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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
January 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 952,481 80,936 8.50%
All Tests 1,029,286 92,532 8.99%

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 98,437 232,493 86,783 205,441
Non-Directed 160,373 302,841 147,535 281,088
Total 258,810 535,334 234,318 486,529

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 166 64 13 7
Non-Directed 124,828 27,988 116,547 26,016
Total 124,994 28,052 116,560 26,023

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 298 57 19.13% 12.75% 3.36% 6.71% 4.70% NA
1977 396 76 19.19% 13.89% 5.56% 8.84% 3.28% NA
1978 494 118 23.89% 14.98% 5.87% 10.73% 6.68% NA
1979 544 130 23.90% 16.73% 7.54% 10.85% 6.43% NA
1980 276 64 23.19% 15.94% 9.78% 10.87% 6.52% NA
1981 292 54 18.49% 14.38% 4.45% 6.51% 3.42% NA
1982 326 78 23.93% 15.34% 4.60% 12.27% 6.13% NA
1983 354 92 25.99% 19.21% 7.91% 9.32% 5.65% NA
1984 686 143 20.85% 16.47% 6.27% 7.73% 3.94% NA
1985 984 195 19.82% 15.24% 7.01% 7.42% 4.07% NA
1986 1,283 279 21.75% 15.59% 4.60% 9.43% 3.82% NA
1987 1,484 305 20.55% 14.69% 5.93% 8.36% 4.18% NA
1988 1,613 353 21.88% 15.44% 5.33% 9.36% 3.53% NA
1989 2,186 442 20.22% 13.36% 3.84% 9.38% 3.20% NA
1990 2,536 465 18.34% 12.46% 3.23% 8.04% 3.27% NA
1991 2,872 583 20.30% 13.41% 3.80% 9.61% 3.17% NA
1992 2,757 494 17.92% 12.66% 3.34% 8.05% 2.94% NA
1993 3,332 716 21.49% 15.52% 2.97% 8.20% 3.66% NA
1994 4,213 857 20.34% 14.88% 2.90% 8.14% 3.20% NA
1995 5,194 1,095 21.08% 14.67% 2.73% 8.03% 4.20% NA
1996 6,054 1,102 18.20% 8.79% 1.29% 9.98% 2.89% 9.98%
1997 8,014 1,523 19.00% 8.51% 1.43% 11.48% 2.77% 11.48%
1998 11,479 1,939 16.89% 7.20% 1.20% 10.08% 2.81% 10.08%
1999 13,419 2,110 15.72% 5.51% 0.90% 10.53% 2.68% 10.53%
2000 303 32 10.56% 8.25% 5.61% 1.65% 1.65% 1.66%
2001 202 17 8.42% 6.44% 0.99% 0.50% 1.49% 0.50%
2002 240 18 7.50% 5.00% 1.67% 2.08% 1.25% 2.08%
2003 248 20 8.06% 5.65% 2.82% 2.82% 1.61% 2.82%
2004 310 11 3.55% 2.26% 0.65% 0.97% 0.65% 0.97%
2005 257 14 5.45% 4.67% 1.95% 0.39% 0.78% 0.39%
2006 352 19 5.40% 3.69% 1.14% 0.57% 1.70% 0.57%
2007 255 18 7.06% 4.71% 1.96% 1.57% 1.96% 1.57%
2008 253 9 3.56% 1.98% 1.19% 0.40% 1.58% 0.40%
2009 72 4 5.56% 5.56% 1.39% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 62 3 4.84% 1.61% 0.00% 1.61% 1.61% 1.61%
2011 142 4 2.82% 1.41% 0.00% 0.70% 0.70% 0.70%
2012 189 3 1.59% 0.53% 0.00% 0.00% 1.06% 0.00%
2013 137 4 2.92% 0.00% 0.00% 1.46% 1.46% 1.46%
2014 289 3 1.04% 1.04% 0.35% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 200 4 2.00% 0.50% 0.50% 1.00% 0.50% 1.00%
2016 388 3 0.77% 0.52% 0.00% 0.26% 0.00% 0.26%
2017 59 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 35 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 35 1 2.86% 2.86% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 32 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 41 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 124 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 64 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 7 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 75,426 13,457 17.84% 10.01% 2.34% 9.12% 3.07% 9.54%

