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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
2024

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 Tests 10,885,989 935,694 8.60%
All Tests 11,789,161 1,071,884 9.09%

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 1,097,374 2,639,754 966,222 2,331,701
Non-Directed 1,844,150 3,493,575 1,688,066 3,230,825
Total 2,941,524 6,133,329 2,654,288 5,562,526

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 1,570 483 22 13
Non-Directed 1,403,283 346,949 1,309,796 322,296
Total 1,404,853 347,432 1,309,818 322,309

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 3,552 726 20.44% 14.19% 5.91% 8.92% 5.10% NA
1977 4,824 893 18.51% 13.14% 4.83% 7.86% 4.13% NA
1978 5,533 1,156 20.89% 13.92% 5.44% 9.51% 5.53% NA
1979 6,253 1,408 22.52% 16.34% 6.67% 9.98% 5.42% NA
1980 3,213 612 19.05% 13.32% 6.22% 8.47% 4.48% NA
1981 3,595 783 21.78% 16.75% 6.34% 8.29% 4.53% NA
1982 3,986 863 21.65% 15.45% 5.42% 10.04% 4.99% NA
1983 4,820 1,050 21.78% 16.64% 6.45% 9.09% 5.25% NA
1984 8,429 1,868 22.16% 17.07% 6.32% 8.84% 4.50% NA
1985 11,446 2,492 21.77% 16.07% 5.99% 8.97% 4.57% NA
1986 15,100 3,136 20.77% 15.30% 5.34% 8.73% 4.09% NA
1987 17,054 3,576 20.97% 15.37% 5.27% 8.53% 4.01% NA
1988 19,026 4,016 21.11% 15.16% 4.92% 8.97% 3.60% NA
1989 25,785 5,166 20.03% 13.76% 4.26% 9.05% 3.44% NA
1990 29,136 5,550 19.05% 13.17% 3.79% 8.39% 3.16% NA
1991 34,078 6,517 19.12% 12.96% 3.61% 8.34% 2.97% NA
1992 31,702 5,964 18.81% 12.75% 3.44% 8.10% 3.13% NA
1993 38,333 8,238 21.49% 15.49% 3.45% 8.60% 3.23% NA
1994 49,825 10,331 20.73% 14.27% 2.84% 8.91% 3.24% NA
1995 57,600 11,799 20.48% 14.54% 2.79% 7.96% 3.40% NA
1996 71,011 13,390 18.86% 9.51% 1.21% 9.91% 2.97% 9.91%
1997 90,371 17,624 19.50% 9.40% 1.39% 11.22% 3.08% 11.21%
1998 133,305 23,058 17.30% 7.51% 1.20% 10.36% 2.73% 10.35%
1999 146,454 24,243 16.55% 6.07% 1.03% 10.76% 2.91% 10.76%
2000 3,273 324 9.90% 6.66% 2.90% 2.14% 2.17% 2.11%
2001 2,225 184 8.27% 5.26% 1.66% 2.34% 1.89% 2.34%
2002 2,849 203 7.13% 4.88% 1.97% 1.47% 1.40% 1.48%
2003 2,743 189 6.89% 4.45% 1.79% 1.42% 1.79% 1.42%
2004 3,727 190 5.10% 3.38% 1.07% 0.97% 1.18% 0.94%
2005 2,683 169 6.30% 4.85% 1.42% 0.78% 1.23% 0.78%
2006 4,329 219 5.06% 3.30% 0.99% 0.67% 1.59% 0.67%
2007 2,626 152 5.79% 3.62% 1.03% 0.95% 1.90% 0.95%
2008 3,001 134 4.47% 2.67% 1.20% 0.87% 1.53% 0.87%
2009 948 56 5.91% 4.43% 2.43% 0.95% 1.05% 0.95%
2010 826 21 2.54% 1.33% 0.36% 0.85% 0.48% 0.85%
2011 1,541 30 1.95% 0.91% 0.06% 0.32% 0.78% 0.32%
2012 2,684 45 1.68% 0.63% 0.19% 0.56% 0.71% 0.56%
2013 1,512 22 1.46% 0.66% 0.13% 0.66% 0.20% 0.66%
2014 3,394 34 1.00% 0.44% 0.24% 0.35% 0.24% 0.35%
2015 2,048 28 1.37% 0.34% 0.24% 0.78% 0.24% 0.78%
2016 5,097 58 1.14% 0.33% 0.10% 0.61% 0.22% 0.61%
2017 1,005 9 0.90% 0.30% 0.10% 0.40% 0.50% 0.40%
2018 623 5 0.80% 0.32% 0.16% 0.32% 0.16% 0.32%
2019 656 4 0.61% 0.15% 0.00% 0.15% 0.30% 0.15%
2020 485 4 0.82% 0.41% 0.00% 0.41% 0.00% 0.21%
2021 407 1 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 595 3 0.50% 0.17% 0.17% 0.17% 0.17% 0.17%
2023 839 1 0.12% 0.12% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 1,101 7 0.64% 0.09% 0.00% 0.54% 0.00% 0.54%
2025 192 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 865,841 156,551 18.08% 10.30% 2.37% 9.15% 3.07% 9.58%

