TEST-ONLY SMOG STATION · Redding, CA
We test smog. We cannot sell you a repair.
A test-only station inspects cars and is not allowed to repair them. When we say your car failed, there is nothing for us to sell you next.
1855 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002
Call the counter
(530) 555-0173
Hours
Mon–Fri 8 am – 5 pm · Sat 8:30 am – 2 pm · Sun closed
Test only
No repairs sold here
ABOUT THE STATION
A test-only smog station in Redding.
The test reads the tailpipe. We read the printout with you.
Anderson Smog Test Only is a test-only station, which is a licence class rather than a slogan. The state permits a test-only station to inspect vehicles and nothing else: no catalytic converters, no oxygen sensors, no diagnostic hours.
So when the car fails, the conversation is short: you get the printout, we go over the line that failed, and you take it to the repair shop of your choice.
WHAT WE INSPECT
Every kind of smog check California asks for.
If your DMV notice, your buyer or your insurer wants a smog certificate, one of these is the test you need. Not sure which? Bring the notice and we will read it with you.
Biennial renewal smog check
The every-other-year inspection printed on your DMV renewal notice. Bring the notice if you have it. If it says the test must be done at a STAR station, call and ask whether we can take it.
Change of ownership
Selling, buying or gifting a vehicle in California. The seller usually provides the certificate, and it's good for 90 days.
Gross polluter retest
A vehicle that failed by more than twice its standard has to be retested at a test-only or STAR station rather than wherever the repair was done.
Out-of-state and new resident
You have twenty days from the day you move to register in California. Bring the title and the vehicle and we run the inspection the DMV wants for a first registration.
Diesel pickups and vans
Diesel, 1998 and newer, by weight class. Bring it warm and recently driven.
RVs and motorhomes
Class A and Class C motorhomes. Call ahead with the length and ask when to bring it in.
Clean Truck Check
CARB's semi-annual compliance test for non-gasoline vehicles over 14,000 pounds. Ask at the counter about the OBD submission and compliance reporting.
Not listed, or not sure which test you need? Call and describe the car.
Call (530) 555-0173BY MODEL YEAR
Which test your car needs.
The test depends on the model year, and so does the price. Call the counter and we'll give you today's price for your exact vehicle, certificate fee included, before you drive over.
| Vehicle | Test we run |
|---|---|
| 2000 & newerMOST COMMONGasoline, OBD-II scan | Gasoline, OBD-II scan |
| 1996 – 1999OBD-II scan plus BAR-97 tailpipe | OBD-II scan plus BAR-97 tailpipe |
| 1995 & olderBAR-97 dynamometer, two-speed idle | BAR-97 dynamometer, two-speed idle |
| Diesel, 1998 & newerDiesel OBD or opacity, by weight | Diesel OBD or opacity, by weight |
| RV & motorhomeBAR-97 dynamometer, extended bay | BAR-97 dynamometer, extended bay |
| Gross polluter retestPost-repair verification, test-only | Post-repair verification, test-only |
The certificate is filed with the DMV electronically before you leave. Model year 1975 and older is exempt from smog in California.
HOW A VISIT GOES
Three steps, one short visit.
Drive in
Walk in, or request a time to hold the lane. Park in the marked lane and come to the counter with your keys.
We inspect
OBD-II or BAR-97 depending on the model year. Ask if you'd like to watch from the waiting room.
You leave
Pass and the certificate is transmitted to the DMV before you reach the car. Fail and you get the printout and a walk-through of the line that failed.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The things people ask at the counter.
What does “test only” actually mean?
It is a licence class, not a marketing line. A test-only station is permitted to inspect vehicles and is forbidden from performing or selling emissions repairs. There is no repair at the end of the conversation for us to sell you.
Do I need an appointment?
Walk in during opening hours, or request a time if you'd rather hold a slot. It's worth doing for an RV or a Clean Truck Check.
My DMV notice says STAR station. Can you do it?
STAR is the Bureau of Automotive Repair's higher-performance station tier. If the notice directs you to a STAR station, call and ask whether we can take your car before you drive over.
What is a gross polluter?
A vehicle that fails by more than twice the emissions standard for its model year. The state flags the record, and once repairs are made the vehicle must be retested at a test-only or STAR station rather than at the shop that did the work.
What happens if my car fails?
You get the printout, a plain-English walk-through of the line that failed, and the names of repair shops nearby. Come back once the work is done for the retest.
What is the Consumer Assistance Program?
CAP is a state program that can help pay for emissions repairs, or for retiring the vehicle, if you fail a biennial smog check and meet the income limits. Ask at the counter for the details. You apply to BAR directly.
Can you do my registration?
No, and no test-only station can. We will check whether the DMV has already received your certificate, and we can re-print a lost one. For renewals and title work you want a licensed registration service, so ask us where to go.
How do I pay?
Cash, debit and major cards.
This holds a time in the lane. Walk-ins come in during opening hours.
WHAT A TEST-ONLY LICENCE MEANS
The things we are not allowed to sell you.
Most smog shops also repair cars, so a failure is the start of a quote. A test-only licence rules that out. Here is where the line sits.
COME SEE US
Easy to drive past. Here is how to find us.
Smog stations are small and easy to miss. Here is what to look for so you don't have to circle the block.
1855 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002
Redding, CA
TEST-ONLY SMOG STATION
Bring the notice. We'll tell you which test it is.
Call the counter, or request a time and we'll call back to confirm.