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 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 157 18 11.46% 10.19% 1.27% 7.64% 4.46% 2.30%
1999 676 77 11.39% 9.76% 1.78% 9.90% 7.20% 0.00%
2000 22,635 3,471 15.33% 13.75% 2.92% 13.53% 10.15% 0.40%
2001 20,705 3,366 16.26% 14.49% 3.30% 14.25% 10.13% 0.40%
2002 31,160 3,967 12.73% 11.27% 2.52% 11.09% 7.90% 0.35%
2003 27,098 3,701 13.66% 11.97% 2.94% 11.76% 7.85% 0.34%
2004 42,479 4,740 11.16% 9.77% 2.22% 9.65% 6.72% 0.20%
2005 33,750 3,972 11.77% 10.21% 2.55% 10.02% 6.75% 0.31%
2006 53,546 4,972 9.29% 8.09% 1.82% 7.98% 5.54% 0.19%
2007 40,093 3,754 9.36% 8.05% 1.96% 7.88% 5.25% 0.25%
2008 49,996 3,835 7.67% 6.72% 1.33% 6.63% 4.64% 0.14%
2009 22,493 1,835 8.16% 7.32% 1.29% 7.23% 4.97% 0.14%
2010 44,448 3,093 6.96% 6.39% 0.83% 6.32% 3.08% 0.10%
2011 32,877 2,804 8.53% 7.99% 0.84% 7.93% 3.51% 0.08%
2012 68,894 4,250 6.17% 5.59% 0.83% 5.54% 2.61% 0.08%
2013 43,380 3,265 7.53% 6.78% 1.04% 6.72% 2.93% 0.09%
2014 84,940 3,975 4.68% 4.24% 0.57% 4.21% 2.04% 0.04%
2015 51,237 3,495 6.82% 6.20% 0.82% 6.18% 2.73% 0.05%
2016 107,931 3,923 3.63% 3.29% 0.44% 3.26% 1.70% 0.04%
2017 16,587 924 5.57% 5.29% 0.43% 5.25% 3.08% 0.06%
2018 15,589 820 5.26% 4.93% 0.45% 4.89% 3.24% 0.03%
2019 16,777 860 5.13% 4.90% 0.29% 4.88% 3.53% 0.02%
2020 20,089 987 4.91% 4.82% 0.13% 4.81% 3.59% 0.01%
2021 13,685 549 4.01% 3.84% 0.21% 3.84% 3.00% 0.00%
2022 8,810 376 4.27% 4.17% 0.14% 4.15% 3.45% 0.01%
2023 5,544 315 5.68% 5.54% 0.16% 5.52% 4.84% 0.02%
2024 1,471 133 9.04% 8.97% 0.07% 8.97% 8.29% 0.00%
Other 2 2 100.00% 50.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 50.00%
All Model Years 877,055 67,479 7.69% 6.89% 1.23% 6.81% 4.18% 0.13%

