Smog check for Sun Valley drivers

Sun Valley is a busy, family-heavy community just north of Sparks and Reno, and its households own more vehicles than the Reno average. That makes the yearly Nevada smog check a regular errand rather than a rare one. Because the two Xpress Smog Check Center locations are almost the same drive from here, the better choice usually comes down to where the rest of your day is headed.

At a glance

• Sun Valley is covered by the Washoe County testing area, which includes Reno and Sparks (Nevada DMV).
• About 20 minutes to Reno South and about 21 minutes to Reno Northwest, by OpenStreetMap routing in light traffic.
• The Census counts 2.41 vehicles per household here, one of the higher figures in our service area.
• Drive in with no appointment; a pass goes to the DMV electronically and is good for 90 days.

Why Sun Valley households test so often

The Census Bureau counts 22,228 people in the Sun Valley census-designated place, living in 6,922 households with 16,661 vehicles available to them. That works out to 2.41 vehicles per household, and about 75 percent of households have two or more. Every one of those gasoline vehicles that is 1968 or newer and past its first three registrations comes due on its own renewal date.

A household with three cars can see three separate renewal months, so test each car as its own date approaches.

Choosing between the two Reno locations

From Sun Valley the numbers are close: roughly 20 minutes to the Longley Lane location and 21 to Mae Anne Avenue. If your day already includes a stop on the south side of town, or you are heading toward the airport or I-580, Reno South fits naturally. If you are working or running errands in northwest Reno, Reno Northwest saves a crosstown drive.

Neither drive is a promise, since traffic changes the real time, but the two are close enough that you can decide on the day. Our locations page has hours and directions for both.

• 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.

Fitting the test into a long commute

The average commute for Sun Valley workers is 25.9 minutes, and about 73 percent drive alone. A test that takes five minutes or less on most OBD vehicles, according to the DMV, fits an errand on the way. Saturday is another option: Reno South closes at 3 pm and Reno Northwest at 4 pm.

What to bring from Sun Valley

Bring your registration renewal notice if you have it, and make sure nothing is plugged into the OBD port. The DMV says technicians must fail a vehicle that has an insurance tracker or monitoring device connected, so unplug it before you leave home.

If the check engine light is on, the DMV treats that as an automatic fail, but it still recommends getting tested so you have the failed report for the next steps. Our what to bring page has the full list, and you can ask about renewing your registration in the same visit.