TL;DR - Sean is awesome. His shop is awesome. His service is awesome. Give him your money and save yourself the hassle of dealing with mechanic scumbags. Also he doesn't do the DMV stuff anymore because no one was taking advantage of it and it's too expensive at the moment/price of goods going up. So my man Sean can't justify offering it anymore. Sean's a certified badass. Went here this morning to get a smog for my car and it was about a 15 minute drive or so. I was the first and only there. Rolled into a vacant parking spot when Sean came over and asked if I here for a smog. I said "Yeah" and he asked me to park in the awning and he'd get me hooked up. I also came prepared with some Micky D's breakfast cuz ya boy was hungry. So anyway, fast forward 10 minutes and while I'm munching on my McMuffins, Sean and I are talking casually about stuff. Kitchen Nightmares is on and Gordon Ramsay is going in on some crappy chef. Sean's like "I'm pretty sure your McDonald's breakfast sandwiches taste A-1 compared to that restaurant's crap right now." In between our conversation he politely asked me to sign off and review what he was charging me for, didn't try to upsell me, sell me anything useless, or any additional fluff. He also didn't rush me out of there either. So I able to take my time and enjoy the deliciousness I had brought with me. All in all I spent about 15-20 minutes tops. The process was fast and easy. 15/10 would chat and chill with Sean again. Oh yeah and my car was fine. And I paid about $45 for the whole thing (smog check). "It seems like quality has taken a dive man, all these shops are trying to screw you out of your money. You come in for brakes, they try and sell you a tune up with it. On the shop's mission statements it should say in fine print under their BS commitment to customer service, 'We're also here to gouge and bone you out of every penny you own.' - Sean, Certified Boss, Norcal Auto Support this man, he's awesome. read more

Hands-down the best service I have received in the automotive industry. In years . I had a 9 o'clock appointment to which I was 15 minutes early. He wasted no time to help me. I don't think I was there more than five minutes and that was just because I was asking in him questions that he's answered simple quick Ian's to the point.. my previous career was in AAA emergency road service so I've been to a lot of repair facilities for 37 years. I live almost 30 miles away even though there are places closer I will be going to him for sure... thank you so much for the great service Steven read more

This is my go to Smog shop but when someone has a problem it's the only shop I recommend. I'm a retired mechanic and vehicle inspector and have seen the foolishness shops will pull on people. NorCal doesn't play those games they just take care of you. read more

Came in for a Smog check. Scheduled online which was super easy and convenient m. Owner was great! Punctual, friendly, and the fastest check I've ever had. Loved the shop! Would highly recommend! Will definitely be coming here for my next smog check! read more

Needed a Star Certified smog station here in Chico and found a great one out by the airport. Fast, clean and very professional! I wish I had sent my son out to Norcal Auto first. The Star Certified shop on the other side of town gave my son a time to show up 3pm, when he arrived @2:50pm they told him to come back after the weekend. Not cool at all. My fleet of trucks will all get serviced at NORCAL AUTO. FIVE STARS for Sean! Cheers, Matt F. read more

Best smog in Chico. Nice guy, not pretentious or intimidating at all. Affordable and reliable.

I cannot say enough about the service I received from Sean. My sons (student at Chico) truck did not pass smog insp., Sean listened to my whole story, gave me suggestions, explained what he thought the problem may be. In any case,NorCal Auto was not even in a position to make the repairs needed, and he still directed me exactly what to do. Provided names and telephone numbers. Great service, knowledgable... Beware Sean, next visit to Chico I plan to drop off a 6-pack! read more

I have been going to NorCal Auto for my past 4 smog inspections. Sean, the owner, is courteous, professional, easy to talk to, knowledgeable, and just overall a pleasant dude. The smog check process is speedy and he sends the results directly to DMV. I think one year he was able to give me my stickers on the spot because I had already paid my registration and just needed to finish the smog. I'm not sure if that is a luxury he still has, however. Another time, I had recently disconnected the battery to do some repair work under the hood, the computer had not had enough time since the disconnect to gather enough emission info so Sean installed a sensor in my car that gave me a green light indicating I had enough information to complete the smog check. Overall, very satisfied customer. I recommend this place to anybody needing a smog certification. Thank you Sean!! read more

Best smog place in Chico. He knows more about this stuff than anyone and is very helpful with helping anyone through the California Smog maze. Also very reasonably priced and accommodating with scheduling. I take all my cars there, plus tell anyone else looking for good service to go there too. read more

Sean was amazing and made getting my smog checked super fast and easy! Thank you so much! I highly recommend NorCal auto for whatever it is you need! Down to earth and no bs. read more

