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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
February 2023

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 887,151 79,237 8.93%
All Tests 961,832 90,644 9.42%

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 93,392 221,028 81,711 193,966
Non-Directed 146,823 272,209 134,537 251,500
Total 240,215 493,237 216,248 445,466

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 128 25 1 2
Non-Directed 119,923 21,767 111,728 20,230
Total 120,051 21,792 111,729 20,232

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 342 73 21.35% 15.20% 6.43% 8.48% 6.43% NA
1977 402 89 22.14% 14.68% 5.97% 11.69% 4.48% NA
1978 522 109 20.88% 14.18% 5.36% 10.73% 5.17% NA
1979 591 135 22.84% 17.77% 6.43% 11.34% 4.91% NA
1980 290 56 19.31% 13.79% 5.17% 8.97% 5.52% NA
1981 345 81 23.48% 15.94% 4.64% 9.28% 5.80% NA
1982 345 67 19.42% 13.33% 7.25% 8.70% 4.64% NA
1983 440 99 22.50% 16.36% 7.05% 9.32% 5.45% NA
1984 810 184 22.72% 17.41% 7.04% 8.27% 4.44% NA
1985 1,042 240 23.03% 17.56% 6.62% 9.21% 5.57% NA
1986 1,300 278 21.38% 15.85% 6.69% 9.08% 4.08% NA
1987 1,529 316 20.67% 15.50% 4.25% 8.31% 3.47% NA
1988 1,838 408 22.20% 15.83% 4.41% 8.76% 3.26% NA
1989 2,438 490 20.10% 14.03% 4.68% 8.45% 3.49% NA
1990 2,683 543 20.24% 14.16% 3.47% 8.87% 3.09% NA
1991 3,144 656 20.87% 13.90% 4.07% 9.45% 3.34% NA
1992 3,076 587 19.08% 13.43% 3.41% 6.99% 2.93% NA
1993 3,611 823 22.79% 16.56% 3.49% 9.03% 3.32% NA
1994 4,744 1,091 23.00% 16.06% 3.01% 9.09% 3.20% NA
1995 6,375 1,284 20.14% 13.80% 2.48% 7.92% 3.14% NA
1996 5,731 1,096 19.12% 9.37% 1.31% 10.45% 3.16% 10.45%
1997 10,351 1,989 19.22% 8.53% 1.19% 11.17% 3.17% 11.15%
1998 10,738 1,990 18.53% 7.72% 1.48% 11.27% 3.10% 11.27%
1999 17,573 2,743 15.61% 5.49% 1.02% 10.32% 2.58% 10.32%
2000 217 33 15.21% 9.22% 3.69% 4.61% 2.76% 4.61%
2001 229 20 8.73% 3.93% 1.31% 3.06% 2.62% 3.06%
2002 203 17 8.37% 5.42% 1.97% 2.96% 1.48% 2.96%
2003 292 21 7.19% 4.45% 1.03% 1.37% 1.37% 1.37%
2004 240 11 4.58% 2.08% 0.42% 1.67% 1.25% 1.67%
2005 305 15 4.92% 3.61% 0.66% 0.98% 0.66% 0.98%
2006 289 13 4.50% 2.42% 0.35% 1.04% 1.04% 1.04%
2007 282 16 5.67% 4.26% 0.71% 0.71% 2.13% 0.71%
2008 161 4 2.48% 1.86% 1.86% 0.00% 0.62% 0.00%
2009 97 4 4.12% 2.06% 1.03% 2.06% 0.00% 2.06%
2010 50 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 147 1 0.68% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.68% 0.00%
2012 121 2 1.65% 0.00% 0.00% 0.83% 0.83% 0.83%
2013 207 4 1.93% 0.97% 0.97% 0.48% 0.48% 0.48%
2014 161 5 3.11% 1.24% 0.00% 1.24% 1.86% 1.24%
2015 277 2 0.72% 0.00% 0.00% 0.36% 0.36% 0.36%
2016 59 1 1.69% 1.69% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 49 2 4.08% 2.04% 2.04% 0.00% 2.04% 0.00%
2018 38 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 29 2 6.90% 6.90% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 161 1 0.62% 0.00% 0.00% 0.62% 0.00% 0.62%
2023 62 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 84,033 15,601 18.57% 10.34% 2.37% 9.45% 3.10% 5.74%

