4 Less Smog Check Test Only Star Certified

San Mateo, United States

4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 650-667-5129
Website:
www.smogchecksanmateo.com
Address:
3925 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA, 94403
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miHillsdale Caltrain Station
1.2 miBelmont
1.7 miHayward Park
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (San Mateo) 4:29 AM Friday, May 30, 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

We are a STAR certified test only smog check station serving San Mateo and other nearby communities. We offer quick, friendly service and can do all smogs needed for the DMV. Make an appointment or just stop by. Check out current wait times on Twitter or our web page. Enjoy our comfortable waiting room with free Wifi while you wait. Lilly, our shop mascot, will be there to greet you.

Current YELP special 29.75* + 8.25 state certificate fee = $ 38 TOTAL

* This offer ONLY applies to 2000 and newer passenger car vehicles. 1999 and older vehicles, Star-​directed vehicles, trucks, SUVs and VANS… please call for an estimate.

History

Established in 2004.

Licensed soon after the State of California introduced the Enhanced Smog Check II program, we have been serving the San Francisco Bay Area ever since.

Meet the Business Owner

Jenner C.

Business Owner

The owner since 2012, Jenner’s goal is to provide customers with an experience that is easy, friendly and fast. Let’s be honest, getting a smog test is not something we all do for fun. Jenner and her staff at 4Less want to make it as painless as possible for everyone. After working in high technology for twenty years, Jenner and her husband bought this business and entered into the small business world. Finding great talent to run the daily operations was Jenner’s first priority. David is the shop manager & weekday smog technician. With his knowledge and problem solving capabilities, he is the rock around which the shop operates. Plus he’s just a really nice guy. Our service writer, Liz, is the friendly voice you hear over the phone and bubbly presence you meet in our waiting room. She keeps things humming efficiently along. And finally there is our shop mascot, Lilly. She will greet you with a tail wag and a cuddle, if you are so inclined.

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Vicinity

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20 reviews of 4 Less Smog Check Test Only Star Certified

