Smog check in Caughlin Ranch and southwest Reno

The hills of southwest Reno have an older, settled population and a short ride into town. Households here own plenty of vehicles, commute less than most of the county and often have a garage full of cars with different renewal dates. This page gives the local numbers and shows how the two Xpress Smog Check Center locations fit a southwest Reno week.

At a glance

• ZIP 89519 is inside the Washoe County testing area named by the Nevada DMV.
• About 10 minutes to Reno South and about 11 minutes to Reno Northwest (OpenStreetMap routing, light traffic).
• The Census median age here is 51.4, and the average commute is a short 19.7 minutes.
• Both locations are drive-in, with results sent to the DMV electronically.

A tie between two good drives

Few Reno neighborhoods are as evenly placed as this one. The Longley Lane location is about 10 minutes away and Mae Anne Avenue is about 11. If your day already takes you down toward the airport or onto I-580, Reno South is the natural stop. If you are coming back from the northwest side of town, Reno Northwest is on the way.

Hours are the same Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, with Saturday closing at 3 pm at Reno South and 4 pm at Reno Northwest. The which service center page compares them side by side.

The southwest Reno household, by the numbers

The Census Bureau reports 9,110 people in ZIP 89519, living in 3,883 households with 8,612 vehicles available. That is 2.22 vehicles per household, and about 72 percent of households have two or more. The median age is 51.4, older than the Reno city figure of 37.1.

The average commute is 19.7 minutes, and about 61 percent of workers drive alone. A household with several cars and a mix of renewal dates benefits from testing each one close to its own deadline.

Testing early to leave room for repairs

A smog check is valid for 90 days, and the DMV suggests testing early so there is time for repairs before the registration deadline if a car fails. For a vehicle that has been in the family a long time, that early test is worth doing, because older cars are the ones more likely to throw a check engine light.

A lit check engine light is an automatic fail in Nevada. The DMV still advises getting tested, since the failed report is the document that starts any repair and waiver process. Our failed smog check page lays out what comes next.

Older cars and classic plates

Southwest Reno has its share of long-owned vehicles. Model year 1996 and newer cars get the OBD test, which reads the computer through the port under the dashboard. Vehicles from 1995 and older use the two-speed tailpipe method, and 1967 and older vehicles are exempt.

Classic Rod, Classic Vehicle and Old Timer plates can also be exempt, with conditions: under 5,000 miles a year and a yearly odometer affidavit. The classic and exempt vehicles page has the details.