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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 968,332 82,714 8.54%
All Tests 1,048,038 94,765 9.04%

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 97,865 231,504 85,994 204,349
Non-Directed 164,614 310,551 151,322 287,757
Total 262,479 542,055 237,316 492,106

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 144 0 1 0
Non-Directed 127,406 30,735 119,407 28,637
Total 127,550 30,735 119,408 28,637

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 319 68 21.32% 12.23% 5.64% 11.91% 4.39% NA
1977 478 79 16.53% 12.34% 5.44% 6.28% 3.14% NA
1978 569 110 19.33% 13.01% 4.75% 10.54% 4.57% NA
1979 607 127 20.92% 14.83% 6.10% 8.57% 4.45% NA
1980 314 56 17.83% 12.10% 6.37% 7.96% 6.69% NA
1981 326 68 20.86% 16.26% 6.75% 9.20% 5.21% NA
1982 438 90 20.55% 13.93% 4.34% 8.68% 5.02% NA
1983 448 98 21.88% 17.41% 8.48% 10.49% 5.80% NA
1984 739 161 21.79% 17.73% 8.12% 8.25% 5.28% NA
1985 1,101 242 21.98% 15.71% 5.18% 8.72% 4.90% NA
1986 1,398 288 20.60% 14.74% 5.65% 8.73% 4.29% NA
1987 1,557 332 21.32% 15.29% 5.33% 9.63% 3.92% NA
1988 1,822 373 20.47% 14.71% 4.39% 8.95% 3.62% NA
1989 2,412 460 19.07% 13.02% 3.69% 9.29% 3.73% NA
1990 2,696 527 19.55% 13.87% 3.82% 8.16% 2.89% NA
1991 3,169 641 20.23% 14.36% 3.76% 8.58% 3.16% NA
1992 3,130 561 17.92% 12.81% 4.03% 7.60% 2.81% NA
1993 3,593 764 21.26% 15.56% 3.17% 8.29% 2.78% NA
1994 4,663 965 20.69% 14.48% 3.00% 8.45% 3.15% NA
1995 5,248 1,067 20.33% 14.84% 3.18% 7.85% 2.80% NA
1996 6,852 1,316 19.21% 10.71% 1.18% 9.02% 2.85% 9.00%
1997 8,542 1,655 19.37% 9.11% 1.18% 11.26% 2.65% 11.26%
1998 12,224 2,074 16.97% 7.12% 1.15% 10.35% 2.68% 10.35%
1999 13,625 2,274 16.69% 6.03% 0.95% 10.83% 3.08% 10.83%
2000 334 32 9.58% 6.59% 3.29% 1.20% 2.69% 1.20%
2001 211 14 6.64% 4.27% 1.42% 1.90% 1.90% 1.90%
2002 273 19 6.96% 4.40% 1.47% 1.47% 2.20% 1.47%
2003 233 24 10.30% 6.01% 3.43% 2.58% 3.00% 2.58%
2004 393 21 5.34% 3.56% 0.76% 0.76% 1.27% 0.76%
2005 252 18 7.14% 4.76% 0.79% 1.59% 0.79% 1.59%
2006 439 18 4.10% 2.96% 0.91% 0.46% 1.14% 0.46%
2007 244 11 4.51% 2.46% 0.82% 1.64% 1.23% 1.65%
2008 307 15 4.89% 3.26% 0.33% 0.98% 1.95% 0.98%
2009 81 1 1.23% 1.23% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 71 1 1.41% 0.00% 0.00% 1.41% 0.00% 1.41%
2011 143 1 0.70% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.70% 0.00%
2012 214 1 0.47% 0.47% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 128 1 0.78% 0.78% 0.78% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 296 5 1.69% 0.34% 0.34% 1.01% 0.34% 1.01%
2015 179 2 1.12% 0.00% 0.00% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
2016 452 4 0.88% 0.66% 0.00% 0.44% 0.00% 0.44%
2017 71 1 1.41% 1.41% 0.00% 1.41% 0.00% 1.41%
2018 68 1 1.47% 0.00% 0.00% 1.47% 0.00% 1.47%
2019 72 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 56 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 77 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 66 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 81,011 14,586 18.00% 10.35% 2.37% 9.05% 2.98% 9.49%

