Best smog experience thus far. Quick in & out. Used a groupon and had to pay an additional fee in-person, however this was stated on the groupon and is typical of all smog places. read more

Met with the service tech Numan about getting my old truck through the smog process. He was very friendly and helpful, and offered some special deals (coupons available on the internet) that would help with the overall cost. I came on a Sunday (shop is open 7 days/week), and by the time I had finished the paperwork, he was ready to get the truck on the rollers. Not sure how the wait time compares on weekdays, but things worked great for me. Unfortunately my vehicle didn't pass one of the emissions tests, but it was not due to a lack of effort on Numan's part. He did all that he (legally) could to get the test done, including running it multiple times. In the end, there was nothing more we could do at the moment, so he offered up some advice on things to have checked out, and informed me that they would re test for $30 when I was ready. Overall, had as pleasant an experience as one could when dealing with a smog check. Did not have time to see if there was wifi or anything else available on site, which in my opinion is great, because it meant I was in and out quickly, and able to go on with my day. If you are in need of a check at a STAR certified location, this business is worth going to. read more

With literally a thousand places in the bay area to get my car smog'ed I found this place to be the best for many reasons: 1) very knowledgeable person that runs the shop! 2) efficiently took my car in and completed the job in under 30 min 3) Price was great (they matched a coupon from another company-35.00-out the door) 4) They gave me a coupon for lifetime smog services. I will recommend this smog shop to all my family! "Great JOB, great service and priced correctly!" Jose de Dios read more

Coupons for this place are a scam. Presented one for a $12.75 smog check and charge ended up being $50 with guy pointing to displayed prices with an explanation I had a hybrid. There are better, more honest smog check shops out there instead of this one. Buyer beware. read more

Super friendly! I've been coming to this place for about 3 years now. I live in union city and still go to Berkeley cause I love the quality service I get here. I mentioned the yelp coupon and they hooked me up regret a great deal. Would highly suggest anyone needing a smog go here. read more

Numan and Bill are the greatest - my 1995 Honda didn't pass the first test but they promised a free re-test and were true to their word! They are honest and professional AND reasonably priced. I will not go anywhere else. read more

I was in & out today in less than 15 min ,i called BILL in the phone to schedule appointment he was super nice ,when i showed up Bill and Younis took care of everything,i signed my paper work and i took my car in less than 15 min ,he did really good job with great price and offer me coupon for the next time ,it easy to deal with no hassling no problem,kind ,nice and respectful ,HIGHLY RECOMMEND,absolutely he is going to be my car smog test guy forever THANK YOU VERY MUCH BILL AND YOUNIS read more

I got a group-on deal for the smog-check for $18, down to $12 with an additional promotion group-on had going on which is the best deal I have seen around - 5 stars for that. 1st star reduction for customer experience: When I came in I was first told that they wouldn't accept my group-on voucher, even though I had mentioned explicitly on the phone that I had the group-on deal and confronted me with a lie that they supposedly told me repeatedly on the phone that they wouldnt accept it. After some back and forth they finally gave in. The service was relatively quick and painless, I was done 30min after the scheduled appointment time. The guy could not answer any questions on overall smog performance of the car and whether we should expect worse performance over the next years, just that it passed this time. English seems to be his second language, though his unwillingness to actually explain to the customer a bit more about what he was doing seemed less related to his comprehension and more about a general unwillingness to engage. 2nd star reduction for intransparent pricing: when checking out I was asked to pay another $15 for information transmission fees to the state of CA. I expected those fees to be included in the originally quoted group-on price. 3rd star reduction for missing driveway: In order to get into the smog-testing place I had to drive over the curbstone as they didn't have a driveway. On the way out the bottom metal case of my car hit the sidecurb hard, even though I was driving out slowly and carefully. How can you have a car-servicing business where you mess up cars when they enter and exit? read more

They were great. I checked in and got the Yelp deal, which is a cash deal. They're a STAR dealer and sent my info to the DMV. helped me back my car out. read more

