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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
July 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 935,722 79,179 8.46%
All Tests 1,011,498 90,712 8.97%

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 93,494 225,516 82,615 199,441
Non-Directed 159,498 304,956 146,604 282,527
Total 252,992 530,472 229,219 481,968

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 122 0 1 0
Non-Directed 117,433 30,191 109,776 28,195
Total 117,555 30,191 109,777 28,195

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 314 67 21.34% 15.92% 6.69% 8.92% 5.73% NA
1977 433 91 21.02% 15.70% 6.00% 6.93% 4.62% NA
1978 454 99 21.81% 16.30% 6.83% 7.49% 5.07% NA
1979 509 122 23.97% 16.90% 7.86% 11.39% 5.50% NA
1980 256 46 17.97% 11.72% 5.08% 9.77% 5.08% NA
1981 279 63 22.58% 16.85% 8.60% 9.32% 2.51% NA
1982 322 76 23.60% 18.94% 6.83% 9.01% 2.80% NA
1983 441 98 22.22% 15.87% 4.31% 10.43% 5.67% NA
1984 726 185 25.48% 20.66% 6.61% 10.88% 6.61% NA
1985 963 214 22.22% 16.41% 5.92% 8.52% 3.95% NA
1986 1,235 246 19.92% 15.06% 5.18% 7.37% 3.56% NA
1987 1,371 301 21.95% 16.99% 6.05% 8.39% 4.08% NA
1988 1,618 329 20.33% 15.20% 4.70% 7.66% 2.78% NA
1989 2,074 441 21.26% 15.62% 5.26% 9.02% 3.62% NA
1990 2,473 449 18.16% 12.98% 4.00% 8.25% 2.63% NA
1991 2,852 558 19.57% 13.43% 3.93% 8.10% 3.54% NA
1992 2,785 528 18.96% 12.50% 3.34% 8.76% 3.02% NA
1993 3,235 712 22.01% 15.96% 3.46% 8.93% 3.03% NA
1994 4,369 896 20.51% 14.12% 2.49% 8.97% 2.77% NA
1995 4,647 940 20.23% 14.50% 3.03% 7.45% 3.42% NA
1996 6,217 1,143 18.39% 9.31% 1.14% 9.41% 3.09% 9.41%
1997 7,736 1,507 19.48% 9.63% 1.62% 11.19% 3.05% 11.18%
1998 11,775 2,019 17.15% 7.43% 1.16% 10.02% 2.64% 10.01%
1999 12,420 2,091 16.84% 6.62% 1.05% 10.58% 2.89% 10.57%
2000 263 30 11.41% 8.75% 3.04% 2.28% 1.14% 2.30%
2001 183 12 6.56% 3.83% 1.09% 0.55% 2.73% 0.55%
2002 256 19 7.42% 4.69% 1.95% 1.56% 1.56% 1.56%
2003 249 17 6.83% 2.41% 1.61% 1.61% 2.81% 1.61%
2004 291 12 4.12% 3.44% 0.34% 0.69% 0.34% 0.69%
2005 202 17 8.42% 5.94% 1.98% 1.98% 0.99% 1.99%
2006 357 25 7.00% 3.92% 1.68% 1.12% 1.96% 1.12%
2007 219 16 7.31% 4.11% 0.00% 1.83% 2.74% 1.83%
2008 242 6 2.48% 1.65% 0.41% 0.00% 0.83% 0.00%
2009 75 3 4.00% 2.67% 1.33% 0.00% 1.33% 0.00%
2010 60 3 5.00% 1.67% 0.00% 1.67% 1.67% 1.67%
2011 116 3 2.59% 1.72% 0.00% 0.00% 0.86% 0.00%
2012 240 3 1.25% 0.42% 0.00% 0.42% 0.42% 0.42%
2013 129 2 1.55% 0.00% 0.00% 1.55% 0.00% 1.55%
2014 295 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 150 1 0.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.67% 0.00%
2016 449 7 1.56% 0.45% 0.45% 0.67% 0.45% 0.67%
2017 80 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 61 1 1.64% 1.64% 1.64% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 35 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 30 1 3.33% 0.00% 0.00% 3.33% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 27 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 58 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 99 1 1.01% 0.00% 0.00% 1.01% 0.00% 1.01%
2025 8 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 73,741 13,400 18.17% 10.54% 2.44% 9.01% 3.01% 9.39%

