Smog check for Washoe Valley and New Washoe City

Washoe Valley is a quiet community south of Reno along the US-395 and I-580 corridor, with an older population, larger households and more vehicles per household than the city. The DMV lists it by name in the testing area, which surprises some residents who think of themselves as rural. Here is how to handle the drive.

At a glance

• The Nevada DMV names Washoe Valley as part of the Washoe testing area.
• About 26 minutes to Reno South and about 40 minutes to Reno Northwest (OpenStreetMap routing).
• 2.87 vehicles per household, with a median age of 56.6 (Census, ZIP 89704).
• Drive in with no appointment; Reno South is the practical choice from here.

Named in the testing area

The DMV's description of the Washoe testing area lists Reno, Sparks, Washoe Valley, most of the area west of Washoe Valley, and all of Washoe County south of the 40th degree of north latitude. Washoe Valley is in the list by name, so a vehicle based in ZIP 89704 follows the same rules as one in Reno.

The DMV lists the exempt Washoe places, and they are far from here. If you are unsure about a particular address, the DMV Emission Lab can confirm at (775) 684-3580.

Down the highway to Longley Lane

From Washoe Valley, Reno South is about 26 minutes away, mostly on the freeway, and Reno Northwest is about 40. The Longley location sits near the airport and I-580, so it is the natural first stop on a trip into town.

Pair the smog check with other Reno errands and avoid a second trip. Reno South's weekday hours are 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday is 8 am to 3 pm.

A mature community, with plenty of vehicles

The Census Bureau counts 4,846 people and 1,844 households in ZIP 89704, with 5,300 vehicles available, or 2.87 per household. About 87 percent of households have two or more vehicles. The median age is 56.6, well above the Reno city figure of 37.1, and the mean commute is 26.0 minutes.

A household with that many vehicles has plenty of paperwork, including older cars and the occasional classic. Check each one against its renewal date. Bring the renewal notice and odometer reading, and ask about renewing the registration in the same visit so the drive covers both jobs.

Older trucks and classics in the valley

Older vehicles are common in a community like this. Model year 1995 and older vehicles use the two-speed tailpipe method rather than OBD, and 1967 and older vehicles are exempt. Classic plates can also qualify for exemption with a yearly odometer affidavit.

The older vehicles page explains the tailpipe method. For a large truck or motorhome, call the service center first.