Skip to Main Content
Visit www.ca.gov/lafires for information and resources for Californians impacted by the Los Angeles Fires.
Renewal Fee Postponement for Los Angeles Fire Survivors Information
CA.govCA.gov Logo image
Home Facebook Twitter YouTube
 Contact Us  Translate  Accessibility
Bureau of Automotive Repair Logo
  • Consumers
    • Consumer Assistance Program
    • Maintenance and repairs
    • Smog Check inspections
    • Safety systems inspections
    • Check inspection history
    • Get a collision repair inspection
    • Find an auto shop
    • Check a license
    • File a complaint
  • Licensees
    • News
    • Business licenses
    • Inspector/technician licenses
    • Training
    • Repairs and services
    • Safety systems
    • Smog Check
    • STAR
    • Laws and regulations
    • ET Blasts
    • Newsletter
  • Industry
    • News and updates
    • Certified training providers
    • Government fleet facilities
    • Cars for Schools program
    • Careers
  • Information
    • About BAR
    • BAR Advisory Group
    • Educational Advisory Group
    • Public workshops
    • Laws and regulations
    • Regulatory actions
    • Enforcement actions
    • Publications, reports, forms
    • Records requests
    • Join our email list
  • Online Services
    • Find an auto shop
    • Check a license
    • File a complaint
    • Check CAP application status
    • Submit CAP documentation
    • Search enforcement actions
    • Check STAR score
    • Apply for a business license
    • Apply for an individual license
    • Renew a license
    • Print a license
    • View all
Custom Google Search
  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
January 2019

Download Data (.csv)
  • Initial Tests
  • Initial Test Failures
  • Certification
  • Inspection and Repair Costs
  • Stations and Technicians
  • Smog Check Requirements by Vehicle Type

Initial Tests

Testing Volume

Test Type Performed Failed Failure Rate
Initial Test 923,842 93,920 10.17%
Total 1,012,180 107,839 10.65%

Initial Tests Performed by STAR Stations

Vehicle Type Test-and-Repair Station Initial Tests Test-Only Station Initial Tests Test-and-Repair Station Certificates Issued Test-Only Station Certificates Issued
Directed 107,487 223,276 91,370 190,992
Non-Directed 165,201 252,727 150,129 231,430
Total 272,688 476,003 241,499 422,422

Initial Tests Performed by Non-STAR Stations

Vehicle Type Test-and-Repair Station Initial Tests Test-Only Station Initial Tests Test-and-Repair Station Certificates Issued Test-Only Station Certificates Issued
Directed 434 162 223 66
Non-Directed 143,752 23,331 133,334 21,548
Total 144,186 23,493 133,557 21,614

