Stopped by to do the smog check on one of my trucks and Hasan did a great job. Fast and very professional. I highly recommend this place.

So easy! I showed up for a Star smog check for a Camry Hybrid - they took me right away and it took 5 minutes. They're affordable with their online coupon and they send the clearance straight to the DMV. Friendly and efficient! read more

Quick service, drove in, no lone, 10-15 minutes completed and drove out. Slightly hidden in the back corner, last bay of the gas station. read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Service is quick but they will overcharge you. I came in with a coupon found on their website and they proceeded to overcharge me because I have an SUV after the smog was done. I wouldn't waste my time coming here again. read more

This is my official "go to" for my car's smoke check. It's for his efficiency and price for value. Please note that he starts at 9am, but usually there'll be a line 15 mins before he opens. Therefore, please be patience as the line moves very quickly. Highly recommended. Oil Change You can also do oil change there also, but the guy won't come till around 10:30am. I tried it few weeks ago, two thumbs up. read more

Buyer beware: This place is a complete ripoff. First, they have the same name as another Star Smog in San Mateo. I went to this one by accident. Second, they charge $89 for a smog check vs $31 for "exotic" cars of which a Porsche is considered one. I've gotten many smog checks with my Porsche and it's never cost more than ~$35. The process is exactly the same so they literally are charging 2.5x more for absolutely no reason. The other Star Smog is cheaper and has no added costs for "exotic" cars. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. read more

A scam--they charged me more than 2x for a smog check over going market rate. My mistake for being too trusting!

This spot was recommended by a neighbor on another app and look it up it up via google. Had decent yelp reviews and on the website there is a special where you get the smog for $40 out the door. I called to try and make an appointment but he said it's 1st come 1st serve and just show him the online ad and he will honor it. The $40 is for non STAR certification. I had an older vehicle that needed the STAR certification and I think it is a couple of extra tests or something but that is not covered in the $40 special and says so right on the coupon. So if you have an older car you might be paying more if you didn't look at your required certificate rating. Anyways when I pulled up and showed him the coupon he said it'll be like 10-15 mins. There was no one there so I was probably there closer to 10 mins at most. When I paid he asked if I had cash and I said yes so I gave it to him in cash before he handed me back my certificate and registration paper. There really isn't anywhere to wait while the work is going on but I just stood under the shade of the tree by the sidewalk and scrolled some social media and it was done. Another patron pulled up behind after me so again it is 1st come 1st served. Seems like a 1 man operation so guessing if he's out it's closed. read more

Came here last minute on a Sunday, where most places are closed. Took me in to smog my CR-Z in just a few minutes. Had a deal for an unbeatable price on the peninsula. Would come back to smog any future car read more

Fast smog check, nice and efficient guy who performed the test. I plan to use this place every time I need to smog check my car.

Brought my car in for a smog test and the price changed. The claims it's because I drive a Volvo. Really...you're going to charge me more just because I drive a European car. I should've just taken it elsewhere. What a scam this place runs. Bait and switch! read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

In and out today in 10 minutes, maybe less. Didn't make an appointment, just drove by and no one was in line so they took me right away, took credit card. No muss, no fuss. Was $65 bucks but I'm reading back these other reviews, might be some coupon that I should have asked/look for, oh well. Gladly paid for zero hassle/wait read more

I highly recommend Star Smog check! They are nice, polite and fast. How many places can you say that about anymore? I was in and out in about 10-15 minutes and I had a web coupon which they happily honored. Having to get your car smog checked every few years is kind of a pain but if you can get it done for a reasonable price and from somebody that doesn't act like you're putting them out, why not go to a place like Star Smog? read more

Wanted to get our 1997 Toyota Corolla smog checked. Our local service stations either no longer performed the service or did not perform the service to pre-2000 cars. We found Star Smog San Mateo on Yelp and decided to give them a call after a chain service station was going to charge double. NOTE THE FOLLOWING: - No appointment necessary (recommend when they open) - Accepts cash or credit card, but there is a discount with cash - They service pre-2000 vehicles. Price is cheaper for 2000 and later cars. - Convenient location. Gas station, regular service garage and convivence store on premise. Safeway Supermarket across the street. - Promise of twenty-minute turnaround time......was done in less (might have been due to having our car overhauled a few months prior). Kudos to Tom for making the experience a satisfying one. read more