I'm siding with all the 1 star reviewers for this place lol, please hear me out, I first took my car here two weeks ago after my friend gave me a business card with the owner's quote of $34.95 on it, turns out every other place is charging more or less the same price, and he won't give you a free retest by the way because according to him, you are already getting a "discounted" price... FYI: YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE A VOUCHER ON YELP FOR DISCOUNT! My smog failed the first time due to high HC reading @15mph, but passed @25mph, for those of you who are driving an older car like me, please run your car hot before you bring it in for smog test, the owner of this establishment won't provide any suggestion, that's OK since he is not an AES certified technician. My mechanic suggested that I fill up 91 Octane and let it run for a week or two before taking my car in for retest, he looked at my report and pointed out that it's most likely due to the age of my car and the catalytic converter not being as efficient, and run it hot before the test(your CAT is most efficient when hot). Today I brought in my car, trying to relay the message from my mechanic to this a-hole, his response was and I quote "don't talk to me, let me see the paper, I know what I'm doing" and being very stand offish, I was thinking "Oh so now you know what's going on but couldn't provide anything when I failed the smog the first time", I will admit though his condescending attitude to his customer was what pissed me off, so I told him to go F#%$ himself and ripped my paper off his clipboard and told him I'm taking my business somewhere else(this is the short version) If you don't want to deal with snake oil business practice, I'd suggest you take your business down the street to "15 minutes smog check" http://www.yelp.com/biz/15-minute-smog-test-only-and-oil-change-berkeley-3, call them, they will give you the exact price over the phone, and get you in and out in no time, which is another gripe I have with 1 Berkeley Star, I arrived on time, he made me wait 30 minutes then another 15 for the test just to get a failed result, his snake oil salesman pricing strategy is also a big fail, don't let this guy fool you, you can get your STAR smog done for $40 flat at "15 minute smog test only" and they will provide free retest. read more

Great friendly fast service. Bill was helpful, welcoming and great! Helped me pull in and watched for traffic as I pulled out. No problems, no hassles. read more

Easy peasy! I got a coupon in the mail. Called for an appointment and Bill was very nice and professional. Was able to get an appointment on the same day and was in and out in no time at all. Very courteous service and a great price. Highly recommend them. read more

I was putting off my smog check for way too long and just happened to drive by and see their sign. I pulled in at 5:59pm and even they close at 6pm, Bill came out, greeted me, and said he'd help me out. Their price was well vet $100 which is crazy. It was only after I scoffed and started to walk out that he offered to make me a deal. After some quick researching on my phone I saw that $30 would be a great price, which he honored. This kind if business model is shady but I rolled with it since he was already staying late for me and was giving me a great price. All things considered I'd come back, but only with my guard up. read more

This is my third time with Bill and I feel he is efficient in getting in and out and I like him personally. The first time I went with him he went out of his way to help, even though I needed a mechanic to remedy another problem, and he never charged for the retest. This told me he was a fair guy to work with. See you next time, Bill! Jim I read more

We had a poor experience here at first - we made two appointments that were subsequently cancelled when we were already either there or on the way (my previous review was removed and I don't feel like telling the whole story again, but it was very unprofessional). The owner reached out to us and offered to make it right, as he was out of town and the shop was left to be handled by only one technician. I appreciated him reaching out and explaining the situation! Good business practices. read more

Thank you smog tech Bill for a great smog deal and for being a great person. You will see me again and I'll be sending friends your way when they need a smog. read more

This the best place to go for a smog check. They have many years of experience and are really friendly and get you out fast.

Came in for a Smog Check today. Busy day so the wait was longer than expected with an appointment but Bill was very friendly and accommodating. The actual test once it started did not take long and my car passed! Great Customer Service, I recommend and would go back again. read more

I went to Berkeley Smog Check yesterday and they were amazing. Not only were they the cheapest price I could find, but Bill was the nicest guy. Even though they were closed, he still let me bring my car in and made my experience very pleasant. I'd definitely recommend this place to everyone I know!!!! read more

The people who work here take their job seriously and provide great customer service. If you're looking for fast, friendly, and excellent smog check service, then look no further and visit 1 Berkeley Star Smog. I wish these guys the best, and hopefully they can expand to other areas. read more

This was a great place to go for a smog check! I went in with my van , and he gave me an awesome deal. Then when I needed to replace my gas cap when it wouldn't pass the pressure test twice he gave it to me for half price! He also took a genuine interest in me and gave sweet blessings for my life. I'm taking my other car there now. read more

