Ace Test Only Smog Center

Super friendly and fast! I used a Unilocal Check-​In offer on my phone for $ 39.95, which seems to be the best price around!
I just moved my car here from a state that doesn’t require smog checks, so the smiley and kind employee offered me a seat outside in the shade where I could watch what he was doing in the garage.

Change of ownership and/​or staffing has led to a dramatic degradation in my dealings with this place. It’s cold. Indifferent.
Suffice to say that I no longer visit them for smog checks, preferring this other place in Oakland:

Coupon is BS– tried to charge $ 90 «because it’s a van» — coupon does not state this and I would not have driven there if it did.

He honored a competitor’s $ 25 coupon + $ 8 certificate. The whole thing took about 11 minutes. Good job!

Called at 4pm to see if they could smog my car, and for how much.
«Yes,» and «$ 50».
Showed up 15 minutes later, waited 10 minutes for my turn, and 15 minutes after that the car was smogged and the certification sent. $ 50 even, no tax, no fees.
How much better/​easier does it get?

Won’t go to another place for a smog check, from now on.
Guys at Arts Automotive recommended this place to me two years ago. Today I got my second smog check with Ace after having my first one done 2 years ago.
I was in and out in 15 minutes. I drove in at 4:30 pm and drove out at 4:45. The guy is courteous and great at what he does; he doesn’t mess around.

Great place! Right off Ashby Ave. on San Pablo. Moe greeted and helped me, asked where I heard about them right off the bat ( Unilocal of course!), quickly got my paperwork in order and out to work on my Smog Check. I was glad to buy local, not a big chain business. It’s easy to find, Friendly folks, great service!
It took only 10 – 15 minutes (just enough time for me to run to Walgreens next door for a quick errand and back) and back on the road in no time! Unilocal discount applied.

Pulled up at 10:45am on a Tuesday for a smog check with no appointment. Got seen right away. Filled out a small form and walked around for the 15-​min wait time (Walgreens and Discount Fabric store nearby). Right on schedule; paid the $ 80-​($ 20 off from their website coupon) = $ 60 and was on my way. If you’re moving to CA and therefore need to get a smog check, I’d definitely recommend this place.

I’m definitely going to come back when I have to get my smog tested. Fast, friendly and great service! Plus, mention Unilocal and you get a discount! Couldn’t ask for better service all around!

I originally came in for an engine clean to remove the burningman dust, and for $ 10 extra they did an internal vacuum & window wash.
They then did a preliminary outer wash for free. I decided to get the outside done elsewhere because I wanted an underbody wash.
They were super friendly and helpful and nice and did a good job. I didn’t get the full detail, and can tell where they would have done more if I had ordered the full service. I totally recommend them.

These guys were awesome; friendly, cheap, and efficient! I was actually driving to another smog check place further down San Pablo Ave. because they had a Unilocal special (mention Unilocal get $ 20 off). As I was waiting at the light at Ashby and San Pablo, I saw a brother getting down and funky with his spinning sign action (think, «Spin Up!» from MadTV) that alerted me to this place which was right there. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to pull in and see if they could offer me the same deal as the other place and they were able to beat them by almost ten bucks. BONUS!
They said it would be about a half hour total since there was a car ahead of me and they were exact to the minute! I called a friend, walked to Walgreen’s to buy a soda and a writing journal and pens, and by the time I returned, they were done. Sweet! In and out, no hassle, straight up get-​r-​done action. That’s what I’m talking about! And I didn’t have to drive all the way to University and San Pablo, either. Woop-​woop!
Nice guys. Give them your business. And be sure to mention Unilocal to get your sweet discount.
SPIN UP!

I brought my girlfriend’s Carrera in here just for a wash ‘n wax, and they were the best! I had been driving around in circles in ‘downtown’ Berkeley looking for the ‘same old place’ and gave up and checked the Web. I saw Ace listed up here at Unilocal and decided if they were so good with people and smog tests, then they’d probably do a great job on a cleaning gig.
And I was right. The Carrera positively gleamed! The three guys were on it for a good hour. I skipped the Armor-​all and the possibility of having the engine steam-​cleaned. The complete (and I do mean «complete») wash & wax was $ 50.
Trust me, it was worth the cash. And the people working here really are first-​rate. I told the guy I’d seen their smog tests reviewed on Unilocal,and he offered me a discount. I politely declined. Maybe if I had mentioned seeing them on Unilocal ‘before’ they did the job, yeah, I might have taken a discount, but they earned every penny.
So, I highly recommend the place, just as everybody else (I think) up here does. If you think fifty bucks is too much dough, well, do it yourself, or take your chances with one of the automated joints. Or get a half-​assed wash somewhere else. I’ll be back, that’s a definite Yes.

