I was looking for a place near my home to get my car's emissions inspected. I found Star Emission on Yelp, saw its high ratings, and decided to give this place a try. They didn't let me down. I pulled into the garage around 3:40pm on a Tuesday and was out with a passed test result about 10 minutes later, maybe less. The cost was $25, the standard emissions inspection fee in Georgia.
I got lucky. When I arrived, there were no other customers. I drove right into the testing bay. They only have one bay so you'll have to wait if there's already a car getting tested. A line quickly built up behind me. By the time I left, there were three cars waiting.
This place isn't much to look at, but what emissions testing place is? It's located behind the QuikTrip on Howell Mill Road. Star Emission has been around long before the QT here. The first Yelp review for this place was written by old Yelp Atlanta Community Manager Kathleen M on July 1, 2009. The Howell Mill QT opened in March 2018.
There's a small seating area inside the garage, along the wall, if you want to sit and wait. During my visit, there was a table with magazines (People Magazine, IIRC) and a container of peppermint candies. Opposite the seating area was a TV (Judge Judy was on) and a bulletin board with the shop and its workers' certificates from the State of Georgia.
The official name of this business is "Star Emission Service LLC" and the station ID number is GA102115.
Certified Emission Inspector Patrick tested my car. He was friendly and polite. Great customer service. We found out that we're both from North Carolina. I had actually driven directly from Chapel Hill to Star Emission - about a six-hour drive - which is how the conversation got started.
Patrick taught me something new. He told me I could go across the street to Kroger to renew my car's registration and get a new tag sticker. All I needed was my driver's license and a credit/debit card. There's an official Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) Georgia Tag Kiosk inside Kroger, next to the pharmacy.
How long have these MVD kiosks been around? In previous years, I'd renew online. And before then, I'd renew via snail mail. The Georgia Tag Kiosk was fast and convenient.
Digression: I've lived in this part of Atlanta since 2000, but my first visit to Star Emission wasn't until this year, 2022. The reason is due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. I used to get my emissions checked near where I worked (Marietta, Cobb County). Working-from-home had me looking for a closer spot and that's how I came to Star Emission.
Thank you, Patrick and Star Emission. read more