BAR-97 Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year

Model Year Initial Tests Failed Overall Overall Failure Rate Emissions Failure Rate Gross Polluter Failure Rate Functional Failure Rate Visual Failure Rate OBDII Failure Rate
1976 430 102 23.72% 17.67% 8.14% 9.77% 6.98% NA
1977 616 133 21.59% 15.75% 6.01% 9.90% 6.82% NA
1978 661 143 21.63% 14.67% 5.75% 12.10% 4.99% NA
1979 831 196 23.59% 16.49% 7.58% 12.03% 5.17% NA
1980 424 98 23.11% 16.27% 7.55% 10.14% 4.48% NA
1981 477 120 25.16% 19.29% 8.39% 9.01% 6.92% NA
1982 493 133 26.98% 19.68% 7.10% 12.37% 8.72% NA
1983 580 137 23.62% 17.07% 6.03% 10.69% 5.52% NA
1984 1,177 325 27.61% 19.80% 7.48% 12.23% 7.65% NA
1985 1,546 379 24.51% 17.98% 7.44% 10.67% 5.82% NA
1986 2,019 518 25.66% 18.47% 7.53% 12.38% 6.04% NA
1987 2,308 603 26.13% 19.11% 5.89% 10.66% 6.37% NA
1988 2,726 623 22.85% 15.88% 5.69% 11.15% 5.50% NA
1989 3,823 847 22.16% 14.02% 4.34% 10.46% 4.66% NA
1990 4,609 978 21.22% 14.08% 3.82% 10.07% 4.40% NA
1991 5,137 1,124 21.88% 14.56% 4.19% 10.38% 3.99% NA
1992 5,282 1,171 22.17% 15.13% 4.32% 9.81% 4.51% NA
1993 6,532 1,572 24.07% 16.38% 3.90% 10.17% 4.84% NA
1994 8,924 1,984 22.23% 15.05% 2.87% 9.69% 4.64% NA
1995 12,267 2,602 21.21% 14.76% 2.82% 8.43% 4.38% NA
1996 11,431 2,511 21.97% 9.60% 1.51% 12.80% 4.67% 12.71%
1997 19,272 3,906 20.27% 8.43% 1.21% 12.29% 3.72% 12.25%
1998 20,678 3,960 19.15% 6.76% 1.25% 12.69% 3.71% 12.64%
1999 31,781 4,895 15.40% 4.36% 0.72% 10.85% 3.13% 10.81%
2000 397 45 11.34% 5.54% 3.02% 4.03% 3.53% 4.03%
2001 340 35 10.29% 4.12% 2.06% 5.88% 2.35% 5.88%
2002 285 29 10.18% 5.61% 3.51% 4.91% 1.75% 4.91%
2003 361 32 8.86% 5.82% 1.94% 4.16% 2.22% 3.88%
2004 289 26 9.00% 5.54% 2.42% 5.88% 1.04% 5.88%
2005 407 13 3.19% 1.97% 0.49% 1.23% 0.74% 1.23%
2006 351 14 3.99% 3.13% 1.99% 1.14% 0.00% 1.14%
2007 363 17 4.68% 2.75% 1.10% 2.48% 0.55% 2.48%
2008 217 5 2.30% 0.92% 0.46% 0.92% 0.46% 0.92%
2009 108 3 2.78% 1.85% 1.85% 1.85% 0.00% 1.85%
2010 52 2 3.85% 1.92% 0.00% 1.92% 0.00% 1.92%
2011 232 1 0.43% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.43% 0.00%
2012 80 3 3.75% 1.25% 0.00% 2.50% 1.25% 2.50%
2013 73 1 1.37% 0.00% 0.00% 1.37% 0.00% 1.37%
2014 39 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 39 1 2.56% 2.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 39 3 7.69% 0.00% 0.00% 2.56% 5.13% 2.56%
2017 50 2 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 4.00% 0.00%
2018 63 1 1.59% 1.59% 0.00% 0.00% 1.59% 0.00%
2019 58 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 1 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 100.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 147,868 29,294 19.81% 10.22% 2.40% 10.88% 4.08% 6.74%

Note: Some model year 1975 and older vehicles required a Referee inspection (for example, engine changes). Vehicle model years 2000 and newer were tested on the BAR-97 because they may not be compatible with the OIS test (for example, a non-OBD-II certified vehicle).