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 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 138 4 2.90% 2.17% 0.00% 1.45% 1.45% 0.72%
1998 258 19 7.36% 5.43% 1.94% 5.43% 2.33% 0.00%
1999 779 81 10.40% 8.60% 1.41% 8.60% 6.03% 0.00%
2000 18,335 3,128 17.06% 15.13% 3.45% 14.87% 11.24% 0.26%
2001 29,362 4,459 15.19% 13.58% 2.77% 13.35% 9.82% 0.23%
2002 23,570 3,467 14.71% 12.97% 2.95% 12.74% 9.02% 0.23%
2003 39,350 4,775 12.13% 10.50% 2.39% 10.32% 7.31% 0.18%
2004 31,263 3,983 12.74% 11.02% 2.61% 10.77% 7.56% 0.24%
2005 48,413 4,965 10.26% 8.93% 1.84% 8.76% 6.08% 0.17%
2006 36,833 3,974 10.79% 9.23% 2.04% 9.06% 6.32% 0.17%
2007 58,202 4,764 8.19% 6.80% 1.67% 6.70% 4.48% 0.10%
2008 35,624 3,022 8.48% 7.37% 1.52% 7.25% 5.13% 0.12%
2009 35,825 2,409 6.72% 5.96% 1.01% 5.87% 4.21% 0.09%
2010 27,052 2,355 8.71% 8.09% 0.96% 8.01% 3.59% 0.09%
2011 57,041 3,592 6.30% 5.76% 0.70% 5.71% 2.73% 0.05%
2012 31,952 2,666 8.34% 7.66% 0.97% 7.59% 3.36% 0.07%
2013 88,725 4,593 5.18% 4.59% 0.71% 4.56% 2.25% 0.03%
2014 33,304 2,311 6.94% 6.32% 0.75% 6.29% 2.71% 0.03%
2015 113,667 4,630 4.07% 3.68% 0.47% 3.65% 1.78% 0.02%
2016 15,299 779 5.09% 4.75% 0.37% 4.72% 2.54% 0.03%
2017 15,910 775 4.87% 4.53% 0.36% 4.50% 2.78% 0.03%
2018 14,858 656 4.42% 4.16% 0.26% 4.13% 2.82% 0.03%
2019 20,380 1,006 4.94% 4.70% 0.26% 4.69% 3.63% 0.01%
2020 10,765 525 4.88% 4.75% 0.15% 4.74% 3.78% 0.01%
2021 10,530 388 3.68% 3.53% 0.14% 3.52% 2.60% 0.01%
2022 4,178 186 4.45% 4.26% 0.22% 4.24% 3.33% 0.02%
2023 1,483 127 8.56% 8.56% 0.00% 8.56% 8.02% 0.00%
Other 5 2 40.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 803,158 63,641 7.92% 7.02% 1.25% 6.93% 4.36% 0.09%

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 8,687 10.34%
All Visual 10,059 1.25% 2,604 3.10%
All Functional 56,406 7.02% 7,941 9.45%
OBDII 55,661 6.93% 4,824 5.74%
Overall 63,641 7.92% 15,601 18.57%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 694,806 55,208 7.95% 70,137 13,409 19.12%
Partial 39,834 3,152 7.91% 4,180 794 19.00%
Basic 63,902 4,870 7.62% 9,243 1,295 14.01%
Change of Ownership 4,616 411 8.90% 473 103 21.78%
All Program Areas 803,158 63,641 7.92% 84,033 15,601 18.57%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 443,605 37,036 8.35% 49,632 9,199 18.53%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 3,102 230 7.41% 639 40 6.26%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,103 1,294 6.44% 1,689 183 10.83%
STAR Test-and-Repair 216,270 17,586 8.13% 23,945 4,986 20.82%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 2,414 195 8.08% 184 37 20.11%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 113,074 6,676 5.90% 6,977 945 13.54%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,002 96 4.80% 45 1 2.22%
Business Fleet 4 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 29 4 13.79% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 518 436 84.17% 75 41 54.67%
Government Fleet 2,037 88 4.32% 847 169 19.95%
All Stations 803,158 63,641 7.92% 84,033 15,601 18.57%

