Garrett&#x27;s Smog 3

203

1 year ago

My husband called a couple hours ago and let me know he was at the smog shop. He said this place is great. The owner offered me a Häagen-Dazs ice cream. About 30 minutes later my husband sends me a picture of Mike and Ike's.. He just got home a minute ago and he's raving about this guy. I think if my husband had to get a smog once a month, he wouldn't mind. I've never heard of anybody having a good time at a smog shop, playing Led Zeppelin, eating candy and ice cream but my husband had a blast. Great service, great value. Passed smog and says he's always going there from now on. read more

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VP U.

160

1 year ago

The most enjoyable smog test in town! For one of the most annoying tasks around- I love coming here, great service & snacks! read more

Garrett's Smog 3 - Fresh fruit while you wait!!! - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Mayra A.

6 months ago

I have been getting my smog checks with Garrett's smog for 18 years. He is supper sweet and always has snacks for everyone. His prices are great and he is quick. His place is supper welcoming. I highly recommend Garrett's smog. read more

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Whitney L.

10 months ago

I had no appointment and was In and out in 15 minutes. Mechanic kept me updated on progress and offered snacks and seating. Lovely hospitality. read more

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Brianna L.

10 months ago

First time at this location, and Chris was so kind and very welcoming. Took about 15 minutes and everything was good to go! Plenty of chairs to sit and free snacks as you wait :) read more

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E F.

218

1 year ago

He was very quick and very efficient. Would go back again. He knows what he is doing. read more

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Cree B.

5 months ago

Friendly service and experience while getting my smog done. I have recommended 3 people already and will continue based on the friendly customer service. read more

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Nick C.

324

7 months ago

was new to the area and got my first smog check with Garret around this time last year (or a little later in the year). it's clear he genuinely loves what he does and goes above and beyond to provide an unmatched experience with snacks, jokes, and music. heading back today for something else and couldn't recommend him enough! read more

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Jas C.

1 year ago

Chris meets customer service requests, he exemplifies the highest quality level, while delivering the best value in his market space

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Maggie O.

11 months ago

Chris is our go to! We would follow him anywhere! Honest, Friendly, and makes getting your Smog completed an enjoyable experience every time! Thank you! read more

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Anita T.

9 months ago

I needed a a smog check to renew my car registration. I got to the shop in the early morning and work was started right away. I always use Garrett's Smog for my car registrations. He does great work. The owner is a really nice guy, too. read more

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Farid N.

1 year ago

Best smog shop in north county Have been coming hete for many years Always friendly and the service always great read more

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Sharon H.

1 year ago

Chris was an absolute delight to work with. Honest, fair, friendly- and quick to the draw with good old fashioned hospitality. He even treated me to my choice of music while I waited for my smog - what a guy! I highly recommend his services, in fact I give him more than 5 stars if I could read more

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Belle Z.

130

2 years ago

I love the vibe. Very kind and personable staff. They work quickly, diligently and ply your with snacks, ice cream, and drinks. There is a dart board and comfy seating. Turn a smog slog into a fun little adventure! read more

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Marc C.

11 months ago

My first time with Chris. He did a great job, offered lots of feedback and answered questions. Very friendly. I'll be back.

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Kayden L.

10 months ago

stopped by to get my car smogged and chris was super helpful and kind! he had me in and out in 10 minutes. the waiting area had lots of seating and chris made sure i helped myself to fresh fruit, snacks, and a cold beverage while i waited. he also gave me some helpful advice as i'm new to the area. will definitely return and recommend for any car needs! read more

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Mal P.

2 years ago

Definitely a bit on the pricey side but id rather support a small business who tries to make the wait a fine one. Provides snacks and drinks and was super nice to talk to. Will continue to support him read more

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Helen Z.

1 year ago

I have used Garrett before and he is off-the-chart good! I couldn't be more impressed. AND, he is a great person. He has chairs and snacks for customers to relax and enjoy a treat while he works his magic. Give him a try, you will NOT be disappointed! read more

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Seancito X.

126

3 years ago

Packaged snacks and drinks.... Including ICE CREAM! 15 minutes if no one is there before you. Nicely located in case you have to leave it for a bit. Good service and always friendly. read more

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Shawna A.

2 years ago

I came here 2 years ago based on the reviews and after a great experience I came again for my smog renewal. The most friendly and comfortable place to get your smog, especially as a woman. As an added bonus the snacks are great, but the reason I repeated my business here was the friendly and energetic interactions. read more

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Mark G.

