Smog check in Lemmon Valley

Lemmon Valley is a community of 4,412 people north of Reno, off US 395. The Census describes a settled area: a median age of 53.4, a mean commute of 30.3 minutes and 85 percent of households with two or more vehicles. With nearly 20 minutes to either Reno location, an easy plan is to test during a trip you were making into town anyway, since the drive is about 19 minutes (13.1 miles) to Longley Lane and 20 minutes to Mae Anne Avenue.

At a glance

• About 19 minutes (13.1 miles) to Reno South and 20 minutes to Reno Northwest.
• Census: 4,412 people, 1,875 households, 85.2 percent with two or more vehicles.
• Inside the Washoe County testing area (Nevada DMV).
• Drive in, no appointment; results go to the DMV in real time.

A valley with long commutes

The Census Bureau reports a mean commute of 30.3 minutes for Lemmon Valley workers, the second longest among the places on this site, with 68.6 percent driving alone. A long commute means more miles per year, and a vehicle that works hard is the one most likely to benefit from an early test.

The DMV says a test is good for 90 days and encourages early testing, since it leaves time for repairs before the registration deadline.

Who lives here, by the Census

There are 1,875 households in Lemmon Valley and about 85 percent of them have two or more vehicles. Households here tend to include more than one adult driver and sometimes a work truck. The median age is 53.4.

The Census tables we used do not give a vehicle total for Lemmon Valley, so we do not state one.

Trucks and utility vehicles

Where truck ownership is common, the weight rating decides what the DMV requires. Gasoline vehicles of any weight in the urban Washoe area need a test, and diesels are tested up to 14,000 pounds GVWR. Heavy-duty gasoline vehicles are those at 8,501 pounds or more, and they use the tailpipe method.

For a diesel, a motorhome or a large truck, call the service center before you bring it. The diesel smog check page explains the DMV rules.

Which direction to head

The two drives are within a minute of each other, so choose by what else is on your list. Longley Lane is near the airport and I-580; Mae Anne Avenue is in the northwest. Reno Northwest is open Saturday until 4 pm and Reno South until 3 pm.

Both are inside an Xpress Oil & Lube Center, so an oil change can be done in the same stop. Ask about registration renewal while you are there, and bring the renewal notice so the station can see your vehicle and plate details.