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 7,548 10.01%
All Visual 10,773 1.23% 2,318 3.07%
All Functional 60,461 6.89% 6,881 9.12%
OBDII 59,747 6.81% 4,130 9.54%
Overall 67,479 7.69% 13,457 17.84%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 758,565 58,345 7.69% 62,802 11,405 18.16%
Partial 42,999 3,414 7.94% 3,827 751 19.62%
Basic 70,443 5,371 7.62% 8,363 1,213 14.50%
Change of Ownership 5,048 349 6.91% 434 88 20.28%
All Program Areas 877,055 67,479 7.69% 75,426 13,457 17.84%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 490,187 39,391 8.04% 45,147 7,956 17.62%
Non-STAR Test-Only 26,492 1,726 6.52% 1,560 208 13.33%
STAR Test-and-Repair 236,693 19,090 8.07% 22,117 4,345 19.65%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 119,127 6,921 5.81% 5,867 816 13.91%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,142 113 5.28% 13 2 15.38%
Business Fleet 356 6 1.69% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 22 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 233 125 53.65% 67 37 55.22%
Government Fleet 1,803 107 5.93% 655 93 14.20%
All Stations 877,055 67,479 7.69% 75,426 13,457 17.84%

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 865,964 90.92% 86,517 9.08%
All Tests 930,669 90.42% 98,617 9.58%

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 234,318 90.54% 24,492 9.46%
STAR Test-Only 486,529 90.88% 48,805 9.12%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 116,560 93.25% 8,434 6.75%
Non-STAR Test-Only 26,023 92.77% 2,029 7.23%
Total 863,430 91.16% 83,760 8.84%

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 22,117 $71.25 236,693 $59.76 258,810 $65.51
STAR Test-Only 45,147 $60.62 490,187 $56.03 535,334 $58.32
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,867 $66.28 119,127 $70.49 124,994 $68.38
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,560 $56.89 26,492 $49.80 28,052 $53.35
Total 74,691 $65.75 872,499 $61.75 947,190 $63.75

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 $0.00 449 $58.34 22,117 $71.25 236,244 $59.77
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 957 $61.14 45,147 $60.62 489,230 $56.01
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 43,096 $73.48 5,867 $66.19 76,031 $68.29
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,914 $49.92 1,560 $57.59 18,578 $49.69
Total 0 $0.00 52,416 $70.44 74,691 $65.78 820,083 $60.09

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) $1-100 494 $54.73 3,260 $647.38
$101-250 691 $172.65
$251-500 700 $365.85
$501-650 283 $574.04
Over $650 1092 $1,415.36
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 131 $57.42 760 $632.08
$101-250 201 $172.93
$251-500 159 $358.18
$501-650 53 $563.34
Over $650 216 $1,626.37
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 $0.00 300 $1,193.15
$101-250 29 $213.52
$251-500 35 $374.53
$501-650 23 $577.40
Over $650 213 $1,527.53
Total Repairs $1-100 625 $55.30 4,320 $682.59
$101-250 921 $174.00
$251-500 894 $364.83
$501-650 359 $572.67
Over $650 1521 $1,461.03

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 108 37 1,693 78 1,916
STAR Test-Only 20 2 1,693 35 1,750
STAR Sub-Total 128 39 3,386 113 3,666
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 448 50 1,775 193 2,466
Non-STAR Test-Only 35 8 302 35 380
Non-STAR Sub-Total 483 58 2,077 228 2,846
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 49 0 0 0 49
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 0 12 1 13
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 298 13 360
Repair Only 1 0 33 1 35
Other Station Sub-Total 99 5 376 15 495
All Stations 710 102 5,839 356 7,007

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 262 1,567
STAR Test-Only 1 157 1,525
STAR Sub-Total 3 419 3,092
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,573 279
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 153 84
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,726 363
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 8 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 41 4
Government Fleet 7 108 24
Referee 0 6 28
Other Station Sub-Total 7 165 56
All Stations 11 2,310 3,511

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 552
Law Enforcement Citations 513
BAR Referrals 218
CAT BAR Label 193
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 146
Engine Change/Replacement 99
Clean Gas 68
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 19
Grey Market 10
OBD Monitor Issues 7
All Inspections 1,825

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 233 76
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 38 2
Limited Parts Exemption 4 1
Exempt Vehicle 5 7
Exempted by Directive 32 0
All Certificates Issued 312 86

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,530
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,005
GU (Government) 206
All License Types 8,741

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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