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 5 2 40.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 4 2 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 25.00% 0.00%
1998 144 11 7.64% 6.94% 2.78% 5.56% 0.69% 2.00%
1999 613 70 11.42% 10.60% 1.63% 10.00% 8.20% 0.58%
2000 23,046 3,404 14.77% 13.31% 2.72% 13.11% 9.82% 0.38%
2001 18,865 2,983 15.81% 14.06% 3.26% 13.86% 9.99% 0.45%
2002 32,289 4,182 12.95% 11.23% 2.71% 11.04% 7.82% 0.34%
2003 25,472 3,407 13.38% 11.53% 2.94% 11.32% 7.70% 0.42%
2004 43,538 4,719 10.84% 9.47% 2.20% 9.31% 6.44% 0.25%
2005 32,584 3,742 11.48% 9.83% 2.50% 9.63% 6.61% 0.36%
2006 50,258 4,717 9.39% 8.09% 1.84% 7.97% 5.48% 0.21%
2007 36,489 3,469 9.51% 8.11% 2.08% 7.98% 5.30% 0.22%
2008 47,326 3,657 7.73% 6.82% 1.31% 6.71% 4.67% 0.16%
2009 23,442 1,895 8.08% 7.10% 1.39% 6.99% 4.88% 0.19%
2010 48,680 3,257 6.69% 6.11% 0.84% 6.05% 3.02% 0.09%
2011 27,322 2,354 8.62% 7.98% 0.94% 7.90% 3.36% 0.12%
2012 69,238 4,555 6.58% 5.92% 0.89% 5.87% 2.74% 0.07%
2013 32,427 2,516 7.76% 7.03% 1.03% 6.98% 3.09% 0.09%
2014 96,743 4,835 5.00% 4.40% 0.76% 4.38% 2.16% 0.03%
2015 31,438 2,138 6.80% 6.23% 0.78% 6.20% 2.87% 0.05%
2016 124,007 4,998 4.03% 3.61% 0.53% 3.59% 1.73% 0.03%
2017 16,762 934 5.57% 5.11% 0.55% 5.10% 2.74% 0.05%
2018 16,525 851 5.15% 4.88% 0.41% 4.87% 3.18% 0.01%
2019 15,564 821 5.27% 5.10% 0.26% 5.08% 3.43% 0.02%
2020 16,131 744 4.61% 4.41% 0.25% 4.41% 3.29% 0.01%
2021 12,412 507 4.08% 3.91% 0.23% 3.90% 2.85% 0.01%
2022 10,299 504 4.89% 4.73% 0.17% 4.72% 4.00% 0.01%
2023 6,455 241 3.73% 3.59% 0.17% 3.55% 3.10% 0.06%
2024 3,645 229 6.28% 6.23% 0.05% 6.23% 5.52% 0.00%
2025 253 34 13.44% 13.44% 0.00% 13.44% 7.51% 0.00%
Other 5 1 20.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 861,981 65,779 7.63% 6.78% 1.26% 6.70% 4.10% 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 7,769 10.54%
All Visual 10,833 1.26% 2,219 3.01%
All Functional 58,461 6.78% 6,643 9.01%
OBDII 57,771 6.70% 3,979 9.39%
Overall 65,779 7.63% 13,400 18.17%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 744,805 56,856 7.63% 61,117 11,383 18.62%
Partial Enhanced 42,161 3,247 7.70% 3,663 713 19.46%
Basic 69,801 5,302 7.60% 8,465 1,192 14.08%
Change of Ownership 5,214 374 7.17% 496 112 22.58%
All Program Areas 861,981 65,779 7.63% 73,741 13,400 18.17%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 485,995 39,196 8.07% 44,477 8,118 18.25%
Non-STAR Test-Only 28,383 1,731 6.10% 1,843 215 11.67%
STAR Test-and-Repair 231,582 18,228 7.87% 21,410 4,261 19.90%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 112,176 6,317 5.63% 5,379 688 12.79%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,975 102 5.16% 39 6 15.38%
Business Fleet 170 6 3.53% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 17 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 214 122 57.01% 83 47 56.63%
Government Fleet 1,469 77 5.24% 510 65 12.75%
All Stations 861,981 65,779 7.63% 73,741 13,400 18.17%