2 years ago

Chris is a great guy , came in early Saturday morning , in and out in 20 min Highly recommend ! read more

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Jesse M.

2 years ago

Great customer service. Short wait time. I've gone twice to have my cars Smogged and will continue to support this business.

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Chad C.

4442

647

5920

5 years ago

Excellent location that is easy to get in and out quickly in the heart of San Marcos by the high school. This is was the best experience I have had with a smog check, was less than fifteen minutes. Five Stars, will be back soon. read more

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Beth J.

276

2 years ago

Fast friendly and efficient the owner is super friendly they offer snacks and drinks also! I had a great experience!

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Carlos R.

134

4 years ago

Great time and a great guy! Fast and efficient! Thank You! So much empathy making sure if I am thirsty or wanted a snack. Cool guy to chat with. I don't recall his name, but I know his name is not Garrett. read more

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Bill M.

3 years ago

Excellent all around. No appointments taken. Friendly and professional. Deluxe waiting area with complementary beverages, snacks, and frozen treats. Recommend! read more

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Adrienne-Marie P.

132

3 years ago

Friendly, quick, efficient, professional! No appointment needed, first come first serve. Came here @11am on a Saturday and was out in 10-15min. We always come back here because the service is outstanding! Also, there is the added bonus of snacks and drinks. read more

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Mary A.

2 years ago

Always fits me in without an appointment, will not waste your money if he thinks it won't pass the first time, recommended a government-aide program for low-income individuals to offset mechanic cost needed to pass smog. Always is generous with snacks and refreshments and a comfy place to wait. read more

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josh w.

126

3 years ago

Go get your smog done quickly, have some laughs and an ice cream. What more could you want, I love this place and you will too.

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Jesse L.

Elite 11

3 years ago

A smog check is just one of those minor annoyances in life that no one wants to deal with. And it's really aggravating if the errand ends up taking more of your precious time than expected. That has never happened to me here and Chris makes the experience as painless as possible, which is very appreciated. I first started coming here years ago simply because I moved to a close by neighborhood. Now I live a bit further away and could go elsewhere closer to my home but I still come back here because I know the service will be excellent and I want to support that. read more

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Paul E.

3 years ago

Wasn't expecting the best customer service experience of the year for me to be at a Smog testing station, but here we are. Chris is fast and friendly & provides a comfortable waiting area with great snacks. I wanted to hang out longer! Highly recommend. read more

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Chris D.

2 years ago

Very hospitable. Always does the job right. And just an all around reliable and great guy. Always get my smog checks done here even though I may not know anything about cars. Great service for value. read more

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Jordan G.

4 years ago

Just got my smog check done by Chris. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Coolest guy I've met in a long time. ...And yes, he's got snacks haha read more

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John F.

2 years ago

Very friendly and effective smog service. Highest recommendation! He even offers snacks and refreshments!

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E M.

4 years ago

Chris completed two of my cars in less than an 45 minutes. I had an ice cream sandwich and listened to rock and roll. I made two friends while waiting. Keep up the old fashioned kindness, Chris. Great job! read more

Garrett's Smog 3 - Texas Ranger - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Travis R.

107

5 years ago

This place has been our secret smog check station for years! Chris is awesome and always does a quick and reliable job on our vehicles. We give this place two thumbs up! Soda, snacks and ice cream for the kids while you wait too! read more

Garrett's Smog 3 - My girls even enjoy coming to get the cars checked out each year! - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Marcos, California

Garrett's Smog 3 - 2 thumbs up for the ice cream as always! - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Sam G.

2 years ago

Best service around! Incredibly friendly and fast. I absolutely recommend to anyone needing a smog check.

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Ryan M.

121

2 years ago

Extremely easy, fast, and courteous. Would recommend to anyone and everyone that needs to get their car smogged!

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Richard T.

363

460

1250

8 years ago

BEST, BEST, BEST smog check experience, EVER!!! Garrett's Smog 3 ROCKS AWESOMELY! My goodness, I drive by this place almost every day and I never knew it was here. Alas, when I done got my arse pulled over by the fuzz for an incomplete registration, I quickly checked my Yelp app, saw Garrett's and called. No worries he said, Come in right away and I'll take care of everything. The here are fair and the whole process is super fast! And, when I drove up and the first thing he offered me were a box of his totally delicious homegrown Tangelos from his tree. Yowzer, they were the best things, EVER!!! It's such a casual, homey, kick back place, filled with snacks, ice cream, beverages, a TV, and magazines. No attitude, no drama, just amazingly friendly and efficient service. What's more, he is a powerhouse of knowledge about cars and the local area. I totally just wanted to hang out here all day! Garrett's Smog 3 is one the venerable reasons why I LOVE North San Diego so darn much!!! read more

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Alan I.

