First smog check or tenth — here's exactly what happens when you come to our East Grand Ave shop.
Your vehicle and a form of payment. DMV renewal notice speeds up check-in but isn't required — we look you up by plate or VIN.
If your check engine light is on, your vehicle will automatically fail. Get it diagnosed first — we can help with that too.
Drive the car for a few minutes before arriving. Coming from Grover Beach, Pismo, or anywhere in the Five Cities? The drive over is plenty of warm-up.
Either works great. Book online for a guaranteed slot. Walk-ins are welcome anytime — weekday mornings tend to be the quietest.
Pull into our lot on East Grand Ave. Service advisor takes your vehicle info — year, make, model, plate, mileage. Booked online? We've got you queued up already.
Quick walk-around checking emissions components — catalytic converter, gas cap, exhaust system, hoses and connections. Making sure everything's present and properly connected.
For 1996+ vehicles, the technician plugs into your On-Board Diagnostics port under the dashboard. Reads trouble codes, checks emissions monitor readiness, verifies the check engine light function.
About 10–15 minutes for the test. If you pass, we file your smog certificate with the DMV electronically — same day. Renew your registration online from home.
Pay, grab your paperwork, drive away. Total visit under 25 minutes. Short enough to fit between the farmer's market and picking up the kids.
Most vehicles pass without issues. But if yours doesn't, your technician explains exactly what failed — no jargon, no runaround.
Because we're a full Multicare facility, we can diagnose and repair most emissions issues right here on Grand Ave. Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, catalytic converter issues, gas cap seals, and incomplete readiness monitors. Many are same-day fixes.
After the repair, we re-test at no additional inspection fee. One shop, one visit.
Automatic fail if it's on, regardless of the cause. Get it diagnosed before scheduling your smog check.
Cars that sit for extended periods may have incomplete readiness monitors. A few days of normal driving before your test ensures everything's ready.
Come in a few weeks before your registration expires. If something unexpected comes up, you'll have time to fix it without stress.