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 801,551 90.35% 85,600 9.65%
All Tests 864,227 89.85% 97,605 10.15%

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 445,466 90.31% 47,771 9.69%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,232 92.84% 1,560 7.16%
STAR Test-and-Repair 216,248 90.02% 23,967 9.98%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 111,729 93.07% 8,322 6.93%
All Stations 793,675 90.68% 81,620 9.32%

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 23,970 $65.06 206,700 $54.64 230,670 $55.73
STAR Test-Only 49,484 $56.04 426,034 $54.33 475,518 $54.51
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 6,987 $63.53 104,943 $62.32 111,930 $62.39
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,672 $51.55 19,512 $46.98 21,184 $47.34
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 45 $65.17 1,747 $66.80 1,792 $66.76
Total 82,158 $59.22 758,936 $55.36 841,094 $55.74

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 13,511 $59.22 23,970 $65.06 193,189 $54.32
STAR Test-Only 96 $40.00 16,414 $46.29 49,388 $56.08 409,620 $54.65
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 67,608 $68.04 6,987 $63.53 37,335 $51.94
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,510 $48.15 1,672 $51.55 12,002 $46.24
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,523 $66.16 45 $65.17 224 $71.18
Total 96 $40.00 106,566 $62.15 82,062 $59.25 652,370 $54.25

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) $1-100 259 $57.30 2,000 $684.97
$101-250 379 $169.48
$251-500 449 $366.28
$501-650 204 $574.64
Over $650 709 $1,423.39
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 71 $55.61 581 $721.91
$101-250 169 $175.16
$251-500 115 $362.95
$501-650 49 $573.27
Over $650 177 $1,785.60
Repair-Only $1-100 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
$101-250 0 $0.00
$251-500 0 $0.00
$501-650 0 $0.00
Over $650 0 $0.00
CAP Repairs $1-100 0 $0.00 273 $1,261.05
$101-250 22 $200.75
$251-500 19 $385.28
$501-650 20 $559.43
Over $650 212 $1,515.76
Total Repairs $1-100 330 $56.93 2,854 $747.60
$101-250 570 $172.37
$251-500 583 $366.24
$501-650 273 $573.28
Over $650 1098 $1,499.61

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 103 33 1,722 75 1,933
STAR Test-Only 20 2 1,672 34 1,728
STAR Sub-Total 123 35 3,394 109 3,661
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 468 62 1,945 208 2,683
Non-STAR Test-Only 29 10 264 37 340
Non-STAR Sub-Total 497 72 2,209 245 3,023
Basic Area Dealer 52 0 0 0 52
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 296 13 358
Repair Only 1 0 35 1 37
Unknown Type 2 2 72 3 79
Other Station Sub-Total 107 9 485 21 622
All Stations 727 116 6,088 375 7,306

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 250 1,593
STAR Test-Only 1 104 1,558
STAR Sub-Total 1 354 3,151
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,604 311
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 109 74
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,713 385
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 14 0
Business Fleet 0 1 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 42 5
Unknown Type 2 15 44
Government Fleet 5 130 27
Referee 0 4 29
Other Station Sub-Total 7 206 105
All Stations 8 2,273 3,641

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 545
Law Enforcement Citations 480
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 425
BAR Referrals 181
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 138
Engine Change/Replacement 99
Clean Gas 42
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 24
Grey Market 15
OBD Monitor Issues 4
All Inspections 1,953

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 170 73
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 34 2
Limited Parts Exemption 5 2
Exempt Vehicle 5 11
Exempted by Directive 11 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 225 88

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,270
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,220
All License Types 8,490

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).

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