2 years ago

Super friendly quick nice guy. Offers help without any strings. Support this business it's a good one!

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More info about Garrett's Smog 3

821 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd
San Marcos, CA 92078
Directions
(760) 471-2179
Call Now

Payment methods

Does Garrett's Smog 3 take credit cards?

Yes, Garrett's Smog 3 takes credit cards.

Other Amenities

Does Garrett's Smog 3 have free WiFi?

No, Garrett's Smog 3 does not have free WiFi.

More Info

Hours

Ask the Community - Garrett's Smog 3

Is this a star station?

Yes, he provides all the certification and paperwork right away!

Do you also do VIN Verification?

Sorry I don’t do that

How much for smog and certificate for 2009 Honda Civic?

$71. I also provided free pre-test

Need smog check on 2011 Lexus RX350 as part of Registration renewal. What is the price? Do I need an appointment?

No appointment necessary before you come over are there any warning lights coming on the dash check engine light has the battery been disconnected less than 100 miles ago or had any software updates or recalls if yes when you come in just asked the…

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Candy C.

5 years ago

Chris is awesome!! I've been going to Garrett's Smog for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. In and out in about 20 minutes. Chris is sooooo nice, he always offers assorted snacks, ice creams, drinks and seasonable fresh fruit from this own trees. There is plenty of seating, magazines, dart boards and your choice of music. He is one of the nicest and most honest person's I have ever met! This world needs more people like him. Thank you, Chris!!!! read more

DeAnna D.

2 years ago

Garrett is super friendly, hard worker, polite and works with you. He is everything you want and will love about a private business owner. We have been going to him all of my auto ownership (roughly 30 years now.) my father had come here even longer than that. We now will always pass the smog check and if anything happens he can fix it or tell you honestly if not. Thank you Garrett for all your years of help, experience and dedication. read more

Garner A.

16 years ago

I've been going to Garrett's Smog for several years now, with multiple cars. Chris the SMOG test technician is awesome. He's the friendliest, most pleasant guy you could meet. He always offers snacks or drinks while I wait. Quick with the SMOG test and paperwork. I couldn't ask for more when getting my cars tested. I highly recommend if you live in the area! read more

Lana G.

4 years ago

I walked in for smog check and I was out in half an hour! Super good service, very friendly and helpful. Garret offered water, snacks, ice cream and there was seating arrangements as well with a dartboard for time pass. I am a very happy customer for this smog test place. Super convenient to locate as well. read more

Tyron H.

16 years ago

Have had all my cars smogged here for the past 5 years now. Best place in town. The owner is friendly and personable and always willing to help. There are snacks and drinks provided while you wait and the test is always done in a timely manner. A+ service!! read more

Carolyn B.

5 years ago

I haven't used this place, but I drive by it almost every day. It is so bad looking that it's an embarassment to San Marcos residents. After all these years of being on a very busy corner, I would think that they could clean it up and paint the buildings! read more

Chris O.

9 years ago

Fast, friendly, and reasonably priced. I've used this place three times and have always been happy I did. Chris is great and all the positive reviews say it all, fast friendly and free snacks! I would recommend this place to everyone. Thanks Chris ! read more

John H.

9 years ago

I wouldn't take our cars anyplace else for smog testing. We've been coming here for years and will continue to come, Chris is personable, knowledgeable and fast. I barely had time to eat my free ice cream cone and he was done! He's worth 10 stars! read more

Megan M.

6 months ago

Update: when I drove by today I noticed the waiting area had been torn down and that signs were down. My heart sank to see it. So it's worth calling to see if they're still open before driving over. I'll be sad if it's closed for good. read more

Ana O.

2 years ago

What unbelievable service. Chris was amazing, efficient and so friendly. I would definitely use them again. They went out of their way to provide the best service I've ever gotten. Thank you. read more

Brandon M.

2 years ago

Chris was the best!!!! Extremely friendly!!! Service was wonderful and fast and they gave a military discount! Highly recommend!!! This is the only place I'll get my smog checks from now on! read more

Marie R.

13 years ago

Go see Chris...He is a true People Person!! A joy to work with. He had my 2002 VW ready in about 10mins. Thanks Chris. Best to your family. MRR read more

Michael A.

