Tri-City Smog station is Temecula Valley’s best test-only facility. We’ve been offering our expert inspection services to residents of Temecula and Menifee since 1995, no matter the make and model. Our California DMV smog station offers the best place for your diesel vehicle to get tested for emissions.
Testing your diesel vehicle involves a visual inspection of the automobile’s emissions and smog components, as well as an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD II) system check. Unlike other types of vehicles, diesel checks do not use a dynamometer as part of the process. Instead, our technicians look for any visible smoke from the PCV system, or any plume seen between 3 to 15 feet from the tailpipe that lingers for more than 3 seconds.
If your vehicle fails any part of the check, the DMV requires you to repair your vehicle and pass the next emissions test. We take walk-ins and appointments during our operating hours, so you get your vehicle reregistered as quickly as possible.
Tri-City STAR smog check is a test-only station. This means we won’t falsely fail your diesel vehicle to get more money from you. We do not do repairs, only tests. Our focus is getting you in and out as efficiently as possible.
All diesel vehicles are required to get a check biennially. Since 2010, California has required any diesel-powered passenger cars with a 1998 model year or newer with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) below 14,000 lbs. to get certified smog checks consistently every two years. Vehicles over 14,000 lbs. are exempt. This requirement allows the DMV to make sure your exhaust system works properly and is not releasing harmful gasses into the air.
Out-of-state vehicles coming into California are also required to get an emissions test before the vehicle is registered. The state has strict emissions laws and will not allow vehicles to be registered until they have successfully passed. This is especially the case if you’re moving into an ‘Enhanced Area’ like Temecula, Menifee, or anywhere else in Riverside County. These areas have higher levels of emissions than is considered acceptable, so all vehicles are inspected to avoid putting more pollutants into the air.
If you’re planning to sell your vehicle, it also needs to be tested. Anyone selling their car, truck, or diesel automobile is required to pass a diesel smog test before transferring the vehicle and its title to the new owner.
No need to worry about the paperwork, though. We send the necessary paperwork and test results directly to the DMV so you don’t have to worry. You can be in and out of our station in minutes!
At Tri-City Smog, we take our jobs very seriously. We want to make sure your vehicle passes its emissions test, so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of repairs. That’s why we operate test-only stations. Other stations may offer repairs, only to fail your car on purpose to make additional money, despite the actual state of your exhaust system. We want to get you results without extra fees.
We know emissions testing is inconvenient. That’s why we take walk-in appointments at any time of the day, so you can deal with your DMV renewal as quickly and painlessly as possible. The average time for our tests are 15 minutes, so you won’t be waiting for your vehicle for long.
Tri-City Smog is a STAR-certified station, too. This means we’ve passed all the requirements needed to meet the highest standard of inspection. Come visit one of our smog location or call ahead and make an appointment! Get your engine and exhaust system checked today so your car can be re-registered.