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 851,362 90.98% 84,360 9.02%
All Tests 915,184 90.48% 96,314 9.52%

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 229,219 90.60% 23,773 9.40%
STAR Test-Only 481,968 90.86% 48,504 9.14%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 109,777 93.38% 7,778 6.62%
Non-STAR Test-Only 28,195 93.28% 2,031 6.72%
Total 849,159 91.19% 82,086 8.81%

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 21,410 $73.12 231,582 $61.16 252,992 $67.14
STAR Test-Only 44,477 $62.46 485,995 $55.73 530,472 $59.09
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,379 $68.44 112,176 $72.82 117,555 $70.63
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,843 $57.04 28,383 $50.79 30,226 $53.92
Total 73,109 $67.51 858,136 $62.87 931,245 $65.19

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 $0.00 452 $52.51 21,410 $73.14 231,130 $61.20
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 593 $53.69 44,477 $62.46 485,402 $55.74
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 42,391 $76.25 5,379 $68.25 69,785 $70.19
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,182 $51.91 1,843 $57.59 19,201 $49.75
Total 0 $0.00 52,618 $72.83 73,109 $67.52 805,518 $60.91

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) $1-100 451 $53.69 3,052 $648.88
$101-250 690 $174.52
$251-500 644 $363.66
$501-650 221 $579.00
Over $650 1046 $1,408.80
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 80 $56.54 621 $655.25
$101-250 186 $180.00
$251-500 148 $356.80
$501-650 43 $577.44
Over $650 164 $1,776.04
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 $0.00 369 $1,344.44
$101-250 19 $220.36
$251-500 35 $375.73
$501-650 22 $592.38
Over $650 293 $1,589.51
Total Repairs $1-100 531 $54.12 4,042 $713.36
$101-250 895 $176.63
$251-500 827 $362.95
$501-650 286 $579.80
Over $650 1503 $1,484.10

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 112 35 1,671 80 1,898
STAR Test-Only 19 3 1,676 36 1,734
STAR Sub-Total 131 38 3,347 116 3,632
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 430 51 1,736 185 2,402
Non-STAR Test-Only 36 9 309 33 387
Non-STAR Sub-Total 466 60 2,045 218 2,789
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 29 1 31
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 373 15 493
All Stations 697 103 5,765 349 6,914

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 277 1,541
STAR Test-Only 1 149 1,522
STAR Sub-Total 2 426 3,063
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,570 259
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 163 90
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,733 349
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 6 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 42 4
Government Fleet 8 141 21
Referee 0 2 32
Other Station Sub-Total 8 193 57
All Stations 10 2,352 3,469

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 519
Law Enforcement Citations 427
BAR Referrals 195
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 147
CAT BAR Label 141
Engine Change/Replacement 100
Clean Gas 82
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 31
OBD Monitor Issues 22
Grey Market 16
All Inspections 1,680

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 215 81
Repair Cost Waiver 34 5
Limited Parts Exemption 10 0
Exempt Vehicle 7 14
Exempted by Directive 17 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
All Certificates Issued 283 100

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,645
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,952
GU (Government) 232
All License Types 8,829

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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