Tri Valley Test Only Center

Great experience today at Tri-​Valley Test Only Center. The quoted price was more than I expected to pay but the person helping me gave me a coupon. I was very thankful for this! The shop is so clean and very professional. Lastly, I was in and out within 10 minutes! Highly recommended.

We have brought all of our vehicles to this location the last several years and have always had great service. Unfortunately, we went on Saturday and a different tech was on duty. He was eating his lunch when we arrived and asked if we would mind waiting til he finished and we said of course not and proceeded to sit down and talk about our other errands for the day so he could finish. When he was done, he asked, how he could help us. That’s where the service went bad. The other tech always told us that he would beat any coupon, so we brought one with us. This new tech said, «that’s not my coupon.» So we said, well what will a smog test cost? And he proceeded to tell us what he would charge, which was way more than we had paid for our other older vehicle. We were about to say thanks, but no, when he started saying that he would match the coupon, so we said okay. We thought it was going well, but noticed he was reving the engine a lot and spending a lot of time under the hood. He concluded the test and said that it passed emissions, but had an exhaust leak so he couldn’t pass the vehicle. Our vehicle has never had a problem and we knew it didn’t have an exhaust leak. We took it to another test center that afternoon and it passed with flying colors! The tech said she was in great shape! I’m not sure what made the tech from Tri Valley Smog decide to be dishonest, but I don’t think we will be using this business again. It obviously hires dishonest people with little character. I may swing by when our next vehicle needs a smog test to see if the old tech is there, but if he isn’t I’ll just keep going. It’s a pain in the rear as it is to get the smog tests to begin with, and I understand the importance. But then to have the tech fail you when he had no reason to is disappointing and very frustrating. I gave the site 1 star simply because of the previous tech.

The service was great and quick. I was lost and got to the shop 4 minutes before the closing time. Nick was so nice and still helped me and also explained to me what a star certified is.
I really appreciate his effort to go extra miles and saved me another trip. I was in and out within 10 minutes. I will recommend my friend come here for their smog check and I will come again.

I have used this place three times for smog tests in the last few years. The service has usually been okay. Recently, I brought my vehicle in for a smog check. The tech was different and had a bit of an attitude. He opened the hood and proceeded to do the smog testing. After 30 minutes, he was done and I asked if everything was okay. He told me the vehicle has passed the test, but not the visual inspection. He said that as soon as he opened the hood, he noticed that there was an aftermarket throttle body spacer installed. I installed it 15 years ago and nobody ever mentioned it in prior smog checks. It gives the vehicle a couple of extra horsepower.
I don’t have problem that he didn’t pass it, but he wasn’t going to pass as soon as he opened the hood and before he connected his testing equipment. He still went through the testing process and charged me for it. Then he told me I would have to bring it back for another test and pay another full charge again for the new test after I removed the spacer. Not only was it poor customer service, I feel taken advantage of and I WILL NOT BE GOING BACK.

Been coming here for years! Fast friendly service in a clean store! Always helpful when you ask questions!

I can say, without hyperbole, that in 30 years of being a California vehicle owner, this is the least painful smog experience of that period. The technician was busy when I showed up but said come back in 30… when I did he was ready and hooked the car right up. I didn’t have a coupon, so they offered me one on the spot. The entire process took under 15 minutes and couldn’t have been more effortless. They ought to let these guys do the whole registration process.

Hassle free service, inexpensive and friendly. In and out in 10 mins — quickest smog test I’ve ever had.
Perfect timing to get a milkshake from Bob’s Giant Burgers from across the road ;-)

Straightforward and great service from Nick
Forgot my coupon but had one on my phone and he honored it.
Literally took 5 minutes for the test and results were sent to DMV.
No tricks on the total cost of the smog test.
Nick even offered to help with the tire alert I had on my car. you don’t get this quality of service every day.

I’ve been coming here since I found them. They are very good. Very fast. Good price.

This is my second time coming to this smog check center. Friendly service, good rates and they have you in and out in about 10 minutes! Hate having to do smog checks to reregister car with DMV, but since I have to, I’ll be sure to come back here!

Best place in town. They are honest and really know what they are doing. I wIl always use this place from now on!

I was here today and had my smog check done less than 25 min.
I called ahead and was told there were two person in front of me, but Nick said he would tried to get me out the door within 30 min, and he did deliver his promise!
I got a coupon for $ 24.99 and they honored it without question.
Highly recommend this place if you want quick and no BS service ! Hold on to your coupon if you see one. Every where else in the area charged from $ 60 – $ 90 for smog check.

I’ve been going here the last few years. Its quick and easy.

I went there today and got my car smog checked. It was a great experience, and I will definitely go there again!
I went to three different places, and this was the only honest place, so that’s why I got my car checked there. I had coupons from the Valpak for three different locations, and at the two first places I went to, they looked at my car and said I couldn’t use the coupon for that. It’s a ’06 Corvette (base model, no mods), and I’ve never paid more than $ 35. But the two first locations bumped the price up to $ 70-​$ 80, which I refused to pay.
When I went to Tri Valley Test Only Center, I was met by a very nice guy, no hazzle about the price, he accepted the coupon without any discussion and did the test in less than 15 minutes. The place is very clean, organized, accepts credit cards (most coupon deals are cash only) and the waiting area is very nice too.
If you need a smog check in the Pleasanton area, this is a good place to go.

We’ve taken our vehicles here for smog tests. Used the ValPak coupons rec’d in the mail and never had any issues. Quick and helpful. Will continue to use.

Saw their coupon on Valpak mailing and the price stated on the coupon is exactly what I payed. Had a ’93 so had to pay for the evap test. Most places with coupon don’t even tell you the cost of evap but this was stated up front. Arrive there with one other person doing the smog test. Total time waiting and testing was around 20 minutes. Was a little pessimistic about passing since 2 years ago failed 3 times before passing. But this time passed on first time by a hair, HC max was 85 and I scored 84 ppm. So car good for another 2 years, will go back there in 2 years, highly recommended clean facility.

Decent place and genuinely nice people! And the smog test was quick. My first time ever to enjoy doing a smog test. Will definitely come back.

I saw their coupon in the Valpak and it states «Find a lower price? We’ll beat it!» So I called prior to coming down. I asked the man who answered the phone if they match coupons. I said I had a coupon for $ 16.95. He said no problem bring it down. SO I scheduled time off work to come in. I pull up and the man greets me and says he will be right with me. So I park and get out and I told him I had called the day before about the coupon. SO THEN HE TELLS ME… oh well they dont do test only so they send people over here and I do it for $ 35 out the door. I said what. He knew exactly what coupon I was talking about on the phone and he told me he would honor that price. Then I get there and now he wont honor the coupon. Thanks for wasting my time. Next time BE HONEST from the beginning. I even asked on the phone if that was too low of a price and he said no just bring it in.
I use small family owned businesses all the time to support the community… But this place wouldn’t even get 1 start if i had the choice.

Family owned and operated in 1977, Very pleasant and quick smog!
The employees genuinely seem to enjoy working their job and it makes the task of getting a smog quick and painless!
Would recommend to everyone!

Regular price $ 69 ALL VEHICLES– cars, trucks, SUVs and heavy duty.
Coupon price $ 19.95 + $ 8.25 Certificate Fee + $ 1.80 Electronic Transfer Fee = $ 30.
That’s hard to beat, and doubly so for testing my SUV (see Clear Blue review below). Most shops have a come-​on coupon price for cars only– there’s a hidden fee for SUVs etc. on top of the Certificate and ETF.
The shop was exceptionally neat and clean.