Always solid, you can't go wrong taking your car to Sean for a smog. Quick, friendly, reliable service at a great price point. His reviews and reputation speak for themselves. read more

I just received a smog check at NorCal Auto it was very fast. It you are looking for a smog check I would recommend

The mechanic, Sean, is such a nice and friendly guy. The whole smog check process was about as painless as you could possibly imagine. Totally worth the extra drive for great, cheap, fast service! Call ahead and make an appointment. I almost forgot to add: I called 3 other places, and Norcal Auto's smog check is the cheapest as well. read more

Such a good experience. Sean was SO helpful and knowledgeable. He managed to help me understand what's actually wrong with my car 10/10 recommend and we will definitely be back. read more

Got a smog check here a couple years ago and had a fine experience, but this time it took over a week to schedule an appointment because no one would pick up the phone. Then no one was there for the appointment. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you lose a customer. read more

Prompt and reliable service. Bought a car the previous owner did not smog and when I brought it in Sean did everything he could to get the smog check done quickly and efficiently. Thanks again! read more

I was in a pickle after being screwed over from another auto shop. I was almost in tears I was so stressed until I came here to Sean. An amazing honest business. I was told everything I needed to know and shown the process. I was even shown the parts that were replaced. The prices are fair and everything that is going to be done is explained with detail so you leave with the piece of mind that you are in the hands of a professional, unlike the places I've been to that sound more like salesmen. He made the repairs fast and with quality. The most honest you will find in Chico hands down. I will continue to take my car and future cars here as long as I'm in the area, and possibly when I'm not. I cannot stress the gratitude I have for Norcal Auto. Don't look anywhere else if you need something fixed with your car. read more

Sean was awesome! Called early this morning and he was able to get me in today. Got my smog done in about 30 minutes or less and had a cool conversation. Would definitely go back! read more

I've been to a lot of smog shops and NorCal is by far the best. Sean is a really nice guy, he's the only one that has a friendly conversation and doesn't treat it like he's being put out. He doesn't charge you if your vehicle fails which used to be pretty common but It's rare now. He also does the registration which is totally worth the fee to avoid waiting at DMV for 4 hours and have someone treat you like crap. read more

This is the best smog place I have been to in the 30 years that I have been driving. I was able to get an immediate appointment and he was done in 10 minutes.The service is exceptional. read more

Great service, great deal! Just did a smog there and I was in and out in about five minutes, WOW! These guys rock!! read more

Sean is always very friendly and quick with his service. When I asked about my boyfriend's car, which is registered in Sonoma County, he explained how he could do it here in Chico. I appreciated the time he took to explain and how easy he made it seem. I've had my car smogged here 3 times now and will continue coming back. Affordable and efficient! Call ahead to make an appointment! read more

I've been here twice now and it's always super quick and easy. Thank you Norcal Auto. Highly recommended!!

I have used this business for several years for my smog checks. Owner Sean is a straight shooter, quick and to the point. Don't try to BS him or ask him to skirt the regs, he'll set you straight. I highly recommend Sean and Norcal Auto for your smog needs. read more

Sean was an angel to help out my elderly friend. From 600 miles away I was trying to coordinate getting my 82 year old friend in Chico a replacement battery for his truck. All were expensive including AAA. Although he had AAA he was not allowed to ride in the cab because of the virus scare and had no transportation to get to Cosco to get a battery at a very reasonable cost. I called Pepboys and they wanted $130.00 to put in a battery that was not purchased from them. Another place wanted $80.00. These quotes came after I told the story of my elderly sick friend being stranded without transportation to get to doctor appointments. Thank God I found Sean at Norcal Auto on the web. He offered to go get a battery from Cosco and put it in free for my friend; even check his alternator. Sean was able to put in a battery for the same price as Cosco; allowing my friend to stay indoors in the cool while Sean changed out the batteries. Sean was eager to help immediately but had to wait a few days because in the interim, my friend had to go into the hospital. Once he was out Sean came by next day and was done in less than 15 minutes. Awesome. With all that is going on right now with everyone during these stressful times, it is so comforting to know that there are nice people out there that are willing to go the extra mile to help another human being in need and not expect anything in return. I wish I had a mechanic like Sean in San Diego where I live. I would trust him totally to treat me fairly when car repairs are needed. Linda Watkins - San Diego read more