OIS Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year

Model Year Initial Tests Failed Overall Overall Failure Rate Functional Failure Rate Visual Failure Rate OBDII Failure Rate OBDII Readiness Failure Rate Smoke and/or Liquid Leak Failure Rate
1996 4 1 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 0.00%
1997 8 3 37.50% 12.50% 25.00% 12.50% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 200 34 17.00% 14.50% 3.00% 12.50% 6.00% 2.00%
1999 643 115 17.88% 16.33% 3.42% 15.40% 10.58% 0.93%
2000 33,522 6,098 18.19% 15.86% 3.48% 15.54% 10.74% 0.32%
2001 50,738 7,729 15.23% 13.19% 2.98% 12.91% 8.90% 0.28%
2002 40,426 5,886 14.56% 12.35% 3.14% 12.05% 8.02% 0.30%
2003 63,789 7,155 11.22% 9.62% 2.19% 9.39% 6.28% 0.23%
2004 48,485 5,541 11.43% 9.87% 2.18% 9.65% 6.49% 0.22%
2005 73,500 6,379 8.68% 7.45% 1.64% 7.31% 4.93% 0.14%
2006 53,837 4,989 9.27% 7.94% 1.66% 7.77% 5.09% 0.17%
2007 81,035 5,161 6.37% 5.46% 1.09% 5.34% 3.47% 0.12%
2008 48,735 3,176 6.52% 5.71% 0.99% 5.60% 3.81% 0.10%
2009 46,892 2,231 4.76% 4.25% 0.58% 4.16% 2.93% 0.09%
2010 33,868 1,804 5.33% 4.87% 0.59% 4.82% 3.33% 0.05%
2011 72,154 2,755 3.82% 3.50% 0.37% 3.45% 2.64% 0.05%
2012 23,271 1,304 5.60% 5.13% 0.55% 5.05% 3.85% 0.08%
2013 17,851 791 4.43% 4.07% 0.43% 4.03% 3.47% 0.04%
2014 17,590 723 4.11% 3.84% 0.35% 3.81% 3.35% 0.02%
2015 31,963 1,445 4.52% 4.38% 0.17% 4.35% 4.11% 0.03%
2016 14,278 533 3.73% 3.56% 0.20% 3.52% 3.26% 0.04%
2017 12,609 390 3.09% 2.88% 0.25% 2.86% 2.73% 0.02%
2018 9,225 280 3.04% 2.89% 0.16% 2.84% 2.80% 0.05%
2019 1,342 98 7.30% 7.08% 0.22% 7.08% 6.78% 0.00%
Other 9 5 55.56% 22.22% 55.56% 22.22% 22.22% 0.00%
All Model Years 775,974 64,626 8.33% 7.27% 1.42% 7.13% 4.98% 0.14%

Note: Some model year 1999 and older vehicles required a Referee inspection, were tested at Beta stations, or were 1998/1999 model year diesels.

Initial Test Failures

Initial Test Failures by Failure Type

Failure Type OIS BAR-97
Failed Failure Rate Failed Failure Rate
All Emissions NA NA 15,112 10.22%
All Visual 11,056 1.42% 6,030 4.08%
All Functional 56,414 7.27% 16,093 10.88%
OBDII 55,290 7.13% 9,971 6.74%
Overall 64,626 8.33% 29,294 19.81%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 672,357 56,365 8.38% 116,108 23,439 20.19%
Partial 35,924 2,900 8.07% 8,909 1,948 21.87%
Basic 61,418 4,902 7.98% 18,227 2,671 14.65%
Change of Ownership 6,275 459 7.31% 1,273 292 22.94%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,350 944 28.18%
All Program Areas 775,974 64,626 8.33% 147,868 29,294 19.81%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 390,121 35,380 9.07% 85,882 16,874 19.65%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 493 36 7.30% 36 10 27.78%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,778 1,358 6.54% 2,715 394 14.51%
STAR Test-and-Repair 226,757 19,804 8.73% 45,931 10,018 21.81%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 191 15 7.85% 21 7 33.33%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 131,169 7,436 5.67% 13,017 1,918 14.73%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 3,083 211 6.84% 59 5 8.47%
Business Fleet 319 3 0.94% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 70 3 4.29% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 312 202 64.74% 156 66 42.31%
Government Fleet 2,681 178 6.64% 51 2 3.92%
All Stations 775,974 64,626 8.33% 147,868 29,294 19.81%

BAR-97 Initial Test Failure Rate by Vehicle Model Year

BAR-97 Initial Test Failure Rate by Vehicle Model Year. A visual representation of the data of the chart in the BAR-97 Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year table from 1976 to 1999.

Note: Please see tabular data in the BAR-97 Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year table for BAR-97 tests conducted on other vehicle model years not shown in chart.