When I arrived at the shop with my 1996 Honda Accord, Hasan offered me a freshly cooked hamburger! I passed on the hamburger (which looked and smelled good, but I'd just eaten), so he excused himself for a moment to offer it to his neighbor. A minute later he was back and immediately put my car up on the machine. I expected it to pass and it did. However, when he looked at the results of my previous test, he pointed out some borderline numbers which gave me cause for concern, as Honda's are supposed to be relatively low emitters. He said not to worry. When he was finished with the test, the previously borderline numbers were normal. He thought that the previous tester might have tested before the car was warm enough. The last place I got it smogged was in the Sacramento area. It was also a test-only place, and the guy who was working there when I went was a real ass. He answered his phone like an answering machine message : "thank you for calling such and such smog test, we're located at xxxx y street and our hours are from x-y," etc. in hopes that people would jut hang up. He did it when I called and every time he answered the phone while I was at the shop. Most callers did hang up. When I was the only customer left, he started spewing hatred about the previous two customers. If he had been my employee, I would have fired him on the spot. The reason I mention all of this is that I think that the previous tester deliberately tried to get my car to fail, just because he was an angry guy who hated everybody. Last time I had to smog my car, I was referred to Hasan by Norik, at Auto Alpina down the street (he is a good, honest and very reasonably priced mechanic -- I highly recommend him). Unfortunately, my schedule prevented me from getting it done in Berkeley and I had to do it in Sacramento. This time, I looked on yelp to find Hasan's phone number, as I didn't remember his business name, but I'd be able to figure it out from the location. While I was on yelp, I looked at some other reviews of smog places. After reading reviews about a number of shops and comparing my experience this time vs. last time, it's clear that smog places aren't all generically the same. Careless (or disgruntled) employees can clearly make the difference between pass and fail. I'm now relieved that I passed last time and I'm glad that I went to Hasan this time, as I know more now. I will definitely take it to him next time. It seems that there is a sort of community of car repair shops on San Pablo Ave. They refer customers to their trusted neighbors, they're competitive with shops around town, and they beat dealer prices by a mile. You don't exactly get concierge level service (there's no espresso to drink as you sit in a massage chair surfing the internet while watching the flat screen in the waiting room -- most places on San Pablo don't even have a waiting room). But you get good honest service at good prices, which is hard to come by at dealers, who have to convince customers to do a lot of less-than-necessary repairs just to pay rent and payroll. So... I recommend Auto Tech for smog tests -- especially if your car is older. Hasan will do you right. read more

I can't say enough about these guys. When I mentioned I had heard about them from yelp they offered my a yelp discount even though I didn't know anything about a discount. My car failed and they explained to me why it failed and even showed me exactly how I could fix it myself. When I came back to re-test it I was treated like an old friend. I would expect to be schmoozed like this at an exotic car dealer ship but to be this well treated at a smog check station is really setting the bar high. If you are looking for a good place to get your car smoged I wholeheartedly recommend 1 berkeley star smog. read more

The Yelp deal made it totally worth it. Quick, efficient, and making an appointment after work made my day. They're a small business, and I caught them when things were quiet. read more

I was hoping the smog check would be routine as usual. But I pulled into this shop about 11:30 on Tuesday 12/17/13 and gave him the $19 coupon. Sorry this is a star place and it costs $39.95. He took the payment right up front not afterward. I figured I wouldn't say anything. But he could not find the number on my catalytic converter, so he failed my 1999 Toyota. My retest would be free he said. My son crawled under the car and found the number. I called the next day. "Numan is my brother and only he can retest your car. He'll be in tomorrow." I arrive the next day at 10am. Numan tells me that is not a legitimate number. It was not his fault. Someone put in an illegal one for California. Maybe back in PA when I was there in 2007, one that is not recognized in CA. "Only if you go to a Toyota dealer and they certify that it is the original catalytic converter will I approve it." Numan said being kind. I stop at a Midas Muffler across the street. It is not the original. He is kind enough to tell me only Dan Chin's 2558 Shattuck can do the work, because he had failed my car. I have a new one installed there. I wait until 3:pm and I have to pay $621 for it. I drive back to Berkeley Star Smog. "I'm too tired and I haven't eaten yet. My head is swimming. Come back at 5:00pm." I come back 4:50pm. He has me wait a half hour across the street while he finishes another car. He pulls out that car and I pull in at 5:20. Another fellow comes. He pulls my car away. "I have to do research on it." he says. He pulls in the other car and does his smog check before my car. What am I chopped liver? He just lets the other fellow go ahead of me. Finally around 6:00 he starts with my car. "Sorry. I need $13 for two other fees." I get out of there at 6:30 and the smog check had turned into a whole day's ordeal. It really cost $53.00. He gave me a shiny coupon: $30 off the next smog check. His coupons are merely bait and switch and get at the end of the line. I'm never going back. read more

Best smog place ever!!!! Got done in 10 mins. Went there before work for my dads car. He got me in and out in 10 mins!!

