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Gabriel's Auto Service
- Chevy
- Trust
- Smog
“They did an amazing and fast job on the timing belt and water pump replacement for my Subaru, and quoted me over half less than the Subaru authorized dealer.”
Best Car Inspection & Emissions Testing in Pasadena, CA
24 stations listed · 21 in Pasadena · 14 open weekends · 22 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 16, 2026
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EMX Auto Repair
- Matter
- Mechanic
- Drive
“I recently had the pleasure of bringing my car into EMX Auto Repair in Pasadena, owned and operated by Robert Essagholean, and I must say, I couldn't be happier with the service I received.”
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Mitch's Auto
- Pay
- Future
- Labor
“Considering I had an awful experience at a previous mechanic that took advantage of my lack of knowledge in cars, Mitch and his team made sure I was taken care of.”
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Mission Smog South Pasadena. Star
- 30 Min
- Price
- Clean
“The repair was done quickly and he even fixed a busted hose that he noticed, this is a full service shop, I'm so happy with this referral a good mechanic is as important as a good Dr.”
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Fremont and Purdon
“They've taken care of nearly every possible auto repair for us; showing and explaining the issues that are immediate and those that can wait when cost of repair is a factor.”
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Fair Oaks Smog Test
“Came back multiple times and the owner was super kind in testing every single time, and eventually let me borrow a scanner so that I can monitor it myself and come back when the car was ready.”
Listed for drivers in and around Pasadena, CA, these 24 shops carry out emissions and inspection work. What each one says about its station license, hours and retest policy comes from its own website; ratings and quotes come from public reviews.
Area overview: Pasadena, CA
Of the 24 stations we list here, 21 are in Pasadena itself and 3 come from South Pasadena (2, 3 mi) and Los Angeles (1, 16 mi). The stations on this page are rated from 4.3 to 5.0 across 2,343 reviews; 17 have 50 or more reviews and 22 are rated 4.5 or higher. When customers rate these stations on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (97%), quality (85%) and value (68%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the stations on this page are "fair", "honest" and "diagnosis". 14 are open on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays. 1 lists staff certifications (ASE) and 3 have a BBB rating of A or A+. 17 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 98 years. 1 is family- or locally-owned and 2 list coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for 12 of the stations on this page; 8 publish a contact page and 5 list a public email. We count these figures across the stations on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the station before you visit.
Which shops listed for Pasadena test on Saturdays or Sundays?
Weekend testing is on offer at 14 of the 24 shops. Bear in mind that a failure on a Saturday usually waits for parts on Monday, which is an argument for testing midweek if you can.
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Del Mar Auto & Radiator Service
- Tire
- Job
- Mechanic
“Was on my way to get vaccinated and got a flat, pulled into Delmar randomly and Chris jumped into action and plugged the hole in my tire in a matter of 5 mins!!”
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Lake Smog Test Only
- Website
- Smog Check
- Price
“They were very quick and gave me a nice shady spot to wait while my car got checked.”
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Pasadena Test Only & Smog Check
“Husband and wife owners tag-teamed -- she did the smog check, then, while he did the oil change, she not only vaccuumed out the hood area (I park under a pine tree ...”
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Pasadena Test Only Center
- Check
- Cash
- Area
“I think you can get a discount for cash but, if I remember correctly, it's already $42 to begin with which is a great price compared to a lot of other smog places in town.”
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Hrant Auto Service
“This place is honest, respects your time, very reasonable prices for basic car stuff and he has great recommendations for other places that do the stuff he doesn't.”
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All Smog Test Only Star Station
- Advice
- Tires
- Honest
“Great price, in-and-out in about 15 minutes with report/receipt in hand and sent to the DMV.”
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Universal Automotive Service
- Honest
- Team
- Fair
“I went on a day where they weren't too busy and they were able to pull off the broken one in a couple of minutes and install the replacement when I got it a week later”
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Independent Volvo Service
- Prices
- Honest
“I drive a Mercedes Benz and I wouldn't take it anywhere else I found out about them through my boss they never failed to provide the best service at a great price”
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Hyarcs Auto Repair
- Engine Light
- Pre Purchase Inspection
- Oil
“My husband was having a hard time getting our commuter car to pass the smog but Edward was able to work his magic and fixed everything that was needed to be fixed.”
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Spence & Frye GM Specialist
- Chevy
- Art
- Vehicle
“Art was able to troubleshoot the issue quickly and made suggestions during the repair that saved me time and money while still getting the job done correctly.”
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Advance Auto
- Mufflers
- Quality
- Mechanics
“He suggested a new axel (~ $300 cost with parts and labor), and that this could be done the same time as the front brakes, explaining the front brakes may have up to 10,000-15,000 miles left on them.”
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Complete Auto Repair Specialist
“Mauricio an his guys,mechanics, been keeping me on the road now for 4 going on 5 years fixing my car problems an I recommend them if you need car service an repairs, Mauricio is,a straight up good dude an I was recommended from a friend an never went...”
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La Cañada Smog Brake & Lamp
- Price
- Technician
“I came in for a smog check and was extremely pleased with the super friendly customer service that I got from the smog technician Ara which I found out is the owner.”
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Altadena Smog Center
- Price
- Mechanic
“He will tell a custoner what needs to be serviced and can even tell the customer it can wait if the car doesn't really need a service or of it is not due yet.”
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Walnut Smog & Repair
- Prices
“Highly recommend going to this smog test station -- the owner is a kind, hard working gentleman, and I've had the pleasure of going to him for almost 20 years.”
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Pasadena Automotive Repair
- Mechanic
- Cost
“Abraham was recommended by a mutual friend and we were very impressed by the workmanship and, especially, the attitude that he and his wife, Mary, reflected.”
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Crown Automotive Repair
- Mechanic
- Price
- Fair
“I was referred to Phil by another great mechanic who was outsourcing what I needed fixed: replacement of spark plugs, replacement of a valve cover gasket with tube seals, my cooling system flushed and coolant added.”
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Demerjian Auto Services
- Prices
- Smog
“If you dont know much about cars and are unsure where to take yours, bring it here and rest assured everyone here is trustworthy (aka they will not replace your radiator if you take it there for a brake change).”
Why these companies made our list
What customers say about stations in Pasadena
- “I was so glad I found them. The owner was kind, professional, offered a discount on his regular rate, and made my brief time there pleasant and hassle-free.” — customer of Lake Smog Test Only
- “Arthur was honest and knowledgeable during our first interaction, he was kind enough to give me information on my options as well as encouraging me to seek them out before I had to fix my very expensive smog issue.” — customer of Walnut Smog & Repair
- “Technician was professional and thorough with the test as I needed it to pay my registration same day.” — customer of Pasadena Test Only Center
- “The shop repaired the issue in a timely manner and the BMW passed smog with flying colors!” — customer of Hyarcs Auto Repair
- “Tom is not only a great mechanic, he is honest, competent and willing to accommodate.” — customer of Altadena Smog Center
Excerpts from public reviews of the stations listed on this page.
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