Smog check in Damonte Ranch and South Meadows

Damonte Ranch and South Meadows grew up as newer subdivisions along Damonte Ranch Parkway and South Meadows Parkway, and many of the cars here are newer too. That changes what a smog check looks like: more OBD-era vehicles, more new-vehicle exemptions and more hybrids. Here is what to expect.

At a glance

• ZIP 89521 is inside the Washoe testing area named by the Nevada DMV.
• About 9 minutes to Reno South and 23 to Reno Northwest (OpenStreetMap routing).
• 41,859 people and 2.09 vehicles per household live in the ZIP (Census).
• New vehicles are exempt for their first three registrations (Nevada DMV).

Newer cars, different rules

Many vehicles in a newer subdivision are on their first few registrations. The DMV exempts a new vehicle for its first three registrations, with the test required at the fourth. A new hybrid is exempt for five model years and tested in the sixth. So the first few renewals can be quick, and the first test arrives sooner than people expect.

The new vehicle exemption page explains how to count registrations.

Counting households and cars

The Census Bureau reports 41,859 people in 16,848 households in ZIP 89521, with 35,184 vehicles available, or 2.09 per household. About 69 percent of households have two or more vehicles, the median age is 41.3 and the mean commute is 20.4 minutes.

That is a large pool of cars, and the owners tend to commute by driving alone, about 66 percent. A quick test timed before a commute day is how many of them handle it.

Test each vehicle near its own renewal date. Because a pass is valid for 90 days, a car whose renewal is three months away can wait, and a car due in a few weeks should go first.

The drive up Longley Lane

From Damonte Ranch the route to Reno South is about 5 miles and 9 minutes, normally by way of the I-580 corridor. Reno Northwest is across the city at about 23 minutes, so most households choose Longley Lane.

If a Saturday errand takes you toward the airport, Reno South is open until 3 pm. Weekdays are 8 am to 5 pm and Sundays are closed.

Moving into the neighborhood

Newer subdivisions attract people who have just relocated. New Nevada residents have 30 days to get a license and registration, and the emissions report is part of registering a vehicle based in Washoe. A vehicle coming from another state has no Nevada grace period.

Start with the new resident registration guide to see the order of steps.