Smog check in Mogul

Mogul is a small community on the west edge of Reno, with a Census population of 1,050. What stands out is how many vehicles each home keeps: the Census counts 2.85 vehicles per household here, well above the Washoe County average of 1.96. More vehicles at one address means more renewal dates and more yearly smog checks, and a 7-minute drive (3.6 miles) to Mae Anne Avenue keeps each one short.

At a glance

• About 7 minutes (3.6 miles) from Mogul to Reno Northwest, 18 minutes to Reno South.
• Census: 1,050 people, 474 households and 2.85 vehicles per household.
• Mogul is inside the Washoe County testing area (Nevada DMV).
• Drive in, no appointment; results go to the DMV electronically.

Many vehicles, many dates

The Census Bureau counts 474 households in Mogul with 1,353 vehicles available to them. About 86 percent of those households have two or more vehicles, compared with 63 percent across Washoe County. The median age is 56.5 and the mean commute is 20.3 minutes, with 74 percent driving alone.

A household with three vehicles can easily have a test due every few months. The DMV makes each registration renew on its own date, and a passing test is valid for 90 days, so testing within a few weeks of each renewal notice keeps the paperwork from piling up.

Trucks, trailers and the weight question

Homes with this many vehicles often include a work truck or a second pickup. The weight rating decides what applies. Gasoline vehicles of any weight in the urban Washoe area need a test, while diesels are tested only up to 14,000 pounds GVWR. For a diesel, a motorhome or a large truck, call the service center before you bring it.

The rating that matters is the manufacturer's GVWR, which may differ from the weight on your declaration, so check the renewal notice.

The route and the hours

From Mogul the way to Reno Northwest is the shortest of the northwest neighborhoods after Northwest Reno itself. The location at 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523, is open Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 4 pm, and closed Sunday.

If your day runs through the airport side of town, Reno South at 4993 Longley Ln, (775) 828-6996, is open Saturday until 3 pm. Both are inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center, so you can also ask about an oil change.

Doing several in a row

With more than one vehicle, bring the renewal notices together and take any tracker off each OBD port before the test. Each vehicle gets its own result, and each goes to the DMV electronically. The DMV says most OBD tests take five minutes or less.

If one of the vehicles is a classic with special plates, its rules differ: see classic and exempt vehicles.