--- title: Smog Check Near the University of Nevada, Reno | Xpress Smog url: https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-university-north-reno/ business: Xpress Smog Check Center (Located inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center) locations: Reno Northwest: 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523, (775) 787-1000, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed; Reno South: 4993 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 828-6996, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-3 pm, Sun closed type: Nevada smog check (vehicle emissions inspection), drive in, no appointment --- Located inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center - Smog check at two Reno locations - Oil change in the same visit - No appointment needed [Xpress Oil & Lube](https://xpressoilandlube.com/) - [Home](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/) - [Service areas](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/service-areas/) - University and North Reno # Smog check in University and North Reno Vehicles based in University and North Reno are inside the Washoe testing area, so most gasoline cars here need a smog check at registration renewal. Reno Northwest on Mae Anne Ave is about 10 minutes away and Reno South on Longley Ln about 13, with no appointment at either. 4.6 stars from 210 Google reviews of this Xpress Oil & Lube Center The area around the University of Nevada, Reno has a different pattern from the rest of the city: more renters, a younger population and fewer cars per home. In ZIP 89512 the Census counts 1.5 vehicles per household, the lowest on this site, and a median age of 32.8. The drive from the ZIP to Mae Anne Avenue is about 10 minutes (4.8 miles) and to Longley Lane about 13 minutes, by OpenStreetMap routing in light traffic. ## At a glance - About 10 minutes to Reno Northwest and 13 minutes to Reno South. - ZIP 89512: 28,030 residents, 1.5 vehicles per household, median age 32.8 (Census). - Inside the Washoe County testing area (Nevada DMV). - Drive in, no appointment; check the New to Nevada page if you just arrived. ## Students, newcomers and the 30-day rule A student arriving from another state brings a vehicle with another state's registration. The DMV says out-of-state students are not required to register a vehicle in Nevada, while people who work in Nevada, or who stay long enough to cross the DMV's thresholds, are. A registration based in Washoe County brings the emissions test with it. The details are on the DMV's own pages, and our [military and students page](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/faq/military-and-students/) summarizes them. If you do register here, you have 30 days to get a Nevada license and registration. ## One car per household, or fewer The Census Bureau counts 11,442 households in ZIP 89512 and 17,159 vehicles available, so about 1.5 per household. Only 42.8 percent of households have two or more vehicles, against 63.1 percent for Washoe County. Mean commute is 20 minutes, with 68.9 percent driving alone. For a one-car household, the test is the single trip that matters. Because there is no appointment, you can drive in on a weekday between 8 am and 5 pm, or on Saturday morning, whichever fits a class or work schedule. ## Choosing between two locations The distance difference is small, so choose by the rest of your day. Reno Northwest at 6100 Mae Anne Ave stays open until 4 pm Saturday, an hour later than Reno South at 4993 Longley Ln, which closes at 3 pm. Both are closed Sunday. Each is inside an Xpress Oil & Lube Center, which makes it simple to handle an oil change at the same time. The DMV adds that most OBD tests are completed in five minutes or less. ## Used-car buyers and sellers Sales are common in a college area, and the test rules for them are specific. A Nevada dealer must provide a valid passing test with a vehicle sold for registration in Washoe County. In a private sale, the test is the buyer's responsibility, and a transfer is exempt if the last test was within 90 days. Read [buying or selling a car](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/buying-or-selling-a-car/) before the paperwork day, since a test takes only a few minutes. ### Sources - [dmv.nv.gov/emission.htm](https://dmv.nv.gov/emission.htm) (Nevada DMV Emission Control Program: Washoe testing area, vehicles tested, exemptions, validity; read 10/19/26) - [dmv.nv.gov/emission_obd.htm](https://dmv.nv.gov/emission_obd.htm) (Nevada DMV OBD page: five-minute test, real-time results, OBD port devices; read 10/19/26) - [api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5](https://api.census.gov/data/2024/acs/acs5) (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year, ZIP 89512 (ZCTA5); retrieved 10/15/26) - [router.project-osrm.org](https://router.project-osrm.org) (OpenStreetMap routing, drive minutes from ZIP 89512 to both Reno locations in light traffic; retrieved 10/15/26) ### Closer location: Reno Northwest - Call [(775) 787-1000](tel:+17757871000) Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed - Address [6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=6100+Mae+Anne+Ave%2C+Reno%2C+NV+89523&destination_place_id=ChIJ3dFA7yBEmYARYg1CtQTi_Bk) [Located inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center](https://xpressoilandlube.com/) [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=6100+Mae+Anne+Ave%2C+Reno%2C+NV+89523&destination_place_id=ChIJ3dFA7yBEmYARYg1CtQTi_Bk) ### The drive About 10 minutes (4.8 miles) to the Reno Northwest smog check location by car in light traffic (about 13 minutes to Reno South), OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM), retrieved 10/15/26. Not a promise of your drive time. ### What a customer said Reno Northwest Nice people. I only needed the smog test. [All smog check reviews](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/reviews/reno-mae-anne/) ### Related - [Reno Northwest smog check](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/locations/reno-mae-anne/) - [Reno South smog check](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/locations/reno-longley/) - [Buying or selling a used car](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/buying-or-selling-a-car/) - [Military members and students](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/faq/military-and-students/) - [Smog check near Old Northwest Reno and Rancho San Rafael](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-old-northwest-reno/) ## University and North Reno at a glance - **People:** 28,030 B01003 - **Households:** 11,442 B11001 - **Vehicles available to households:** 17,159 B25046 - **Vehicles per household:** 1.5 B25046 / B25044 - **Households with 2 or more vehicles:** 42.8% B08201 - **Mean commute:** 20.0 min B08013 / B08303 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, api.census.gov, retrieved 2026-10-15. Census geography: ZCTA5 89512. ## Smog check help for University and North Reno drivers [### Smog check for your registration renewal The yearly test before you renew a Washoe County registration. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/registration-renewal/)[### New to Nevada: your first smog check Moving to Reno or Sparks with a car registered in another state. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/new-to-nevada/)[### Failed a smog check What the failed report means and the steps that follow. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/failed-smog-check/)[### Check engine light and your smog check Why a lit check engine light decides the test. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/check-engine-light/) ## Nearby [Northwest Reno Reno Northwest, about 8 min Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-northwest-reno/)[Somersett Reno Northwest, about 10 min Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-somersett/)[Mogul Reno Northwest, about 7 min Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-mogul/)[Verdi Reno Northwest, about 13 min Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-verdi/)[Old Northwest Reno and Rancho San Rafael Reno Northwest, about 11 min Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check-old-northwest-reno/) ## Questions from University and North Reno Still have a question? Call either Reno location or just drive in; there is no appointment to make. ### Do college students need a smog check? Only if the vehicle is registered at an address in the Washoe testing area. The DMV says out-of-state students are not required to register in Nevada. ### Which location is closer to the university area? Reno Northwest on Mae Anne Ave is about 10 minutes; Reno South is about 13 (OpenStreetMap routing). ### Are the Census figures for the campus only? No. They are for ZIP 89512, University and North Reno together. ### Do I need an appointment? No.