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Belmont, CA
Just got back from getting my car tested here. Can’t say enough how pleased I’ve been each time I’ve gone here for smog checks. They are quick, efficient and affordable. The lady at the front desk was super nice and their Jack Russell dog is just adorable. I wouldn’t go to any other shop for smog checks. Very highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
I walk by going to the Yumi Yogurt store next door. Greeted by their friendly dog, Lilly, it remains up, running and busy. A good business community. Thank you.
Place rating: 1
San Mateo, CA
Has an ad running on Unilocal that says $ 39.75 and was charging me $ 59.75. When I printed out to him he first tells me «you don’t want to give me a tip?»
Then gets upset for pointing out the ad. Finally settled for $ 48
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
Excellent service, Fast. Efficient… Friendly.
I was in and out in under an hour time, and I went during the lunch hour.
And my car PASSED! Plus I got $ 5.00 off for just checking in to Unilocal
Totally recommend!
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
The hubs and I both needed our cars smogged so we looked on Unilocal and found 4 Less Smog. It was awesome for many reasons:
1. It is conveniently located close to our home.
2. They were super fast. The plan was to drop our cars off and then walk somewhere nearby to eat. But they were pretty much done by the time we had decided where to go, so we just decided to wait until our cars were done.
3. Awesome service. I wish I could remember the name of the lady who helped us, but she was super friendly. She made the whole process go by real smoothly.
4. Good price!
Overall, we had a great experience. It was quick, cheap, and easy. Har har. Plus our cars passed.
Place rating: 4
Burlingame, CA
Doesn’t require an appointment and relatively fast. They honor the help coupon but prices did increase.
Place rating: 2
Burlingame, CA
4 Less Smog Makes it very clear that they raised their price lately to somewhere between $ 48-​$ 58 which guess is fine, although it could be more clearly disclosed upfront what it actually should be. However, what I’ve felt has been less than pleasant is the disconnect between the lovely service manager Liz and singh, the tech, that actually does the checks. I had a pre-​arranged a specific price with Liz when scheduling my service and this was even noted down. However on arrival, the tech seemed to not know I had an appointment, and upon writing up the services, insisted their prices had gone up and was charging significantly more that the price I had been quoted. Again, I was aware the prices had gone up when I went in, but thought Liz was gracious enough to help me out this once. After going back and forth several times, he offered me a lower price, but still more than expected. Finally, insisting that this had been prearranged with the service manager, and that he needed to check his records, or call Liz did he agree to our actual quoted amount.
Again, still quick and efficient, unfortunately customer service and understanding was lacking with the tech by himself. I’d recommend checking ahead and only coming in when Liz is in the office that day.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Fast efficient friendly!
Called ahead to make an appointment if necessary but it wasn’t. Mentioned the Unilocal add and got everything done in 10 – 15 mins $ 48.00!
I will return when the time comes again!
Thanks!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Excellent service, fast and friendly! Plus they have coupons online for their service.
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
These are some of the nicest people ever! I didn’t come in for a smog check but because I’m a useless human being who didn’t know how to fix a low pressure tire.
I was given such nice service and everyone was so friendly with me I felt so bad when they didn’t charge me for pumping air into my tires.
Bottom line: these people are amazing and yes I am a complete idiot when it comes to cars.
Thank you Gary!
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
Friendly and competent as well as attentive staff! Great!
Came there as a swing by and they squeezed me in. Waited 20 min and everything was done.
Place rating: 5
Half Moon Bay, CA
I will always bring my car and my friends and families cars to this place from now on! Went to 4 less smog on a whim and they were so nice and welcoming! Made an appointment only half hour in advance and was in and out in a half hour. Everyone is super nice and they’re mascot (a dog) lily is just the sweetest to keep you company while waiting! Go here! You will not regret it.
Place rating: 4
Martinez, CA
I got my very first smog check with these folks and came here only because they had a special going on and also it down the street from where I work, haha!
I forgot what the Girls name is that helped me when I first walked in but she was super nice and very talkative. They had juices and water and coffee for your wait but I really was there for like 15 – 20 mins so I didn’t bother getting comfortable. Lol!
Thank god my 2005 passed! Take that DMV !
Place rating: 1
San Mateo, CA
TL;DR: There was no one at 4 Less Smog Check. I went next door to Auto Experts Service Center and got my smog check there.
I came here because of the positive reviews but was very disappointed. Nobody was there!
The hours are listed as 9AM to 6PM. I arrived at 9:30AM and nobody was there. Two other people were waiting as well. «The guy just left,» one of them told me. The other person who was waiting gave up and left. I couldn’t afford to wait – I needed to go to work after getting my smog check – so I left too.
On my way out, I saw the Auto Experts Service Center right next to this place. They also perform smog checks! I stopped in here and I saw one of the people who was originally waiting at 4 Less Smog Check. We laughed about it. The whole process at Auto Experts Service Center took about 15 – 20 minutes.
How do you even run a business being closed during your hours of business?
Place rating: 5
Half Moon Bay, CA
I have never had to have a vehicle smogged and recently had to look into it when it came time to sell a 2002 truck we were wanting to get rid of. Since we live in Half Moon Bay and the city shuts down like a ghost town on weekends we had to go «over the hill» to get the smog done. After some research we came across 4 Less and decided to give them a try.
I was expecting quite a wait (again, I’ve never done this so I am unfamiliar with the process), but we walked in, the man who performed the test greeted us, took our info and said he would be right back. We sat down, I just opened Facebook on my phone and less than ten minutes later he came back with the keys saying «You passed!» It really was so fast!
We paid, thanked him, got our paperwork and left. Everything was so efficient and so painless that I know that if ever I need a smog in the future it will definitely be here. Way to go, guys!
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
Quick and easy! I called at 11:40AM and scheduled an appointment for 12:30PM the same day. The smog check took less than 20 minutes and cost $ 38.
Parking lot is one-​way only, so if you miss the shop you’ll have to make a U-​turn and come back again.
Place rating: 5
San Mateo, CA
Fast, easy, efficient. Bring a coupon or check in to get the discount. No need to go anywhere else but do make an appointment. I got lucky and only one car ahead of me.
Place rating: 5
Half Moon Bay, CA
I hate smog checks, but 4 Less kept it quick and painless last time and this time. Quick and Reasonable. Fee wifi helped too.
Place rating: 2
Newark, CA
They send out a lot of coupons in the mail for very cheap smog tests, so I’ve taken notice. However, the few times I’ve been, they’ve never opened on time, which kinda pisses me off. Especially since lots of other people take notice, so there’s often a line to get your smog test done for cheap.
However, the last time I was there will be the last time I ever go there.
They are a STAR-​certified test-​only station. After I waited through their line, I was hit with the fact that there’s a hefty up-​charge for STAR smog checks (to be fair, it’s in the fine print of their coupon) — but why is that??? It’s not like they are giving my car a different smog test than anyone else. If a STAR-​certified station wants to charge more for smog checks than a non-​certified station, I understand that, but they should everyone charge the same price for the same service.
Place rating: 1
East San Jose, San Jose, CA
Went in first thing in the morning got my smog checked. Waited about 1 and a half hours and the guy comes up to me says «You passed smog but your car died», «Do you have Triple A so we can tow it out of here».
In other words he wanted me to get my dead car out of his garage so he can do someone elses smog check.
My car was working fine before i got there and wasn’t starting after the smog check. I had to trouble shoot the error myself. After about 30 minutes I found the blown fuse. At least he gave me the fuse for free. If i was someone who didnt know about card i would’ve been shafted. The guy didn’t even offer any discount for keeping me there so long and not even helping.
This is what 4 Less Smog Checks will do if your car breaks down there during a smog check. They’ll try to toss you out, so they can get to their next customer. Im never coming here again and would not recommend it to any of my friends or acquaintances.