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 20 5 25.00% 20.00% 5.26% 20.00% 15.00% 4.00%
1997 48 10 20.83% 16.67% 6.25% 14.58% 6.25% 1.89%
1998 1,632 161 9.87% 8.15% 2.88% 7.32% 3.08% 1.14%
1999 6,973 883 12.66% 11.07% 2.09% 10.79% 7.61% 0.40%
2000 257,765 40,201 15.60% 13.95% 2.97% 13.73% 10.33% 0.40%
2001 226,957 36,187 15.94% 14.19% 3.26% 13.95% 10.01% 0.44%
2002 356,134 46,498 13.06% 11.44% 2.67% 11.23% 7.97% 0.36%
2003 299,215 40,769 13.63% 11.80% 3.05% 11.55% 7.84% 0.42%
2004 482,354 54,541 11.31% 9.86% 2.32% 9.69% 6.78% 0.28%
2005 365,263 43,030 11.78% 10.18% 2.54% 10.00% 6.79% 0.32%
2006 580,084 56,273 9.70% 8.42% 1.92% 8.28% 5.67% 0.22%
2007 436,532 41,069 9.41% 8.05% 2.02% 7.91% 5.26% 0.22%
2008 551,316 43,491 7.89% 6.93% 1.40% 6.81% 4.74% 0.18%
2009 260,812 21,599 8.28% 7.34% 1.39% 7.22% 5.03% 0.18%
2010 520,001 36,769 7.07% 6.49% 0.86% 6.43% 3.12% 0.09%
2011 341,348 29,469 8.63% 7.98% 1.00% 7.90% 3.42% 0.12%
2012 784,289 53,170 6.78% 6.08% 0.94% 6.03% 2.83% 0.08%
2013 426,413 32,103 7.53% 6.78% 1.03% 6.73% 3.00% 0.08%
2014 1,054,894 54,129 5.13% 4.53% 0.75% 4.50% 2.14% 0.04%
2015 452,093 29,780 6.59% 5.97% 0.82% 5.94% 2.74% 0.06%
2016 1,365,582 56,852 4.16% 3.74% 0.53% 3.72% 1.80% 0.04%
2017 254,008 12,939 5.09% 4.75% 0.46% 4.72% 2.76% 0.04%
2018 190,947 10,049 5.26% 4.98% 0.40% 4.95% 3.17% 0.03%
2019 190,423 10,037 5.27% 5.06% 0.29% 5.05% 3.55% 0.02%
2020 197,824 9,663 4.88% 4.72% 0.21% 4.71% 3.53% 0.01%
2021 162,529 7,037 4.33% 4.17% 0.20% 4.16% 3.13% 0.02%
2022 125,203 5,887 4.70% 4.56% 0.17% 4.56% 3.72% 0.01%
2023 85,251 3,372 3.96% 3.83% 0.14% 3.82% 3.10% 0.02%
2024 41,675 2,900 6.96% 6.86% 0.12% 6.85% 5.93% 0.02%
2025 2,499 237 9.48% 9.40% 0.08% 9.49% 7.68% 0.00%
Other 64 32 50.00% 11.48% 58.18% 5.00% 5.00% 5.88%
All Model Years 10,020,148 779,142 7.78% 6.93% 1.27% 6.84% 4.18% 0.15%

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 89,214 10.30%
All Visual 127,751 1.27% 26,607 3.07%
All Functional 694,141 6.93% 79,218 9.15%
OBDII 685,356 6.84% 47,185 9.58%
Overall 779,142 7.78% 156,551 18.08%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 8,663,805 674,675 7.79% 718,433 133,006 18.51%
Partial Enhanced 492,874 38,607 7.83% 43,829 8,590 19.60%
Basic 801,686 61,140 7.63% 97,662 13,711 14.04%
Change of Ownership 61,783 4,720 7.64% 5,917 1,244 21.02%
All Program Areas 10,020,148 779,142 7.78% 865,841 156,551 18.08%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 5,614,078 459,019 8.18% 519,251 92,919 17.89%
Non-STAR Test-Only 327,370 20,959 6.40% 20,062 2,555 12.74%
STAR Test-and-Repair 2,688,192 218,775 8.14% 253,332 50,909 20.10%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,340,254 76,395 5.70% 64,599 8,366 12.95%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 23,836 1,292 5.42% 295 34 11.53%
Business Fleet 2,473 60 2.43% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 215 4 1.86% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 2,807 1,568 55.86% 965 550 56.99%
Government Fleet 20,923 1,070 5.11% 7,337 1,218 16.60%
All Stations 10,020,148 779,142 7.78% 865,841 156,551 18.08%

