Clean Air Smog STAR Station

Great service. I failed smog first time and the guy told me to go directly to muffler shop for new catalytic converter and that it would be cheaper than going to my fiat mechanic. He saved me a lot of money by telling me this. Catalytic converter at Golden Auto Muffler only $ 220 including labor, went back to smog and passed. If I would have gone to my mechanic I know I would not have gotten out of there under $ 600.
Thank you! Highly recommend!

Based on previous Unilocal reviews, I went to Clean Air Smog this afternoon and was not disappointed. The service was friendly and quick — who could ask for more?

These guys are fast, just pull in and give them your keys, didn’t need an appointment or anything. Their discounts are good and they’ll even ask how you found them!
The most expedient check in the city by far.

Just wow. I pulled in, they asked how I heard about the place and I said Unilocal.Boom, $ 20 discount.
Him: Please have a seat and I’ll meet you in the waiting room in a minute.
Me: OK, thanks…
Before I could sit down and open my FB app, he was there telling me it was done and it passed!
Fast, friendly and fifty-​nine beans. Pretty much perfect.

Super fast! Super nice people. I called ahead, and they said no wait; they mean it!
It’s right across the street from DNA lounge and pizza. By the time I went across the street to buy a slice of pizza (also no line there) the car was done!
Mention Unilocal for a discount.

Great service. $ 20 discount if you check in with the Unilocal app. I was in and out of there in 15 minutes.

Echo everyone’s comments. In and out within 10 minutes. $ 20 off so $ 59.95. Fantastic, quick service with a smile. I’m a repeat customer for sure!

Located on a block that’s not too very busy, and nice wide entryway, so easy to pull in the vehicle. Immediately greeted by some one very friendly, and the price quote — before discount — was consistent with what i’ve paid elsewhere a few years before, plus mentioning Unilocal immediately triggered the $ 20 discount.
Waiting room fairly spacious and comfortable, though could be ventilated a little better; when some one left a truck running the waiting area filled up with fumes but a staff person did close the door.
So … my car passed — except it didn’t pass on a technicality. What happened next was an education, and yes, this could happen to you. The State of California has been cracking down since a couple of years ago on Catalytic Converters, which might work but which do not correctly match the «cat» type for the vehicle. Apparently muffler shops have cut corners in the past, and CA is sorting this out. I have no idea who put on the non-​matching unit, but the car owner gets to pay to make it right.
There is a database now widely available here to match part numbers with car years/​models:
I ended up doing some research, finding the above database, and then my regular mechanic kindly put my car on his lift at no charge, discovering that the front Catalytic Converter was clearly attached the way original equipment only could be attached. I then realized that what Clean Air had maybe tried to explain but didn’t at first, was that this could happen, and I really only had to replace one cat, the one with the non-​matching number.
So, I left Clean Air Smog Test not even realizing I had two catalytic converters and that one was OK, so then i ended up getting quotes for the pair. My mechanic inspecting them both is what saved me on that. I was shown the number on the incorrectly matched cat — though that was written down incorrectly itself — and was given initials to sort out when i got home — CARB EO # … which means California Air Resource Board Executive Order Number.
The EO# on the cat i had was mismatched; the EO#‘s are what show up in the State of CA database at
.
When I returned for reinspection after getting that one cat replaced, I passed, and then I learned a lot more. I would just encourage Clean Air to figure out ways to be more clear about the most important details during those first after minutes after not passing some one, standing there in shock trying to understand that they didn’t pass even though the emissions tests were fine.
They gave me some information — but i had to sleuth the rest — and get help from my mechanic — in order to be sure to get the right part and not pay for two cats when I only needed one.

Excellent, courteous service, a fast smog check, and a $ 20 discount for mentioning their online coupon — they made the whole process pain free!

Amazing! Got the $ 20 discount by just mentioning Unilocal and the whole process was super fast and super friendly!

As painless as you can get.
Showed up on a Saturday with no appointment, and it took less than 10 minutes. Smiling and pleasant people, a well priced service, and they show their appreciation for return customers.
Second time I’ve been here, and I’ll be back again next time I my car needs a check.

As always they are fast and affordable. Never had a problem getting any of my cars smoged. I wish I could write more about my experience but it was way too smooth and easy.

Fantastic experience. Took 10 minutes, literally and everyone there was pleasant and polite. If more businesses were like these guys, the world would be a better place.

