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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
June 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 950,489 81,916 8.62%
All Tests 1,032,001 94,529 9.16%

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 98,027 230,961 86,395 204,034
Non-Directed 155,716 290,598 143,160 268,665
Total 253,743 521,559 229,555 472,699

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 140 47 9 4
Non-Directed 129,160 25,483 120,943 23,600
Total 129,300 25,530 120,952 23,604

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 434 83 19.12% 12.90% 5.30% 7.83% 4.61% NA
1977 519 102 19.65% 13.10% 4.62% 9.83% 5.59% NA
1978 676 149 22.04% 15.68% 4.59% 9.47% 3.55% NA
1979 633 136 21.48% 13.90% 5.85% 8.53% 5.85% NA
1980 351 78 22.22% 15.67% 8.55% 11.68% 5.41% NA
1981 392 96 24.49% 19.13% 7.65% 8.42% 4.59% NA
1982 406 92 22.66% 16.26% 6.65% 9.36% 5.91% NA
1983 537 109 20.30% 17.50% 7.45% 8.01% 3.35% NA
1984 887 188 21.20% 15.11% 5.86% 8.23% 3.95% NA
1985 1,228 258 21.01% 15.96% 5.86% 7.98% 4.15% NA
1986 1,485 326 21.95% 15.96% 5.86% 9.09% 3.03% NA
1987 1,739 353 20.30% 15.81% 6.10% 7.48% 3.16% NA
1988 2,102 447 21.27% 15.89% 5.47% 8.56% 3.43% NA
1989 2,759 486 17.62% 11.89% 3.81% 8.23% 3.01% NA
1990 3,130 579 18.50% 12.30% 3.77% 8.50% 2.97% NA
1991 3,653 689 18.86% 13.36% 4.11% 7.72% 2.90% NA
1992 3,485 688 19.74% 13.29% 3.70% 7.75% 3.21% NA
1993 3,966 861 21.71% 15.99% 3.83% 8.45% 3.10% NA
1994 4,765 994 20.86% 14.46% 3.36% 8.54% 2.88% NA
1995 6,793 1,245 18.33% 12.78% 2.38% 7.45% 2.72% NA
1996 6,087 1,211 19.89% 10.53% 1.38% 10.45% 3.33% 10.42%
1997 11,077 1,987 17.94% 8.41% 1.07% 10.12% 2.68% 10.11%
1998 11,355 1,963 17.29% 7.57% 1.44% 10.35% 2.71% 10.33%
1999 18,867 2,740 14.52% 4.74% 0.84% 9.87% 2.30% 9.87%
2000 327 31 9.48% 4.89% 0.61% 3.98% 1.53% 3.98%
2001 246 18 7.32% 3.25% 0.41% 2.44% 2.03% 2.44%
2002 272 20 7.35% 5.15% 2.57% 1.47% 2.21% 1.47%
2003 346 21 6.07% 3.76% 1.73% 2.60% 0.58% 2.60%
2004 348 17 4.89% 2.59% 0.86% 1.15% 1.44% 1.15%
2005 385 19 4.94% 3.12% 0.26% 1.56% 1.04% 1.56%
2006 330 22 6.67% 4.24% 1.21% 1.52% 1.21% 1.52%
2007 306 19 6.21% 2.61% 0.33% 0.65% 3.27% 0.65%
2008 226 7 3.10% 1.77% 0.44% 0.88% 0.44% 0.88%
2009 93 9 9.68% 6.45% 4.30% 2.15% 1.08% 2.15%
2010 66 1 1.52% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.52% 0.00%
2011 229 2 0.87% 0.00% 0.00% 0.44% 0.44% 0.44%
2012 151 1 0.66% 0.66% 0.66% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 306 6 1.96% 0.98% 0.33% 0.65% 0.33% 0.65%
2014 210 1 0.48% 0.48% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 537 6 1.12% 0.19% 0.00% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
2016 88 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 76 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 74 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 55 1 1.82% 0.00% 0.00% 1.82% 0.00% 1.82%
2020 53 1 1.89% 1.89% 0.00% 0.00% 1.89% 0.00%
2021 38 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 86 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 19 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 92,258 16,062 17.41% 9.84% 2.39% 8.80% 2.79% 5.26%