I've been here 3 times with 3 different cars and they were always great, quick, and honored the coupon price. I was in and out quickly and on my way so when my girlfriend's car needed smog I referred her here with no question. She goes and they tell her that they can't honor the coupon price for her because of her specific car and basically wasted her time, she ended up going down the street for somewhere cheaper. I didn't think much of it until I read another review here of another female experiencing the same issue which makes me believe this is more a gender-related issue as opposed to a car model issue. What makes me believe this even more is that the three cars I took were a BMW M3, Audi Q5, and Toyota Corolla, my girlfriend's car is a BMW 128i, so you're telling me you can do my BMW M3 which is a higher-end BMW than my girlfriend's BMW for the coupon price but you can't do hers for that price? just doesn't make sense to me. 3 stars or the 3 cars they did for me and were great at but I can't say I will support a business if they are gender discriminating read more

I went for a smog mid-September. They were featuring a coupon for the smog. I don't remember how much it was but let's just say it was $49.00 (if you check in on Yelp.) I check in and let him know I have a coupon. Him: "But it will be $89.00. We are star certified. You need a star certified smog check." Me: "All legal smog check centers in California are star smog." Him: "Your car is more." Me: "It's a four door car, five cylinder engine. It's seven years old with 51,000 miles. How is that different than the car for $49?" Him: "Well we have to send a certificate to DMV so I will do the smog for $69.00." Le sigh. I don't know if it's because I'm a woman or this is just a scam they have going but it's just such B.S. to have to fight someone about a coupon. JUST DON'T HAVE A COUPON IF YOU ARE GONNA LIE, SCAM AND FIGHT ME ON THE COUPON. I hate this kind of sh*t and it's constant as a woman when you get anything done on your car. Positive: Fast. My car passed. Negative: Haggling to get the deal on the coupon and not getting it anyway because they people who run this place are hella shady. read more

I dropped by without an appointment after work and they did a smog test on my car right away (it took 10 minutes). The price was reasonable and the service was friendly, helpful, and prompt. I forgot to bring my DMV paper and it was fine. I highly recommend this business read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Business entrance next to 76 gas station - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Over the years, Star Smog in San Mateo has become my go to place for smog checks. As soon as my car renewal came in this year and required a smog check, I didn't have to worry about getting it done in time. I just needed to pull up to the back of the 76 Gas Station on El Camino across from the Safeway where they service cars quickly and efficiently. Today I drove up to Star Smog with no prior appointment and was in and out within 10-15 minutes. They are super quick and very helpful - I forgot to bring my renewal papers and the technician said it was fine as along as I could prove the VIN number, he could check it on the computer. I used my insurance card, sat down for a few minutes and was off and away! They have a coupon online which you need to mention in order to get a discount. Usually a non-STAR check is 59.95 without the certificate but if you mention the online coupon, it was $31.75 + $8.25 for the certificate sent for you. An easy $40 to spend for such great service. And when you need STAR certification it's only $10 more. read more

Efficient and reasonable priced smog check here at $40. I was in and out in ten minutes, will definitely be back in the future!

They said each service takes 15 minutes so I made sure I showed up 45 minutes early before they closed. One car was in front of me but they still said they were closed because they wanted to go home early on a Friday. read more

I dropped in without an appointment. There were two people in front of me. I waited 35 minutes. He was kind and efficient. I used a coupon $31.75. read more

I only came here to get the smog certificate. It was incredibly quick, okay priced (I think? It was my first time doing it), and within a day could get my car registration done online. The only thing I wasn't expecting was that the lower Yelp price required cash, so bring cash! read more

Super fast, reliable, polite service. Will come here every time for my Smog check. 10 minutes max.

came to this place not knowing what to expect. To my surprise it was excellent!! guy works there is super nice. i will come back again in future to get smogged. $40.00 bucks with coupon? u cant beat that!! quick too. thanks. read more

Waste of time. They say come on down. Then the tech isn't available. The machine was broken, but its minor they say come tomorrow no problem. It was still a problem. Come back later. Wouldnt take an appointment. Then said youd have to wait a few hours unless you made an appointment. Don't waste you efforts. read more

Sketchiest place to do your smog. Didn't pass the first time and they still charged me (gave me a free retry) fixed the car went for the free re-test and didn't pass again because "somehow" the computer got reset and now I need to drive at least 100 miles before trying again (but of course ! For $59.75)... even tho that part of the test did pass the first time. read more