OIS Initial Test Failure Rate by Vehicle Model Year

A chart showing OIS initial test failure rate by vehicle model year 2000 to 2019. The chart is a visual display of the OIS Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year table.

Note: Please see tabular data in the OIS Initial Tests by Vehicle Model Year table for OIS tests conducted on other vehicle model years not shown in chart.

Certification

Certification Volume

Test Type Certificates Issued Total Certificates Issued Percent No Certificates Issued No Certificates Issued Percent
Initial Test 823,193 89.11% 100,649 10.89%
All Tests 896,986 88.62% 115,194 11.38%

Certification Volume by Station Type1

Station Type Certificates Issued on Initial Test Total Certificates Issued Percent No Certificates Issued on Initial Test Total No Certificates Issued Percent
STAR Test-Only 422,422 88.74% 53,581 11.26%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,614 92.00% 1,879 8.00%
STAR Test-and-Repair 241,499 88.56% 31,189 11.44%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 133,557 92.63% 10,629 7.37%
All Stations 819,092 89.38% 97,278 10.62%

1 Note: Excludes Basic area dealer, Fleets and Referee stations

Inspection and Repair Costs

Inspection Costs by Station and Test Type1

Station Type BAR-97 Initial Test Count Average BAR-97 Inspection Cost OIS Initial Test Count Average OIS Inspection Cost Total Initial Test Count Overall Average Inspection Cost
STAR Test-and-Repair 45,921 $54.10 226,404 $48.09 272,325 $49.10
STAR Test-Only 85,554 $48.47 389,341 $48.99 474,895 $48.89
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,985 $50.83 130,673 $54.89 143,658 $54.52
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,691 $42.22 20,657 $43.43 23,348 $43.29
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 59 $54.27 3,083 $63.24 3,142 $63.07
Total 147,210 $50.32 770,158 $49.63 917,368 $49.74

1 Note: Smog Check Inspectors are asked to enter their inspection costs once per month. These costs may or may not include any discounts and may not reflect the actual inspection cost. Additionally, inspection costs entries in excess of $99 cannot be entered into the BAR-97 software.

Inspection Costs by Station and Equipment Type1

Station Type BAR-97 Equipment Only OIS Equipment Only Both Equipment (BAR-97 and OIS)
BAR-97 Initial Test Count Average BAR-97 Inspection Cost OIS Initial Test Count Average OIS Inspection Cost BAR-97 Inspection Count Average BAR-97 Inspection Cost OIS Initial Test Count Average OIS Inspection Cost
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 18,691 $45.84 45,921 $54.10 207,713 $48.29
STAR Test-Only 1,105 $28.17 27,396 $40.92 84,449 $48.74 361,945 $49.60
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 84,794 $60.16 12,985 $50.83 45,879 $45.16
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,460 $40.26 2,691 $42.22 11,197 $46.11
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,770 $63.37 59 $54.27 313 $62.02
Total 1,105 $28.17 143,111 $53.35 146,105 $50.49 627,047 $48.78

1 Note: Smog Check Inspectors are asked to enter their inspection costs once per month. These costs may or may not include any discounts and may not reflect the actual inspection cost. Additionally, inspection costs entries in excess of $99 cannot be entered into the BAR-97 software.

Repair Costs

Repair Station Type Cost Ranges Vehicles Repaired Average Cost Vehicles Repaired (All Cost Ranges) Average Cost (All Cost Ranges)
STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair, Non-CAP) $1-100 1012 $50.22 4,063 $421.58
$101-250 959 $171.75
$251-500 977 $367.18
$501-650 323 $571.09
Over $650 792 $1,204.74
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 432 $48.05 1,581 $392.82
$101-250 406 $171.85
$251-500 391 $359.37
$501-650 100 $572.26
Over $650 252 $1,320.56
Repair-Only $1-100 16 $31.38 38 $237.18
$101-250 10 $177.90
$251-500 8 $374.63
$501-650 1 $570.00
Over $650 3 $1,055.00
CAP Repairs $1-100 0 $0.00 237 $703.93
$101-250 8 $206.98
$251-500 61 $394.51
$501-650 56 $567.09
Over $650 112 $976.36
Total Repairs $1-100 1460 $49.37 5,919 $424.02
$101-250 1383 $172.03
$251-500 1437 $366.26
$501-650 480 $570.86
Over $650 1159 $1,207.47

Note: Non-CAP repair costs are based solely on Smog Check Inspector entries. The majority of non-CAP repairs are not entered into the repair database and therefore not included in this summary.