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 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 8 2 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 183 26 14.21% 8.74% 1.64% 7.65% 4.92% 1.09%
1999 753 95 12.62% 10.76% 1.46% 10.49% 7.57% 0.27%
2000 18,659 3,091 16.57% 14.58% 3.26% 14.39% 10.58% 0.19%
2001 31,006 4,601 14.84% 13.14% 2.67% 12.98% 9.49% 0.16%
2002 24,087 3,410 14.16% 12.28% 3.03% 12.04% 8.40% 0.24%
2003 42,370 5,010 11.82% 10.14% 2.42% 9.94% 6.85% 0.20%
2004 31,574 4,003 12.68% 10.76% 2.81% 10.55% 7.23% 0.21%
2005 58,221 5,689 9.77% 8.40% 1.88% 8.28% 5.77% 0.12%
2006 36,222 3,812 10.52% 8.90% 2.08% 8.71% 5.85% 0.19%
2007 64,124 4,969 7.75% 6.50% 1.55% 6.40% 4.22% 0.10%
2008 33,713 2,872 8.52% 7.44% 1.39% 7.30% 5.02% 0.14%
2009 43,916 2,713 6.18% 5.54% 0.90% 5.45% 3.82% 0.09%
2010 28,125 2,375 8.44% 7.80% 0.90% 7.76% 3.52% 0.04%
2011 55,513 3,577 6.44% 5.93% 0.69% 5.87% 2.67% 0.06%
2012 29,982 2,426 8.09% 7.38% 0.90% 7.33% 3.30% 0.05%
2013 97,396 4,898 5.03% 4.52% 0.61% 4.50% 2.08% 0.03%
2014 30,073 2,054 6.83% 6.14% 0.85% 6.12% 2.61% 0.03%
2015 126,299 5,568 4.41% 3.90% 0.57% 3.87% 1.79% 0.03%
2016 17,378 861 4.95% 4.60% 0.43% 4.57% 2.34% 0.02%
2017 18,402 858 4.66% 4.30% 0.41% 4.26% 2.49% 0.04%
2018 16,847 694 4.12% 3.79% 0.38% 3.78% 2.45% 0.01%
2019 20,170 880 4.36% 4.10% 0.26% 4.10% 2.93% 0.00%
2020 12,027 524 4.36% 4.13% 0.23% 4.13% 3.12% 0.00%
2021 11,835 423 3.57% 3.40% 0.19% 3.40% 2.46% 0.00%
2022 5,770 217 3.76% 3.62% 0.17% 3.62% 2.88% 0.00%
2023 3,531 204 5.78% 5.64% 0.14% 5.58% 4.98% 0.06%
2024 84 8 9.52% 9.52% 0.00% 9.52% 7.14% 0.00%
Other 4 1 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 858,274 65,861 7.67% 6.76% 1.24% 6.67% 4.10% 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 9,077 9.84%
All Visual 10,608 1.24% 2,577 2.79%
All Functional 58,016 6.76% 8,122 8.80%
OBDII 57,286 6.67% 4,849 5.26%
Overall 65,861 7.67% 16,062 17.41%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 741,142 57,171 7.71% 76,574 13,643 17.82%
Partial 42,641 3,207 7.52% 4,708 903 19.18%
Basic 69,142 5,080 7.35% 10,419 1,404 13.48%
Change of Ownership 5,349 403 7.53% 557 112 20.11%
All Program Areas 858,274 65,861 7.67% 92,258 16,062 17.41%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 468,615 38,205 8.15% 52,944 9,371 17.70%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 8,813 594 6.74% 1,499 97 6.47%
Non-STAR Test-Only 23,459 1,541 6.57% 2,071 272 13.13%
STAR Test-and-Repair 227,065 18,022 7.94% 26,678 5,071 19.01%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 3,969 255 6.42% 210 33 15.71%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 121,825 6,632 5.44% 7,475 974 13.03%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,108 100 4.74% 29 2 6.90%
Business Fleet 305 8 2.62% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 1 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 545 416 76.33% 76 35 46.05%
Government Fleet 1,569 88 5.61% 1,276 207 16.22%
All Stations 858,274 65,861 7.67% 92,258 16,062 17.41%