Our ten year old Oldsmobile (purchased out of state) needed a smog check for registration renewal. I found a coupon for Ace Test Only Smog Center in a free coupon book that was in the mail. Being a faithful Unilocaler, I checked Unilocal for reviews of this place, and the result was satisfactory.
I called on Sat. at 3:30 pm, asking what the wait would be. A friendly man answered saying there was no wait. Awesome! I drove to the place, left the car and the DMV paper with them, took a walk to Sea Salt, had $ 1 oysters and $ 3 draft beer, and then came back to the place. The car had passed the test, so I paid and I was out of there! So easy.
There is a small and adequate waiting room, but I didn’t want to sit in that room with other people for 30 min. when the weather was so nice. The new Berkeley Bowl is fairly close to this place, too. Of course, if you don’t mind a 10 — 15 min. walk, the best option to kill time is to head to Sea Salt for $ 1 oysters.
Another chore done without hassle makes me happy.

My ideal SMOG CHECK situation. In at 9am headed across town for a deal on a SMOG CHECK. Thought, what the hey, let me try the neighborhood smog place and see if they’re willing to save me a drive. They do, done deal, 15 minutes and back on my way to the couch to resume whichever marathon happens to be on TV this weekend.
Thanks ACE!

Thank you to the Ace Test Only team. I smog checked two vehicles in two weeks. The reason I went back is becasue they were so pleasant about the whole experience. I mean really, smog test… not really exciting. But these folks are nice, fair, have a waiting room. 15 minutes and I was out.

Two thumbs down. Way down. I dropped my car off for a smog test, but when I returned from checking out the fabric store down the street, the desk clerk informed me that the mechanic had administered a «pre-​smog» test which my car apparently failed. When I asked the clerk to elaborate on next steps, she stared at me blankly and said, «You pay us $ 60 and then you have ten days to get it worked on and come back.» I politely asked what I was paying for if the car had not actually been smogged. She stared at me and repeated, «You have to pay.» I suggested that providing helpful customer service is what brings people back for repeat business. She replied, «Well this is just my job and as long as it’s making money, we don’t really care if someone comes back.» I asked to speak to a manager and, guess who? The mechanic — now sprawled on a sofa listening to bad rap music…
The mechanic was similarly unable or unwilling to explain what I was paying for and when I asked for his name, he refused. The exchange ended with him telling me to take my keys and «get the $#@* outta here.»
I’m not sure if this business has changed hands since the last positive review of actual employees (July ’08) but these two leave a lasting impression. To be avoided.

I called up this spot the week I realized that I only had a month until my registration tag expired. They quoted me $ 50 which I thought was fair.
I was in and out in 15 minutes. Just enough time to grab a coffee before I headed back to work.
I love it when car stuff goes smoothly. Now if only the DMV was this efficient!

First they gave me a heads up that the Camry «Candy» wouldn’t pass with it’s brand new battery, and that I needed to go put another 60+ miles on her, and then come back.
I came back, passed, fed Krispy Kremes while I waited. Very smooth, congenial folks, comfortable waiting room, and Krispy Kremes.
Candy and I felt good going in, coming back, waiting for THE check, a discount for being one of ART’s automotive customers, and we both felt good leaving. Now that’s 5 stars!

I really like the service here. They are friendly, honest and fast. I asked around and this was one of the better deals. With the $ 30 coupon, they said the price would be $ 70 (I have an older car). Then they only charged me $ 60 because they saw that I was a repeat customer. Another smog place had told me it would be $ 90 with a coupon. Ace Smog was definitely the better deal.

Seriously? Five stars for a smog check?
Yup!
Called this morning, scheduled a 5:00pm appointment and was out by 5:12pm.
That’s a five star smog check folks.