Smog check in Reno

Reno is the center of the Washoe County emissions program. The Nevada DMV lists Reno first among the places where a test is required, so the yearly smog check is part of renewing almost every gasoline car and light truck in town that is 1968 or newer and past its first three registrations. From the middle of the city the two Xpress Smog Check Center locations are an even drive: about 11 minutes to Reno South on Longley Lane and about 11 minutes to Reno Northwest on Mae Anne Avenue, by OpenStreetMap routing in light traffic. Pick the one that fits the rest of your day.

At a glance

• Reno is inside the Washoe County testing area, so a yearly test comes with most renewals (Nevada DMV).
• Two locations: Reno South at 4993 Longley Ln and Reno Northwest at 6100 Mae Anne Ave, both inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center.
• No appointment. Most OBD tests take five minutes or less, according to the DMV.
• A passing result goes to the DMV electronically and stays valid for 90 days.

Does my Reno car need a smog check?

Probably yes. The DMV requires a test for a vehicle based in the urban area of Washoe County when it is gasoline powered at any weight, or diesel up to 14,000 pounds GVWR, and model year 1968 or newer. The test is due every year at registration renewal.

The exceptions are specific: a new vehicle is exempt for its first three registrations, a hybrid for its first five model years, and electric vehicles, motorcycles, 1967 and older vehicles and qualifying classic plates are exempt. The smog check helper walks through each one.

Which location is closer to you

Reno is long north to south, so the closer location depends on the neighborhood. South of downtown, near the airport, in Hidden Valley and down toward South Meadows, Longley Lane is the short drive. West of Virginia Street, around the university and out toward Somersett and Verdi, Mae Anne Avenue usually wins.

From the city's center point the two are tied at about 11 minutes each. Our service area page lists drive times for 23 places across the testing area.

• Reno South: 4993 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 828-6996, Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday 8 am to 3 pm.
• Reno Northwest: 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523, (775) 787-1000, Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday 8 am to 4 pm.

Reno by the numbers

The Census Bureau counts 273,212 people and 114,322 households in the city of Reno, with 201,516 vehicles available to those households, about 1.76 per household. Fifty-six percent of Reno households have two or more vehicles, which in a testing county usually means more than one smog check a year at the kitchen table.

The average Reno commute is 20.3 minutes and about 67 percent of workers drive alone, so a quick test on the way to or from work is how many people fit it in.

Renew in the same trip

Nevada emission stations send the result to the DMV electronically, in real time. That means you can renew online through MyDMV or at a DMV Now kiosk minutes after a pass, and many customers of these two locations mention renewing their registration in the same visit. Ask about it when you pull in, and bring your renewal notice.

While the car is in the bay, both locations are also Xpress Oil & Lube Centers, so an oil change can happen in the same stop.