1 year ago

Best customer service experience amazing snack and great tunes! We got the smog done within 20 minutes. Will come back for sure!

Milla C.

8 years ago

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Quick service! And as a bonus offers awesome refreshments and snacks! Can't beat this service!!

Emilio D.

11 years ago

Hands down the nicest guy you will meet!! Highly recommend him if u need to get ur vehicle smoged!

joe h.

15 years ago

address does not match location? somebody did'nt proof read this ad

Kelly A.

7 years ago

Fast, extremely friendly service.

Garrett's Smog 3 - smog_check_stations - Updated August 2026

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Midnight Smog

5.0

(60 reviews)

My regular smog check place, where I'd been going for years, suddenly closed, and I only found out…read morewhen I drove up and discovered the building had become an EV used car lot. Go figure. Sigh. So I jumped on Yelp, found Midnight Smog, and I'm very glad I did. They were a little difficult to find at first because Google Maps sent us to the wrong location, but once we called, they were super helpful. I asked if I needed an appointment, and they said, "Nope, come right in." That alone was a huge win. The service was excellent from start to finish. They were professional, reliable, affordable, and efficient. The owner was incredibly nice, knowledgeable about cars, and very friendly. My car was smog checked and everything was handled within about an hour. In a world where good service can be hard to find, Midnight Smog was a breath of fresh air. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone needing a smog check, and I'll definitely be back!

This was the most comfortable, efficient, and friendly smog check location I've ever visited. I…read morecalled on a Saturday and was told no appointment was needed. When I arrived, there was no wait at all. They even had comfortable chairs set up outside on a warm day, which was a nice touch. The location is convenient, and the signage made it easy to find the correct entrance without any confusion. Great value overall! I was in and out in about 10 minutes. Highly recommend!

Auto Smog Specialist

4.9

(65 reviews)

This is my place to go for smog certification. They are great for walk-in business with minimal…read morewait. His prices are extremely reasonable. His service is fast and efficient. They have two locations pretty close to each other; this is my favorite location. You want smog done quickly and affordable, here's your place in the Vista, Oceanside area.

Easy to walk in, quickly get my smog inspection done and walk out. Friendly and professional.read more

All Autos Smog

(109 reviews)

We've been going to this guy for years. He's always friendly and a fun character. He has a lot of…read moredifferent hobbies. He has large model planes hanging in the garage and he also works on and plays guitar. He does an efficient job smogging our vehicles. We are in and out of his place quickly. I love that! His prices are comparable to most other places.

Smooth, quick, and basic. In and out in 20 min. I called first and had a solid conversation and…read moreit was a quick and positive interaction.

Tri-City Smog Test Only

4.6

(101 reviews)

This place was quick, easy, and reasonably priced. I got a smog test done quickly just walking in…read more It's close to the dmv so I was able to go right there after and register my vehicle.

This is a great place to bring your car for a smog test. I've been coming here for years. The…read morecustomer service is exceptional! When my car became old, it failed smog one time. The guy, I can't remember his name (sorry), told me exactly what I needed to do, where to get the part, and how to put it in! I did it all on my own!. It was amazing. I took it back and it passed smog! This was an excellent value because if you failed smog the first time you get a discount when you take it back to the same place. Couldn't ask for more. Great price. Excellent service. I feel bad for not remembering his name because it's been the same guy every single year for many years.

ABC Smog

4.8

(102 reviews)

My daughter forgot to get her smog done. He was open til 7 on a Saturday & told us to come on in at…read more6:30. He was quick! Thankful he squeezed us in so she can get her registration done on time. Highly recommend!

Just got my smog done again. Bob is the best. I had a 4pm appointment. I pulled right up. The…read moreprevious customer just wrapped up and I was next. In and out of there in under 20 minutes. See you next time Bob!

Kwic Smog Center

(132 reviews)

I've taken all my cars here for years. Nice guy, professional and good prices. Gets the job done…read morefast and I've never had to make an appointment. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience with Eddie/Eddy, in and out in maybe 10 minutes. Made the call, headed over,…read moresuper simple. Used to go to Vista Smog Center (one of the techs there, Lenny I think, sometimes quotes dishonestly). No more of that, this Kwic Smog was honest and affordable. Recommending Eddie to anyone in need of a check for a fast and honest job.

All Autos Smog

(196 reviews)

North County Smog & Repair Center

4.1

(132 reviews)

High Tech Auto