis) and that it would cost twice as much as I ended up paying out the door at Miramar auto. I couldn't believe how easy Miramar Auto made it. To say that Jason, Pedro, and Miramar Auto are honest, fair, and made me feel taken care of... would be an understatement. They have rightfully earned another lifelong customer. Thank you Miramar Auto!

    College Smog Check - smog_check_stations - Updated July 2026

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