Quick service. Took coupon. Not a bait and switch type of deal. The tech was professional and had me in and out in no time. read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Two years ago this was a 4-5 star place. Now I'd give it zero if I could. I called the day before to tell them what vehicle I had and asked if I should make an appointment. They said no, so I came the next morning and waited one hour only for them to tell me that their '97 smog machine hadn't been calibrated. At lunchtime they told me it's good to go, I came and waited another half hour. Guy then tells me I have "so many" aftermarket components on my car (intake, header, cat, they are all CARB legal with stickers!!) that he's going to charge me $120. Completely ridiculous. Never coming back here again even though this is the smog place closest to my house. I hit up Smog Man / Dhillon Motorsports in San Jose and their rate is exactly the same as my other '96 car. read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

Excellent service. Honest business. Really recommend. Really liked the owner. He had a great discount and honoured it - no problem. People blame the smog checker when their car doesn't pass. Mine didn't the first time. I got it fixed. Just a gas cap problem. Check your gas cap! Note: California has a charge to file smog check - has nothing to do with the place you have it checked. Goes directly to the state of California air resources board. read more

This guy doesn't know anything. He said my aftermarket drop in filter needs a carb number and when I went to O'Reilly's and bought a filter to show him they don't come with carb numbers when they fit into completely stock intakes he started to say it's because my filter lid is missing which also doesn't effect emissions. read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Wouldn't pass me at first because I had an "aftermarket intake" even though it's just a drop in filter. - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

I asked my son to go get a smog and My bad for not reading the $31.75 coupon. If going in for "Smog required at a STAR station" the coupon doesn't apply. Over double the price $69.75. Do they run different tests? Anyway just be aware. read more

This person won't even try to educate himself about how to test imports that are older than 2009. If you have one, don't bother as you'll waste your time. Unbelievable that he's not interested in learning about his trade. To top it off, he has an awful attitude. read more

Have been coming here for my smog check for years but didn't through the pandemic. Mom's car needed a smog so came on a Saturday without an appt. Looks like it got new owners? They couldn't be nicer and very professional. There was one car in front of me but very quickly they were able to finish and get mom's car going. Price is still reasonable and they are efficient in how fast the smog went. Highly recommend this place. Especially for those looking for a place on the weekends! read more

I wanted to bring my car here because the website said no appointments required and that they open at 8am. I rearranged my morning so that I could get there to drop off my car at 8am before work only to arrive to find the place completely closed with no one answering the phone and no one to speak to but the gas station attendant who told me he "doesn't know when they'll be here and it's a completely separate business". From speaking with the attendant it seems like a very normal occurrence that this business is not actually open at 8am. I'm frustrated at having wasted my time and will not be coming back. If you open later than your hours listed online then just update the hours on your website! read more

Both yelp and their website said they were open today at 9:00AM but when I showed up, it was closed and the attendant at the gas station next door said "He should be here, I don't know why he is not" read more

The guy that works here may not smile a lot; but he has integrity. I went to other shop and they took my $$ even though they "knew" my car didn't reset to test properly. This guy at this shop, always told me.... "Can't run the test because your car hasn't reset". He "NEVER" took my $ and pretend he ran it and it failed. I tipped him 2x for his honesty: I appreciate honest people! read more

I took my BMW there to get it smogged. I must say this place especially Jimmy has the best customer service. I will be recommending this place to everyone. I will be back for my oil changes/tune ups and anything else that my car needs. Thank you for excellent customer service! read more

After getting my notice from the DMV I found this Star Certified station and went to get my car inspected. The first time I showed up the person told me that he did not eat lunch and asked me if I could come back on Monday so I did. When I returned he told me that he did not know how to look at the engine on my car so he could not do the inspection. When I asked him if he was serious he then told me "well I have to open the panel to see it and I am not a mechanic" When I asked him if I can open it for him he got upset and said "no it will take 20 minutes it is too long". This is just poor work ethic. After writing this review I contacted BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) I was told the only reason an inspection can be refused is if the vehicle is unsafe. This was reported and an investigation has been started. I was also able to get my car inspected with no question or hassles at another Star Station. read more

Star Smog - San Mateo - Clearly states they do ANY vehicle but they could not do mine? - Smog Check Stations Near Me - San Mateo, California

I rolled in and the technician helped me within minutes. He was very specific about how much time the test would take, I found him friendly and helpful in explaining. The price was acceptable. Thank you, I will come back again. read more

Waited 15 mins. Job was done quickly with no issues. They were great and affordable. Highly recommended.