Santa Monica Smog Check & Test

I wish I checked some reviews before using Santa Monica Smog test because I would have saved myself a lot of time, money and grief. $65 for the first test 25 for the second plus 25 for a certificate. This place is a TOTAL RIP-OFF. I believe another person stated that if your car is older than 5 years this place will fail you. I found this to be true and like all other places...NO FREE RETEST. Needless to say they failed me. Not because I didn't pass the smog test because it passed both 15 and 25 MPH smog test but the tech said 1 emission hose was faulty. I had to go down to Signal Hill so I decided to ask Dodge about the hose. The machanic took a look and asked why did I think the hose is bad. When I showed him that Santa Monica Smog failed me because of it he was shocked and stated,""There is nothing wrong with the hose"". I decided to buy 3 ft. hose and installed it. (I wish I could upload a picture of the old hose to show everyone that the hose is fine.) When I went back and told them Dodge said the hose was fine and showed them the old hose they responded with, ""the dealer doesn't know about emission lines"". WOW...unbelievable so the dealer who works on Dodge cars and trucks can't tell if a hose is bad. Who are you trying to fool here? Both myself and the people there knew they were caught however they still would not retest for free. They retested and surprise, surprise the dynomometer put out the exact same numbers as before...no variance. NONE. What does that tell you. New hose, old hose the dyno put out the same numbers. When I memtioned this the person behind the desk he said he would give me a $10 discount. The same $10 discount he probably gives everyone since there is a coupon online. There are so many places doing smog checks for $40. Save your money and peace of mind go somewhere else. THIS PLACE IS A RIP OFF more

I have 4 cars and I do a lot of smog checks. This place was near the DMV where I tried to register this car.\r \r This old gas station had a line of people waiting and it ended up taking a very long time to get smogged. The people were first rate, very clean place.\r \r The price was higher than any other smog shop I have been to. And the retest was I think, another 40 bucks if you fail, making the total over a HUNDRED BUCKS.\r \r Overall the car passed but it took too long and too expensive. Pros: Very professional, and clean Cons: Long wait, took 45 minutes, too expensive more

I should have read the reviews here first, because my one visit became a week long hassle. Like others here, I didn't pass the first time. I took my car to my mechanic, he was shocked it didn't pass, said he couldn't really do much, and suggested I drive it for a 1/2 hour before I take it back (I previously had taken it cold). Sure enough I take it in the morning for the retest after driving from Hollywood, and it passes by 15 or 20 points. All the while they were giving me the business about how there machines don't fail people, yada yada. I almost didn't want to go back to them for the restest, but with the intitial test, a $10 off coupon I found, and the retest it was $75, so it was a little cheaper than if I went some place else. They must be the only place in town, that doesn't give free retests. Pros: Act like your friend Cons: Everything else more

I always dread getting my cars smogged. I have been to several places in the past looking for the lowest price. The time and effort to find out if the place is legit or not was always a worry. Read the reviews here and decided to give it a try. \r \r I also have a vehicle older than 10 years. So additional CA State rules & fees apply. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly, efficient and quick service. Communication was excellent and Bob explained the Smog printout in detail. \r \r I will definitely go back next time the smog certificate is due again.\r \r As the others have said before, don't forget to bring your coupon from their website.\r \r \r Pros: Good communication, friendly & efficient. more

I have been to this smog test only station twice. The first time I had to get a retest for more money. Ask anybody who does smog tests and they will tell you that a retest should be free, no matter what. I took my car to the mechanic before the retest and they didn't do anything to it, they said it should pass. I went back and sure enough it passed. The second experience I went and my car failed. I took it to another station and it passed. I brought it back and they refused to give me a refund because they said anyone can pass depending on how they run the car during the test. This meant that they were making it fail so I had to pay more for a retest. They had poor service and unprofessional customer service. DO NOT GO HERE. A RETEST SHOULD BE FREE. TERRIBLE! Cons: They failed me on-purpose! more

I had been coming here for years for my smog checks and never had a problem until 2008. I misplaced my smog check paper work, but didn't think it would be a problem because the results are expected to be submitted electronically to the DMV. I spend 2 hours waiting in line at the DMV only to be told that they have no record of my smog check, and no electronic submission. At this point I went back to SM Smog Check to ask Bob if he could please print out another copy of the paper work and resubmit the test results I had already paid for, which was never properly submitted. I was basically told about how busy they were, how many cars they had to check, that it would be so difficult to find it, and a number of other excuses for why he basically didn't want to help me. Several times he asked what I did with my paperwork. If I knew, I wouldn't have been back there asking for another copy of my test results. I would have gladly paid him for his time even. Ultimately losing the paper work was my fault. However, SM Smog failed to submit my smog check to the DMV electronically, and ultimately failed in providing basic customer service in being reluctant to print me another copy of my smog check or offer any real assistance at all. In the future neither I nor my family will be taking our business here any longer. Pros: In Santa Monica Cons: Failed to submit results to DMV, poor customer service. more