For the first time yelping I am at a loss for words. My husband was actually the one who found this place and said it would be a good idea to check it out. I've become weary of any place that deals with cars. I hate wait time, trying to get talked into "repairs" that I don't need, and even more so when I have both my kids with me. After taking a deep breath and reading up I decided to take the plunge. A little after 1:30pm today I called NorCal Auto to bring my car in for a smog. He let me pick the time of 3:30pm. When I arrived he was happily standing in front of the garage waving. Easy way to make a customer feel like they are welcome. My weary feeling eased up a bit. He had me sign a piece of paper, and instantly went to work. Before I knew it the smog was complete, paperwork was sent to the DMV, and I was happily driving away with my kids. It was such so pleasant and calm that my 6th month old actually fell asleep, and I was able to pick up my husband before 4pm. If you need to get your car smogged, please do yourself a favor and go to NorCal Auto. He's very friendly, honest, and darn good at what he does. The price is nice, and there are no hidden extra fees to surprise you at the end. I know who'll I'll be going to from now on. THANK YOU NORCAL AUTO!!!! read more

Sean was so helpful! My daughters car was leaking water onto the floorboards. The dealership wanted to charge some outrageous fee to see what was going on. Sean really worked around her work schedule and got her in the next day. He cleared the tube of water due to it being clogged at no fee. If any other car issues arise this is the first place we will call! Thank you Sean! read more

Went here this morning for a smog check and it was SO quick and easy. Nothing gets better than fast and friendly service for an excellent price. I especially appreciated the fact that I was able to get my DMV paperwork completed there without having to go to the actual DMV. I definitely recommend NorCal Auto for smog checks. read more

Needed a smog on my 2008 Mini Cooper. Sent Sean a message on yelp and he responded very quickly. Got me appointment the next day. Was in and out with smog certification within 20 mins of arrival. Didn't cost an arm or a leg. GREAT SERVICE. Thank Sean for getting me smog certified and back on the road during the covid-19 pandemic. read more

Went here today for a smog check. What a breeze! I didn't have an appointment, but Sean managed to fit me in quickly anyway. In addition, I was able to pay for and complete all of my DMV paperwork WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE DMV! For a $20 fee, NorCal Auto can hop into the DMV system (supposedly the only place in town who went through the hoops to have this service), update and pay for your registration after your car passes smog. They'll hand you the new sticker for your car (actually, he put it on my car for me before I left), as well as the official DMV registration. Definitely coming back! read more

Sean, the owner is amazing! He has a great attention to detail and prides himself in doing good work. His pricing is also great!!! We will NEVER take my husband's car anywhere else!!!!!! read more

Like all the other reviews my smog check was done extremely fast with friendly service. What really put it over the top was a quote I was given for spark plugs that was for HALF THE TIME at a lower rate then a previous quote from another shop!! Don't go anywhere else!! read more

I will never go anywhere but NorCal auto from now on. Quick service and he was able to take care of my smog even though it was past due! Never had to step into the DMV!! It's right by the airport but it's worth the drive and very reasonably priced. read more

Nice dude and fast fair smog! Couldn't really ask for much better. The air conditioned waiting area was a huge plus on these hot summer days. read more

Sean's awesome and totally fixed my car. The check engine light has been off and on (mostly on) for the last 2-3 years and he fixed the issue completely and got my car to pass smog! The price is very fair, a few hundred less than what I was anticipating. I strongly recommend Norcal Auto. read more

Hands down best and fastest service around. Ten minutes as promised. The longest delay was the minute waiting for the previous customer to back out. Bada boom, bada bing, the smog test was finished, check written, results transmitted to DMV, and I was gone. Be sure to ask about the pew and the art. Why? One might surprise you, the other might interest you and maybe someone will help unlock a mystery. I'll be back...in two years! read more

This place is the best! Sean, the owner, is female friendly, I was Not taken advantage of! I highly recommend!

I have been trying to get my 1979 Chevy pick up smog for over a year. Guys in Susanville would keep giving me the "it's not going to pass" line without giving me solutions to get it to Pass. I saw an add for Norcal Auto and starting doing research. Man did I hit the jackpot. Sean explained why it wasn't able to be smog got it fixed up and smoged. And all at an extremely great price. I recommend Sean at Norcal Auto for anything your vehicle needs. Fast friendly gets the job done right but most of all honest. Thanks Sean, you earned a customer for life. To bad there wasn't 10 stars available. Great job. read more

Never have to wait. No smog drama. No up sells. Fast, good price, honest. Sean is looking for repeat customers, not a fast buck. Keep up the good work, dude! read more

Sean was a very nice guy who is honest and fair. His prices beat everyone in town. $45 for a smog check. It's best to set an appointment. I was literally in and out in 8 minutes! I highly recommend NorCal Auto, support your local businesses and save money! read more