How we build Smog Guide

The station list

California licenses every smog check station through the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The state publishes the full license file each month. We read that file, keep only stations whose smog license is active, and build one page per station. If a license lapses or is revoked, the station drops off the next build.

Each page shows the license number so you can check it yourself at search.dca.ca.gov. Hours, phone numbers and review counts come from public business listings and are matched to the license by street address and name. When we cannot match a station with confidence, we show the license facts and leave the rest blank.

The numbers in our guides

Prices, fail rates, station counts and test volumes come from the state's own smog check program reports. Rules come from the Health and Safety Code, the Vehicle Code and DMV and CARB pages. Each guide lists its sources at the bottom. When two official sources disagree, we leave the number out.

How stations are sorted

City pages list stations by how long each one has held its state license, longest first. Nobody pays to move up.

Something wrong?

Station owners can update hours, phone and services on the station owners page. If you think a station is doing illegal smog checks, report it to the state. Here is how.