My family and I have been coming to Santa Monica Smog Check on Pico for many, many years. I remember coming out with my grandpa to get his smog check certificate, as well as all my other relatives that have a car. I got adventurous once, and went someplace else to compare service and prices, and I can honestly tell you that the level of customer service and professionalism, the accuracy and fair prices at Santa Monica Smog Check are above and beyond all the other places in the area. I tell my friends and co-workers to go here because we have a whole generation backing up their service and honesty. You should try them, too. You too, will continue coming back! Pros: Honest, professional service, fair pricing ...USE THE COUPON! more

I hate car issues. And I was especiially not looking forward to the prospect of perhaps having to put money into a 2002 car. Bob is such a pleasant guy, that upon entering I was immediately put at ease. I arrived at 11:15 on Friday and I was out by 11:45. The place is clean and efficient. What more could you want? The cost? $55 using the $10 coupon. Pros: Professional, quick more

Bob is the best. Professional and legitimate.!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! more

Being a recent transplant to Los Angeles from the Mid-west the whole smog-check thing was a mystery to me. I went here as it was the first search result from the internet, and I'm certainly glad I did! The gentleman was sweet, sincere and very helpful. He not only didn't condescend to make me feel clueless, he was very kind and explained not only the smog test results, but how to get to the DMV and complete my registration. Having a great impression from the start, I asked him if he knew a repair place for my headlight. He spoke to the garage next door for me and when I went over they were equally kind and honest! Never thought my first smog-check/mechanic experience in LA would be so stress-free and even pleasant! more

For me, getting a smog check notice is like getting a jury duty summons, a drag, but you have to do it. I am glad I took the time to find out about Santa Monica Smog Check. If you must get a smog check, and you must to renew your registration, do it here. Don't even waste a second thinking about another place. They are right off the 10, near a park and a Farmer's Market on Saturdays. There are places to walk while you wait, like The Daily Pint, but you would only have time for 1 as they are really fast and really friendly. Bob handled everything for me and he could not have been more professional. There are other guys around, but again, this is far better than going to some dirty garage or gas station. more

I've never been to a smog check station where the customers were in a good mood before. Bob is friendly, professional, clear and concise. He sets the whole tone for the establishment. He is quick and happy to provide suggestion up and down the street of places to spendsome time while you're waiting for your car. I chose to sit in the clean waiting room and read the local paper. I pulled up at 1:10pm on a Friday without an appointment and was done at 1:35pm. Total cost was $55 after using the $10 off coupon on the website. It was almost too easy and painless. Pros: Competative prices, polite, clean, fast, easy more

the staff are very gentle, caring and focused. They will give you as much explanation as you need and they won't try to push you into unnecessary engine repair costs. The place is very clean and the smog check service is speedy. don't forget the Citysearch's $10 coupon when you're going there.\r more

Not really. No one likes getting a smog test, but I don?t mind coming here. It took about 10 minutes and they are nice. Use the coupon and save $10 and try to pick an off time to go. They can get busy. Pros: easy, nice, friendly, fast Cons: They adjusted my seat more

Bob is so nice! I never had anyone explain my smog test results before. Service was fast and friendly, and the waiting area is clean and comfortable. (Can't say that for most of the places I've had smog checks done.) Price is fair especially with the Citysearch coupon. I would definitely recommend this place! more

I read great comments on it and decided to try them out for my out of state smog check. Service was very professional and fast -- took me 20 minutes to do a smog check! And instead of making me wait in a boring room, he directed me to a few restaraunts in the area to get a bite while they worked on it. Aslo, after I passed, they thoroughly explained everything to me. \r \r It's hard to find a good mechanic when moving to a new area, and I am definetely going to go to these guys for all of my service needs. Thanks a bunch! Pros: Fast, Friiendly, Courteous, Honest more

I picked this place because it was close to where I work. I stopped by after work without an appointment and less than a half hour later was on my way with my smog certification. Bob was very nice and explained in detail what all the numbers in the report meant (that's the first time any smog check station has even offered to explain to me!). Pros: Friendly service, clean more

This is the first review I've ever written, but I just had to comment on this place.\r The guys there are helpful and explained to me step by step what was wrong with my car and what they would do to fix it. Bobby is friendly and has been working on my moms vehicles for over 15 years! I recommend this place to everyone but especially to women like myself who don't know much about cars but need honest service at a good price. more

If you want a professional staff, and quality service, you have to check out Santa Monica Smog Check. Every time I experience car trouble I pay the crew a visit and know my truck is in good hands. : ) Two Thumbs Up. more

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THIS PLACE FOR 10 YEARS.THE GUYS THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL AT WHAT THEY DO AND THEY ANSWER MY CAR QUESTIONS AND GIVE ME GOOD ADVICE. Pros: PROFESSIONAL , QUALITY, GOOD SERVICE Cons: NONE more