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 Tests 9,875,777 90.72% 1,010,212 9.28%
All Tests 10,636,485 90.22% 1,152,676 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-and-Repair 2,654,288 90.24% 287,236 9.76%
STAR Test-Only 5,562,526 90.69% 570,803 9.31%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,309,818 93.24% 95,035 6.76%
Non-STAR Test-Only 322,309 92.77% 25,123 7.23%
Total 9,848,941 90.97% 978,197 9.03%

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 253,332 $72.84 2,688,192 $60.95 2,941,524 $66.90
STAR Test-Only 519,251 $62.05 5,614,078 $55.76 6,133,329 $58.90
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 64,599 $69.63 1,340,254 $71.91 1,404,853 $70.77
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,062 $61.33 327,370 $51.46 347,432 $56.40
Total 857,244 $67.45 9,969,894 $62.70 10,827,138 $65.07

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 4,587 $52.44 253,332 $72.87 2,683,605 $60.99
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,113 $47.01 519,251 $62.07 5,606,965 $55.80
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 508,889 $75.04 64,599 $69.60 831,365 $69.43
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 101,853 $51.73 20,062 $61.46 225,517 $51.27
Total 0 $0.00 622,442 $71.35 857,244 $67.48 9,347,452 $60.77

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 5370 $52.97 35,253 $664.45
$101-250 7458 $172.37
$251-500 7160 $367.97
$501-650 3099 $574.44
Over $650 12166 $1,433.43
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 1306 $53.41 8,339 $657.59
$101-250 2303 $177.73
$251-500 1719 $363.72
$501-650 601 $574.35
Over $650 2410 $1,673.94
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 1 $0.00 4,345 $1,304.89
$101-250 263 $210.15
$251-500 488 $377.91
$501-650 276 $580.08
Over $650 3317 $1,588.77
Total Repairs $1-100 6677 $53.05 47,937 $721.31
$101-250 10024 $174.59
$251-500 9367 $367.71
$501-650 3976 $574.82
Over $650 17893 $1,494.62

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 114 35 1,637 78 1,864
STAR Test-Only 18 3 1,706 37 1,764
STAR Sub-Total 132 38 3,343 115 3,628
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 469 56 2,027 205 2,757
Non-STAR Test-Only 44 11 448 43 546
Non-STAR Sub-Total 513 67 2,475 248 3,303
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 50 0 0 0 50
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 0 12 1 13
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 300 13 362
Repair Only 1 0 33 1 35
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 378 15 498
All Stations 745 110 6,196 378 7,429

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 130 1,781
STAR Test-Only 1 68 1,718
STAR Sub-Total 2 198 3,499
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,734 356
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 192 204
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,926 560
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 11 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 42 5
Government Fleet 0 182 47
Referee 0 1 33
Other Station Sub-Total 0 238 85
All Stations 2 2,362 4,144

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 6,076
Law Enforcement Citations 4,907
BAR Referrals 2,545
Clean Gas 1,079
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 1,658
CAT BAR Label 1,504
Engine Change/Replacement 1,149
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 271
OBD Monitor Issues 235
Grey Market 161
All Inspections 19,585

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 2,513 1,024
Repair Cost Waiver 436 64
Limited Parts Exemption 129 5
Exempt Vehicle 60 122
Exempted by Directive 197 1
Hardship Extensions 2 1
Temporary Exemption 0 1
All Certificates Issued 3,337 1,218

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 5,476 7,956
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,423 5,134
All License Types 9,899 13,090

Smog Check Requirements by Vehicle Type

Fuel Type Model-Year GVWR1 OBD II Equipped? Smog Check Required
All2 (except Diesel) Four model-years and newer3 All ‐ None
Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth model-years4 All ‐ None
1975 and earlier All ‐ None
Gasoline and Flex Fuel
(Methanol or Ethanol)
1976-1999 All ‐ BAR-97
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes5 BAR-OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ BAR-97
Hybrid 2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
Dedicated Propane and Natural Gas
(CNG, LNG, or LPG)
1976-1999 14,000 and less ‐ BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ None
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ None
Diesel 1976-1997 All ‐ None
1998 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
Over 14,000 ‐ None6
Full Electric Powered All All ‐ None
Motorcycle All All ‐ None
Other Vehicles: Two Cylinder Engine,
Two-stroke Engine,
Off-highway Registered
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 2020 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a change-of-ownership Smog Check in 2024 (2020+4=2024).
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 2020 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2028 (2020+8=2028).
5 BAR has identified 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 CARB’s Clean Truck Check Program replaces the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) effective October 1, 2024. Vehicles with 2012 and older model year engines are required to undergo an opacity test and a vehicle emissions control equipment inspection. Vehicles with 2013 and newer model year engines are required to undergo OBD testing. See CARB’s Clean Truck Check webpage for details.

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