--- title: Smog Waiver in Washoe County: The Rules | Xpress Smog url: https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/smog-waiver/ 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/) - [Smog checks](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/) - Smog waiver in Washoe County # Smog waiver in Washoe County A Nevada smog waiver lets a vehicle that still fails after qualifying repairs be registered for one year. In Washoe County the repairs must be made by a 2G licensed authorized station or the registered owner, with receipts of at least $200, and you request the waiver at the DMV emissions lab with both failed reports. 4.7 stars from 550 Google reviews of the two Reno Xpress Oil & Lube Centers - Fail the initial test first The failed test starts the process. Repairs made before it do not count. - Check for warranty coverage A vehicle eligible for warranty coverage cannot get a waiver. Ask the dealer about the federal emissions warranty and recalls. - Repair at a 2G station or yourself In Washoe County only a 2G licensed authorized station or the registered owner qualifies. - Reach the $200 minimum Station: $200 in parts and labor for repairs related to the deficiency on the initial test. Owner: $200 in parts for an area of failure, bought within 14 days of the test (DMV). - Fail the retest The vehicle must still fail for the qualifying reason after the repairs. - Visit the emissions lab Bring the vehicle, both failed certificates and every repair receipt to the DMV emissions lab, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. A waiver is the DMV's safety valve for a car that has had real, documented repair work and still cannot pass. It has firm requirements and a few traps, most of them about timing and who did the work. These are the Washoe County rules as the Nevada DMV publishes them; Clark County's numbers are different. ## At a glance - Waivers are free and valid for one year; the vehicle must be repaired before the next registration year (Nevada DMV). - Washoe minimum: $200 in qualifying parts and labor at a 2G station, or $200 in parts for owner repairs. - Owner-bought parts must be purchased within 14 days after the initial failed test. - No waivers for vehicles eligible for warranty coverage, smoking vehicles or tampered emission equipment. ## Which failures qualify The DMV lists two qualifying failures. For 1968 to 1995 light-duty vehicles and all heavy-duty vehicles, the vehicle must fail for carbon monoxide and/or hydrocarbon levels over the standard. For 1996 and newer light-duty vehicles, it must fail for an illuminated check engine lamp. ## Who cannot get one The DMV will not issue a waiver to a vehicle that is eligible for warranty coverage. Smoking vehicles and vehicles with emission device tampering must be repaired with no limit on cost. Money spent on tampered or missing emission devices, and the labor to install them, does not count toward the minimum. ## The Washoe County repair rules Repairs may be made by a 2G licensed authorized station or by the registered owner. Vehicles repaired at a non-2G garage, or by someone other than the registered owner, are not eligible for a waiver. If a station did the work, the application must include receipts showing at least $200 spent on parts and labor, not counting emission testing, for repairs directly related to an emission deficiency noted on the initial test. If the owner did the work, the receipts must show at least $200 spent on parts related to an area of failure on the initial test, with the parts bought within 14 days after that test. ## Requesting the waiver Once the vehicle has failed the retest after qualifying repairs, bring the vehicle, both failed tests and the receipts to the emissions lab. The DMV inspects the vehicle and the paperwork, and if it qualifies issues a waiver that lets you register. There is no charge for the waiver. Waiver inspections are done from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays. The Reno lab is at 9155 Double Diamond Pkwy, Reno, NV 89521, (775) 684-3580. ## One year, then fix it A waiver is valid for one year only. The DMV expects the vehicle to be repaired before the next registration year, so treat it as time to plan the repair, not a permanent pass. ## Before you start down this road Most cars never need a waiver. A focused repair at a 2G station usually fixes the fault the failed report names, and the retest passes. The waiver exists for the stubborn cases, which is why the DMV ties it to documented, qualifying work. If you think you might end up here, keep the failed report and every receipt from day one, and ask questions at the DMV emissions lab early rather than late. ### Sources - [dmv.nv.gov/emission.htm](https://dmv.nv.gov/emission.htm) (Nevada DMV: waiver requirements, Washoe repair options, exclusions; read 10/19/26) - [dmv.nv.gov/regrenewal.htm](https://dmv.nv.gov/regrenewal.htm) (Nevada DMV: requesting the waiver, no charge, lab hours; read 10/19/26) - [dmv.nv.gov/emission_diesel.htm](https://dmv.nv.gov/emission_diesel.htm) (Nevada DMV: Reno emission lab address and phone; read 10/19/26) ### Your location: Reno South - Call [(775) 828-6996](tel:+17758286996) Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-3 pm, Sun closed - Address 4993 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502 [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=4993+Longley+Ln%2C+Reno%2C+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJc5xNCcI_mYARXjHn3y79iJw) ### What a customer said Reno South Awesome service, fast, great people. Been going here five years and they are always helpful! Smog service is fast and easy. [All smog check reviews](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/reviews/) ### Related - [Repair and retest](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/repair-and-retest/) - [Smog waiver questions](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/faq/waiver-questions/) - [The Washoe waiver: what counts toward the minimum](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/guides/waiver-math-washoe/) - [The DMV emissions lab in Reno: when to go there](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/guides/dmv-emissions-lab-reno/) - [The federal emissions warranty: check it before you pay](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/guides/emissions-warranty/) Located inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center Both smog check locations sit inside an Xpress Oil & Lube Center, the locally owned Reno drive-in that has served this town since 1983. Drive in, no appointment; get your oil changed in the same visit. [About us](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/about/) ## Related situations [### Failed a smog check What the failed report means and the steps that follow. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/failed-smog-check/)[### Repair and retest Getting the repair done and coming back for the second test. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/repair-and-retest/)[### Rejected: not ready to test Why a car can be turned away without failing. Learn more](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/smog-check/not-ready-rejected/)[### 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/) ## Smog waiver in Washoe County: questions Still have a question? Call either Reno location or just drive in; there is no appointment to make. ### Is the Washoe minimum the same as Las Vegas? No. The DMV lists $450 at a 2G station for Clark County and $200 for Washoe County. ### Do testing fees count toward the DMV minimum? No. The DMV excludes emission testing from the qualifying costs. ### Can my regular mechanic do the repair? For a Washoe waiver, only if the shop is a 2G licensed authorized station. Otherwise the repairs do not count. ### How do I prove I did my own repairs? With parts receipts that tie to an area of failure on the initial test, dated within 14 days after it. ## Two Reno locations, inside Xpress Oil & Lube Center [Reno Northwest smog check](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/locations/reno-mae-anne/)[Reno South smog check](https://xpresssmogcenter.com/locations/reno-longley/)