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Star Smog
“Despite feeling the whole smog business and required emissions testing is a racket, Star Smog always does a great job getting me in and out fast (less than 15 minutes this time).”
Best Car Inspection & Emissions Testing in Walnut Creek, CA
24 stations listed · 15 in Walnut Creek · 8 open weekends · 22 rated 4.5+ · 3 show a license
Data verified October 16, 2026
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Central Automotive Service Center
- Informative
- Crew
- Report
“I only did routine services and minor repairs here, but they told me that they built some slack in the schedule to accommodate customers with emergencies every day.”
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Roesbery Car Care
- Diagnosed
- Truck
- Check Engine Light
“The service was above and beyond what I expected, not only were they fast and prompt I was able to bring my dog with me which saved me time from dropping her off at my home from the groomer..”
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M Service
- Dealership
- Driving
- Audi
“A part was needed and instead of waiting for it to come in the next day, they went out to pick it up themselves so that I can take my car home that evening!”
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Oakmont Auto Care
- Inspection
- Check Engine Light
- Mechanic
“I would recommend bringing your car to Oakmont Auto Care as your car will be in very good hands there and James is very friendly and helpful and a joy to work with.”
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Alignment Services
- Reviews
- Chat
- Information
“He IS however, the honest type: wouldn't even charge me for an inspection when I brought my car in for an alignment the first time (the rear bushings were shot - another shop had already happily charged me for an "alignment" that was off again as soo...”
Listed for drivers in and around Walnut Creek, 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: Walnut Creek, CA
Of the 24 stations we list here, 15 are in Walnut Creek itself and 9 come from towns including Antioch (3, 14 mi), Oakland (2, 12 mi) and Concord (1, 5 mi). The stations on this page are rated from 4.3 to 5.0 across 4,759 reviews; 19 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 (86%), value (75%) and quality (74%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the stations on this page are "communication", "diagnosis" and "fair". 8 are open on Saturdays and 1 on Sundays. The services the stations on this page list most often on their websites are smog check (4), brake repair (2), check engine light (2), fleet services (2) and oil change (2). 3 show a license on their websites; 8 list staff certifications (ASE) and 12 have a BBB rating of A or A+. 21 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 74 years. 3 offer financing; 6 are family- or locally-owned and 16 list coupons or special offers. 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.
Can I book a test online with shops listed for Walnut Creek?
6 of the 24 shops here take bookings online. Some stations work on a queue instead, which is fine early in the month and painful at the end of it. If you can book, take the first slot of the day and you will be out before the line forms.
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Gordon's Smog Test & Lube Center
- Vehicles
- Price
- Nice Guy
“The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because he changed a part of my vehicle without my consent and charged me for it when I went to pick up my vehicle.”
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Smog Star Express Walnut Creek
“I needed a smog test for my out of state car for my home state inspection and I had been told, wrongly, that cars from out of state won't pass California smog tests.”
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Walnut Creek Smog
- Vehicle
- Price
- Smog Check
“Andy is a great human being, kind hearted honest shop owner who cares for his employees and customers he was very understanding and supportive of some personal factors that I was dealing with.”
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All Star Smog Testing
- Check
- Certification
- Vehicles
“He was fast, efficient and I got my registration on time!”
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Contra Costa Smog & Repair
- Needs
- Coffee
- Skilled
“Both being ASE Advanced Specialist licensed and certified, you can be sure they will know how to fix your car under any circumstances, and not shortchange you if something is wrong or needs fixing.”
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Auto Diagnostic & Repair
- Vehicle
“I arrived for the service next day & they were ready w/ parts for the work required so I walked down the street for a coffee & returned 2 hrs later & the job was completed.”
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Lafayette Auto Repair
- Crew
- Price
- Mechanic
“John took the time to show me the broken assembly, (correctly) explain how the failure occurred, and took care of all the labor and component replacement under new component warranty (no cost to me, other than the inconvenience).”
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German Autotech
- Mechanic
“If you wany your car done right, take it here.”
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Rod's Automotive
- Mechanic
“Rod does a fabulous job, is kind, honest and reasonably priced.”
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4 Less Smog Check Station Oakland
“Very up front about the price, Very friendly, talked me through the process patiently, gave me a time estimate of 30 min (there were 3 cars ahead of me) and BOOM 30 min later I was done!”
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Costa Auto Care and Tire
“The overall (highly-detailed) estimate to get everything done was out of my budget, but Micheal worked with me to break things down and get what I wanted done first (within my budget)...”
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D&K Auto Repair
“Their reminders are great (keeps me on track for my oil changes) Their prices are fair and I always learn something about my car while interacting with them.”
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Gene's Auto Repair
- Mechanic
- Worry
- Truck
“I'm 73 years young now and have owned my share of cars and trucks from a '47 Willys Jeep to a 2010 4 litre Jaguar S Type sedan over the years, and most everything in between”
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Auto Electric and Fuel LLC
- Team
- Addition
- Oil
“In addition to top quality standard automotive repairs like brakes and belts, they also provide expert electrical issue diagnostics resolution and smog issue diagnostics and repairs.”
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Orinda Motors
- Rental Car
- Team
- Oil
“Tara the wonderful receptiionist explained the whole process in detail and when they fixed the problem she had the part already on her computer to show exactly what got replaced.”
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San Ramon Valley Import Center
- Diagnostic
- Honest
“They have been open and honest in talking about repair issues, never tried to "over sell" me on repairs, it's done right or they fix it, and they communicate often by email and phone message to keep me updated on issues.”
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Auto Diagnostic & Repair
“I am grateful to have invested $175 for the diagnostic, as the results were instrumental in identifying several critical issues with the vehicle, including a broken seat and visor, a leaking steering rack, an out tire, and a broken motor mount.”
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A 1 Stop Smog
“When I asked if I could just use the coupon on my phone screen because I don't have a printer the guy said he would 'check with his boss' and went into the testing area for a minute before coming back in to tell me no.”
Why these companies made our list
What customers say about stations in Walnut Creek
- “Efficient, on schedule, friendly, professional, great rates. Very happy with this place for smog testing.” — customer of All Star Smog Testing
- “Booked an appointment online, ended up with a super quick emissions test with friendly staff, reasonable price too.” — customer of Smog Star Express Walnut Creek
- “Andre and Daniel of Contra Costa Smog will give you the service and respect that you and your car deserve to stay running smoothly.” — customer of Contra Costa Smog & Repair
- “I’ve been here twice now, both times it has been timely, clean and professional.” — customer of Smog Star Express Walnut Creek
Excerpts from public reviews of the stations listed on this page.
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