Guys were super nice and took $ 20 off right away upon mentioning Unilocal.In and out under 10 minutes. Absolutely a breeze.

5 stars for a reason. Friendly service, $ 20 off, and in and out under 15 minutes. Getting a smog check couldn’t be any more painless.

Perfect service was in and out in about 10 minutes. The $ 20 coupon was fantastic! Great service and clean shop. Would totally recommend

These guys were awesome. Saw me on a Saturday morning with no appointment. In and out in about 20 minutes. Completely professional and the price was fantastic.
How could you not like a business like this.

Take II: the other car. Just as efficient and friendly as last time. In the words of the Governator, I’ll be back…

Quick, literally less than 10 minutes start to finish. Save $ 20 by mentioning Unilocal,no need to print a coupon. Very polite and pleasant and WAY cheaper than most places around town.

This place was so fast that when I dropped off my car, I told the guy I was going to go grab a coffee and he said, «Oh, don’t, we’ll be done faster than that.» And he was right!
Painless too, they sent the info to the DMV, and a few weeks later my registration sticker showed up.
The best!

Got my smog check done in less than 15 minutes today. Been coming here for years (with 4 or 5 different cars) and it is always a top notch experience. They’re fast, courteous and competent. They send the smog certificate electronically to DMV so online registration renewal is a cinch. Hands down these guys are the best ever.

Awesome!!! Believe the reviews. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Quick, easy & affordable. Mention Unilocal discount.

Quick, easy, and professional. They accepted my Unilocal coupon the moment I mentioned it, without asking to verify it on my phone screen. I paid, waited for one car ahead of me, they drove my car around the block to return it to me out front, and they submitted the certificate directly to the DMV. I believe I was there less than 15 minutes. Then I went across the street and got DNA Pizza. I mailed in my registration renewal, and got my updated sticker within a week.

People are telling the truth when they say FASTEST Smog Check EVER! (Well, this was my first ever, so a good experience in all). I was in and out in 10 minutes TOPS.
You bring your car in, they take it to get it checked. In the mean while, you pay (with a Unilocal discount of $ 20), watch TV, barely twiddle your thumbs and you are out!
Great job!

There was no one there so I was in and out in 10 minutes. Brilliant. The only down side that I could see if it is busy… parking could be an issue.

Pricy — even with the Unilocal discount — but I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Very nice and attentive staff.

Fastest Smog Check ever!!!
Super fast and friendly service. There’s no reason to go anywhere else. I will definitely highly recommend your shop to all my friends who need a smog check. Very convenient to Costco!
The whole thing took under 10 minutes. There is a TV and water in the waiting room. Highly recommend five stars all the way! Thank you!

There’s no way I could have expected this to be so quick and painless. On my drive there I realized that I’d forgotten the paper that I received in the mail from the DMV. I called them and they said don’t worry about it. I was out in 15 minutes. $ 60 well worth it to be out of there so quickly. I was impressed with their good use of technology to make things easy.

I’ve gone here twice now. Technically, I’ve been here once and my husband brought my car the second time… but it’s easy! There’s never a wait, and if you mention that you found them on Unilocal,they give you $ 20 off!

Whoa! They’re so fast! This is the only STAR test center that is super quick, but it’s probably because of the price. If you don’t mind spending a little extra for quick service, go here.

10 minutes, $ 60, passed.

Picked up an MR2 Spyder and needed a smog to change ownership. Clean Air Smog came highly recommended from The Garage Auto Repair in SF, the only honest and reliable auto repair shop I go to in SF. They recently opened a location in Burlingame as well.
The guys at Clean Air Smog were friendly and efficient.

Wow! Who would have thought you could have a pleasant experience getting a smog test.
1^st, I mentioned I heard from Unilocal and the guy gave me the $ 20 off right away.
2^nd, I think it took less than 5 mins.
3^rd, the advice he gave me about heading to AAA to pay the dmv registration was spot on.
Awesome 5 star experience.

These guys were awesome.
Ask for Tommy as he is completely understanding and patient. I was running a little late but once I got there, the whole process went by super fast.
They were definitely fast, friendly, courteous and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a smog check.
Thanks Tommy!

7 years later and this is still the only place in town I’ll take my cars to get smogged at. 10 minutes from start to finish this morning at 10am on a Saturday. Can’t beat that!