Stations and Technicians

Licensed Stations by Type/Privilege and Program Area

Station Type Basic Change-of-Ownership Enhanced Partial Total
STAR Test-and-Repair 121 61 2,084 85 2,351
STAR Test-Only 19 0 1,815 33 1,867
STAR Sub-Total 140 61 3,899 118 4,218
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 506 38 2,167 243 2,954
Non-STAR Test-Only 24 8 400 32 464
Non-STAR Sub-Total 530 46 2,567 275 3,418
Basic Area Dealer 65 0 0 0 65
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 51 4 60
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 4 291 13 349
Repair-Only 2 0 47 1 50
Unknown Type 0 0 10 0 10
Other Station Sub-Total 116 6 430 18 570
All Stations 786 113 6,896 411 8,206

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 375 1,891
STAR Test-Only 4 207 1,565
STAR Sub-Total 4 582 3,456
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,854 438
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 138 79
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,992 517
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 56 6
Unknown Type 0 0 7
Government Fleet 1 151 10
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 1 232 54
All Stations 5 2,806 4,027

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 305 183
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 45 12
Hardship Extensions 0 1
Exempt Vehicle 2 20
Exempted by Directive 7 2
Parts Exemption 8 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 367 218

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,058
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,887
All License Types 9,945

Smog Check Requirements by Vehicle Type

Fuel Type Model-Year GVWR1 OBD II Equipped? Smog Check Required
All2 Four model-years and newer3 All All None
Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth model-years4 All All None
1975 and earlier All All None
Gasoline and Flex Fuel
(Methanol or Ethanol)
1976-1999 All All BAR-97
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes5 OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 All BAR-97
Hybrid 2000 and newer 14,000 and less All OIS
Dedicated Propane and Natural Gas
(CNG, LNG, or LPG)
1976-1999 14,000 and less All BAR-97
Over 14,000 All None
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 All None
Diesel 1976-1997 All All None
1998 and newer 14,000 and less All OIS
Over 14,000 All None6
Full Electric Powered All All All None
Motorcycle All All All None
Other Vehicles: Two Cylinder Engine,
Two-stroke Engine,
Off-highway Registered
All All All None

1 Gross vehicle weight rating
2 Includes gasoline, flex fuel, hybrid, dedicated propane, and natural gas vehicles. A Smog Check is required for all out-of-state 1976 model-year and newer vehicles registering in California for the first time and other initial registration events determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
3 Vehicles four model-years and newer are not subject to biennial (every other year) or change-of-ownership Smog Checks. Add four to the model-year of a vehicle to determine the first year a vehicle will be subject to a change-of-ownership Smog Check. For example, a 2010 model-year vehicle will be first subject a change-of-ownership Smog Check in 2014 (2010+4=2014).
4 Fifth through eighth model-year vehicles are not subject to biennial Smog Checks. However, a change-of-ownership Smog Check is required. Add eight to the model-year of a vehicle to determine the first year a vehicle will be subject to a biennial Smog Check. For example, a 2010 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2018 (2010+8=2018).
5 In the future, BAR may identify some vehicles that have GVWR of 14,000 and less or that have problematic OBD II systems that may require the BAR-97 test.
6 Fleet vehicles are subject to the ARB Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP).

  • Back to Top
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Web Accessibility Certification
  • Careers
  • Register to Vote
Copyright © State of California