These guys definitely have a 5 star rating for a reason! Great service! Very friendly and professional! Numan and Bill were extremely helpful and were true to their promise of re-testing if you fail the first time. I had unfortunately a dead battery and had to replace it and went in too early. So even though I failed the first few tests, they allowed me to come in until I did pass! They were always very friendly and helpful. I am very glad I came here! So if you need your smog check done, definitely come here! You will not be disappointed! :) read more

Used to go this place 4 years with different cars, always pleased with service. But after change of technician this place looks incompetent. My 2000 did't pass, I took it to another place and it passed with flying colors. Second time same thing. I think he used wrong method to test my car. Not to mention this place is dump, messy and has even no restroom. I had to wait like 2hrs with little kid, that was no joy there. read more

Numan gave me a great rate, a short wait time, and best of all a great smile. Very friendly, patient guy. He really wanted this 5 star review and I am only too happy to give it. read more

Numan and staff are so nice! Numan is an honest man of his word, and that's really valuable these days. There are a lot of smog check stations all along San Pablo ave, but I'm really happy with my experience here. The service was quick, courteous, and very friendly. Smiles and knowledge all around :) They work hard here, and they'll go out of their way for you, so you'll always know you're in good hands. Look out for specials offers online or on yelp! read more

Really great experience! It took maybe 15 minutes and the price is super competitive! I would definitely return as the staff was very pleasant! Thanks Bill! read more

Small and very friendly. Repeat customer discount.

Bill was great. He went above and beyond to help us out. We had an issue with our check engine light and it was causing an automatic fail on the smog test. He worked with us - including dropping off and picking up the car from our dealership so they could reset the system. Now that is top notch service. Patient, easy to communicate with and incredibly helpful. Will definitely be back. read more

First time here and I must say, Bill is awesome! Really nice guy, excellent customer service. I was running 10 minutes late for my appointment, I called while in route - was worried that I might have to reschedule since it was almost 5pm. Bill basically said, " no worries, I know traffic can be bad around this time, drive carefully and I will see you when you get here." I was with my boys, he acknowledge them as well and even gave my little one a treat! We now have a place to take our car for smog & soon they will offer oil change as well. Perfect! read more

Bill was courteous and was quick to help new get my 1995 mazda miata car smogged. I will definitely come back next time I need a smog. In and it in less than 30 minutes. read more

Bill is awesome! He greeted me happily as soon as I walked into the shop. The entire process was quick and easy and very painless. I highly recommend coming here! They even helped me back out of the garage. Very friendly and extremely welcoming. read more

1 Berkeley Star Smog is the best! Have gone to several other places in the past, and my car always passed- and this is by far the best experience. I made an appointment and the day of my appointment they took me immediately. The business was very clean and organized. Numan was very kind and welcoming and made me feel at home. VERY friendly and professional. Tested my car and in 15 minutes, it passed and he even backed it out for me onto the road. Will definitely be back, superb professional service as well as welcoming and kindly treatment-which is just as important. Thank you! read more

Came in during my lunch break a couple weeks ago. I picked Berkeley Star Smog because of proximity to my work. They were extremely friendly and fast. Despite not having an appointment and having a two cars ahead of me, my car was done in under an hour. Numan was the nicest guy and gave me the discount mentioned on Yelp. We chatted a bit while the tests ran. He's a hard-working family man that wants to provide great service to his customers. I'm totally satisfied with the job and would happily recommend this shop. read more

Friendly yet professional. Works hard to be fair and affordable. Efficient testing includes electronic transmission of results. After expertly testing 2 cars over 2 years with 2 kinds of testing (one Star, one not), they've earned my continued loyalty. read more

The service was fast, professional, and cheap. The mechanic was friendly, helpful, and sincere. Highly recommended!!