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 862,752 90.77% 87,737 9.23%
All Tests 931,039 90.22% 100,962 9.78%

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 472,699 90.63% 48,860 9.37%
Non-STAR Test-Only 23,604 92.46% 1,926 7.54%
STAR Test-and-Repair 229,555 90.47% 24,188 9.53%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 120,952 93.54% 8,348 6.46%
All Stations 846,810 91.04% 83,322 8.96%

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 26,632 $67.01 225,737 $56.53 252,369 $57.64
STAR Test-Only 52,838 $57.77 466,457 $53.42 519,295 $53.86
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 7,462 $64.95 120,456 $64.67 127,918 $64.69
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,028 $50.76 23,201 $49.79 25,229 $49.87
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 29 $61.95 2,089 $62.00 2,118 $62.00
Total 88,989 $60.98 837,940 $55.80 926,929 $56.29

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 2 $99.75 11,413 $55.94 26,630 $67.01 214,324 $56.57
STAR Test-Only 19 $59.43 14,922 $47.18 52,819 $57.77 451,535 $53.62
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 14 $99.42 79,338 $70.23 7,448 $64.89 41,118 $53.94
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,413 $47.86 2,028 $50.76 13,788 $51.11
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,914 $61.44 29 $61.95 175 $68.12
Total 35 $77.73 117,000 $63.96 88,954 $60.97 720,940 $54.47

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) $1-100 283 $56.90 2,096 $696.93
$101-250 414 $171.07
$251-500 439 $363.75
$501-650 193 $574.63
Over $650 767 $1,438.40
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 71 $52.65 667 $668.34
$101-250 194 $172.37
$251-500 158 $372.00
$501-650 40 $577.23
Over $650 204 $1,601.68
Repair-Only $1-100 0 $0.00 1 $560.00
$101-250 0 $0.00
$251-500 0 $0.00
$501-650 1 $560.00
Over $650 0 $0.00
CAP Repairs $1-100 1 $93.50 432 $1,259.24
$101-250 30 $211.36
$251-500 53 $375.68
$501-650 42 $576.33
Over $650 306 $1,612.55
Total Repairs $1-100 355 $56.15 3,196 $766.93
$101-250 638 $173.36
$251-500 650 $366.73
$501-650 276 $575.21
Over $650 1277 $1,506.22

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 104 33 1,664 76 1,877
STAR Test-Only 20 2 1,612 33 1,667
STAR Sub-Total 124 35 3,276 109 3,544
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 458 55 1,941 208 2,662
Non-STAR Test-Only 31 8 294 40 373
Non-STAR Sub-Total 489 63 2,235 248 3,035
Basic Area Dealer 50 0 0 0 50
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 298 13 360
Repair Only 1 0 35 1 37
Unknown Type 3 3 126 3 135
Other Station Sub-Total 106 10 541 21 678
All Stations 719 108 6,052 378 7,257

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 204 1,588
STAR Test-Only 1 83 1,537
STAR Sub-Total 2 287 3,125
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,554 308
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 124 82
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,678 390
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 1 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 42 4
Unknown Type 1 31 83
Government Fleet 11 137 27
Referee 0 1 32
Other Station Sub-Total 12 214 146
All Stations 15 2,179 3,661

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Law Enforcement Citations 701
CAT BAR Label 566
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 548
BAR Referrals 223
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 167
Engine Change/Replacement 99
Clean Gas 68
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 35
Grey Market 14
OBD Monitor Issues 2
All Inspections 2,423

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 248 71
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 36 10
Limited Parts Exemption 10 1
Exempt Vehicle 4 16
Exempted by Directive 21 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 319 98

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,241
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,196
All License Types 8,437

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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