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 6 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 160 11 6.88% 5.63% 1.25% 5.66% 1.89% 0.00%
1999 679 88 12.96% 12.52% 0.88% 12.22% 8.54% 0.26%
2000 23,598 3,716 15.75% 13.91% 3.04% 13.71% 10.55% 0.39%
2001 19,814 3,199 16.15% 14.49% 3.13% 14.24% 10.28% 0.50%
2002 32,206 4,190 13.01% 11.40% 2.76% 11.15% 7.64% 0.35%
2003 25,808 3,516 13.62% 11.69% 3.07% 11.43% 7.86% 0.41%
2004 44,368 5,057 11.40% 9.92% 2.36% 9.77% 6.75% 0.24%
2005 32,667 3,883 11.89% 10.22% 2.54% 10.06% 6.72% 0.30%
2006 50,735 4,932 9.72% 8.47% 1.86% 8.30% 5.74% 0.23%
2007 38,858 3,626 9.33% 8.08% 1.88% 7.94% 5.26% 0.23%
2008 47,316 3,805 8.04% 7.02% 1.48% 6.87% 4.82% 0.20%
2009 22,386 1,798 8.03% 7.17% 1.35% 7.03% 4.91% 0.22%
2010 45,463 3,172 6.98% 6.46% 0.80% 6.40% 3.13% 0.09%
2011 28,099 2,494 8.88% 8.24% 1.06% 8.16% 3.50% 0.12%
2012 73,223 4,706 6.43% 5.76% 0.88% 5.70% 2.64% 0.08%
2013 33,301 2,521 7.57% 6.81% 1.05% 6.76% 3.03% 0.07%
2014 100,498 4,876 4.85% 4.23% 0.78% 4.20% 1.94% 0.04%
2015 33,821 2,361 6.98% 6.31% 0.86% 6.27% 2.70% 0.07%
2016 128,706 4,972 3.86% 3.46% 0.50% 3.44% 1.69% 0.03%
2017 16,969 1,004 5.92% 5.56% 0.52% 5.55% 3.36% 0.04%
2018 17,276 883 5.11% 4.75% 0.48% 4.72% 3.00% 0.03%
2019 17,428 862 4.95% 4.74% 0.27% 4.73% 3.47% 0.01%
2020 17,855 841 4.71% 4.56% 0.20% 4.56% 3.47% 0.01%
2021 15,234 620 4.07% 3.96% 0.16% 3.94% 2.95% 0.02%
2022 10,859 477 4.39% 4.25% 0.17% 4.25% 3.54% 0.01%
2023 6,790 266 3.92% 3.81% 0.12% 3.80% 2.96% 0.01%
2024 3,180 247 7.77% 7.67% 0.13% 7.67% 6.86% 0.03%
2025 8 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 8 5 62.50% 14.29% 71.43% 14.29% 14.29% 0.00%
All Model Years 887,321 68,128 7.68% 6.83% 1.27% 6.74% 4.12% 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 8,388 10.35%
All Visual 11,273 1.27% 2,417 2.98%
All Functional 60,583 6.83% 7,334 9.05%
OBDII 59,787 6.74% 4,363 9.49%
Overall 68,128 7.68% 14,586 18.00%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 766,725 59,192 7.72% 67,119 12,418 18.50%
Partial 44,022 3,252 7.39% 4,123 811 19.67%
Basic 71,159 5,308 7.46% 9,251 1,258 13.60%
Change of Ownership 5,415 376 6.94% 518 99 19.11%
All Program Areas 887,321 68,128 7.68% 81,011 14,586 18.00%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 493,735 40,017 8.10% 48,320 8,666 17.93%
Non-STAR Test-Only 28,906 1,839 6.36% 1,861 218 11.71%
STAR Test-and-Repair 238,954 19,313 8.08% 23,525 4,747 20.18%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 121,272 6,615 5.45% 6,278 783 12.47%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,011 108 5.37% 21 3 14.29%
Business Fleet 110 2 1.82% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 10 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 272 140 51.47% 65 29 44.62%
Government Fleet 2,051 94 4.58% 941 140 14.88%
All Stations 887,321 68,128 7.68% 81,011 14,586 18.00%

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 879,667 90.84% 88,665 9.16%
All Tests 946,826 90.34% 101,212 9.66%

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 237,316 90.41% 25,163 9.59%
STAR Test-Only 492,106 90.79% 49,949 9.21%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 119,408 93.62% 8,142 6.38%
Non-STAR Test-Only 28,637 93.08% 2,130 6.92%
Total 877,467 91.13% 85,384 8.87%

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 23,525 $72.69 238,954 $61.27 262,479 $66.98
STAR Test-Only 48,320 $61.96 493,735 $55.98 542,055 $58.97
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 6,278 $67.58 121,272 $73.10 127,550 $70.34
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,861 $58.97 28,906 $49.73 30,767 $54.35
Total 79,984 $67.07 882,867 $63.09 962,851 $65.08

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 $0.00 530 $59.51 23,525 $72.70 238,424 $61.28
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 375 $44.00 48,320 $61.96 493,360 $56.02
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 45,982 $77.14 6,278 $67.65 75,290 $70.11
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,614 $48.83 1,861 $58.95 19,292 $50.50
Total 0 $0.00 56,501 $73.39 79,984 $67.09 826,366 $61.10

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) $1-100 559 $53.04 3,484 $636.04
$101-250 719 $172.51
$251-500 739 $363.78
$501-650 306 $572.86
Over $650 1161 $1,393.76
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 118 $53.60 728 $697.89
$101-250 187 $178.41
$251-500 150 $369.50
$501-650 36 $573.86
Over $650 237 $1,655.26
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 $0.00 419 $1,289.71
$101-250 22 $206.32
$251-500 50 $389.35
$501-650 28 $574.28
Over $650 319 $1,568.34
Total Repairs $1-100 677 $53.14 4,631 $704.91
$101-250 928 $174.50
$251-500 939 $366.06
$501-650 370 $573.06
Over $650 1717 $1,462.29

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 111 36 1,671 80 1,898
STAR Test-Only 19 2 1,679 36 1,736
STAR Sub-Total 130 38 3,350 116 3,634
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 431 50 1,767 188 2,436
Non-STAR Test-Only 37 8 308 34 387
Non-STAR Sub-Total 468 58 2,075 222 2,823
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 5 299 13 361
Repair Only 1 0 32 1 34
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 376 15 496
All Stations 698 101 5,801 353 6,953

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 262 1,568
STAR Test-Only 2 131 1,533
STAR Sub-Total 2 393 3,101
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,573 270
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 148 81
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,721 351
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 6 0
Business Fleet 0 1 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 41 3
Government Fleet 3 141 28
Referee 1 3 29
Other Station Sub-Total 4 192 60
All Stations 6 2,306 3,512

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 659
Law Enforcement Citations 535
BAR Referrals 211
CAT BAR Label 176
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 162
Engine Change/Replacement 100
Clean Gas 71
OBD Monitor Issues 24
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 14
Grey Market 13
All Inspections 1,965

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 265 89
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 36 10
Limited Parts Exemption 15 0
Exempt Vehicle 6 7
Exempted by Directive 23 1
All Certificates Issued 345 107

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,626
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,988
GU (Government) 265
All License Types 8,879

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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