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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
November 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 777,762 66,734 8.58%
All Tests 841,734 76,314 9.07%

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 78,576 193,527 69,335 171,314
Non-Directed 130,280 246,140 118,124 226,772
Total 208,856 439,667 187,459 398,086

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 0 0 0 0
Non-Directed 99,723 25,334 92,781 23,518
Total 99,723 25,334 92,781 23,518

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 200 42 21.00% 13.00% 6.00% 8.00% 6.00% NA
1977 342 69 20.18% 14.04% 4.09% 9.06% 2.63% NA
1978 370 62 16.76% 10.81% 2.97% 8.38% 5.14% NA
1979 442 84 19.00% 12.22% 4.52% 8.60% 5.88% NA
1980 209 39 18.66% 11.00% 3.83% 9.57% 2.39% NA
1981 257 55 21.40% 18.29% 7.39% 6.23% 4.28% NA
1982 255 54 21.18% 15.29% 6.67% 8.24% 6.27% NA
1983 289 64 22.15% 18.69% 7.96% 6.92% 3.81% NA
1984 563 113 20.07% 16.16% 6.39% 8.17% 4.26% NA
1985 782 159 20.33% 13.30% 4.86% 9.85% 6.01% NA
1986 931 171 18.37% 14.18% 4.51% 7.84% 3.44% NA
1987 1,188 235 19.78% 14.90% 5.56% 7.74% 4.88% NA
1988 1,290 243 18.84% 14.34% 5.12% 6.98% 3.10% NA
1989 1,739 368 21.16% 15.47% 4.77% 8.57% 3.91% NA
1990 1,919 371 19.33% 13.29% 4.43% 8.81% 3.18% NA
1991 2,452 417 17.01% 11.01% 3.34% 7.95% 2.73% NA
1992 2,116 395 18.67% 12.95% 3.69% 7.18% 2.98% NA
1993 2,551 580 22.74% 16.39% 3.53% 9.33% 3.65% NA
1994 3,259 685 21.02% 14.67% 2.88% 8.38% 3.22% NA
1995 3,954 800 20.23% 13.88% 2.23% 8.42% 3.16% NA
1996 4,462 851 19.07% 9.48% 0.96% 10.49% 2.87% 10.49%
1997 5,942 1,166 19.62% 9.85% 1.25% 11.14% 2.91% 11.12%
1998 8,763 1,576 17.98% 7.63% 1.22% 10.93% 2.85% 10.93%
1999 9,786 1,544 15.78% 5.68% 1.05% 10.37% 2.74% 10.37%
2000 232 21 9.05% 6.03% 4.31% 2.16% 1.72% 2.16%
2001 145 8 5.52% 2.76% 2.07% 2.07% 2.76% 2.08%
2002 164 13 7.93% 4.27% 1.83% 2.44% 1.22% 2.44%
2003 183 14 7.65% 4.37% 1.09% 1.64% 2.73% 1.64%
2004 252 6 2.38% 1.98% 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.00%
2005 178 13 7.30% 6.74% 1.12% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
2006 274 15 5.47% 2.55% 0.00% 0.73% 3.28% 0.73%
2007 162 12 7.41% 6.17% 1.23% 0.00% 1.85% 0.00%
2008 211 11 5.21% 2.84% 0.95% 1.90% 1.42% 1.90%
2009 63 7 11.11% 6.35% 4.76% 1.59% 3.17% 1.59%
2010 48 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 116 3 2.59% 2.59% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2012 206 3 1.46% 0.49% 0.49% 0.49% 0.97% 0.49%
2013 113 1 0.88% 0.88% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 188 1 0.53% 0.00% 0.00% 0.53% 0.00% 0.53%
2015 148 2 1.35% 0.68% 0.68% 0.68% 0.00% 0.68%
2016 371 2 0.54% 0.00% 0.00% 0.54% 0.00% 0.54%
2017 104 1 0.96% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.96% 0.00%
2018 48 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 47 1 2.13% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 0.00% 2.13%
2020 37 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 49 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 39 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 104 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 34 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% NA
All Model Years 57,619 10,277 17.84% 10.15% 2.30% 9.05% 3.03% 9.63%

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 1 1 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 100.00% 100.00% 0.00%
1997 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 85 5 5.88% 4.71% 2.35% 3.61% 1.20% 2.13%
1999 446 65 14.57% 12.56% 2.47% 12.61% 8.11% 0.20%
2000 16,525 2,699 16.33% 14.63% 3.09% 14.42% 10.84% 0.42%
2001 16,294 2,610 16.02% 14.07% 3.54% 13.82% 9.91% 0.44%
2002 24,025 3,221 13.41% 11.89% 2.59% 11.66% 8.26% 0.43%
2003 21,675 2,851 13.15% 11.40% 2.75% 11.15% 7.57% 0.42%
2004 31,409 3,683 11.73% 10.34% 2.29% 10.11% 7.18% 0.36%
2005 25,468 2,941 11.55% 10.11% 2.43% 9.93% 6.92% 0.39%
2006 39,999 4,032 10.08% 8.79% 2.03% 8.64% 5.97% 0.24%
2007 30,763 2,857 9.29% 7.90% 1.99% 7.74% 5.25% 0.24%
2008 39,578 3,217 8.13% 7.18% 1.42% 7.05% 4.82% 0.19%
2009 18,934 1,555 8.21% 7.28% 1.40% 7.21% 5.31% 0.15%
2010 35,360 2,550 7.21% 6.58% 0.91% 6.51% 3.23% 0.11%
2011 26,371 2,210 8.38% 7.70% 1.02% 7.63% 3.32% 0.13%
2012 49,870 3,815 7.65% 6.77% 1.10% 6.69% 3.17% 0.12%
2013 36,388 2,503 6.88% 6.13% 1.01% 6.07% 2.83% 0.08%
2014 66,900 3,917 5.86% 5.21% 0.84% 5.17% 2.41% 0.06%
2015 40,060 2,253 5.62% 5.13% 0.65% 5.10% 2.54% 0.07%
2016 92,661 4,377 4.72% 4.27% 0.57% 4.23% 2.01% 0.04%
2017 30,785 1,265 4.11% 3.80% 0.39% 3.78% 2.31% 0.04%
2018 14,005 731 5.22% 4.94% 0.40% 4.91% 3.16% 0.05%
2019 13,837 747 5.40% 5.16% 0.33% 5.13% 3.53% 0.03%
2020 13,118 676 5.15% 4.92% 0.27% 4.90% 3.49% 0.04%
2021 12,299 543 4.41% 4.28% 0.16% 4.27% 3.16% 0.01%
2022 10,309 467 4.53% 4.37% 0.18% 4.37% 3.60% 0.01%
2023 7,602 312 4.10% 4.05% 0.07% 4.04% 3.22% 0.01%
2024 4,884 309 6.33% 6.22% 0.12% 6.16% 5.28% 0.06%
2025 485 43 8.87% 8.66% 0.21% 8.79% 6.90% 0.00%
Other 4 1 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 720,143 56,457 7.84% 7.00% 1.26% 6.91% 4.24% 0.16%

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 5,849 10.15%
All Visual 9,067 1.26% 1,748 3.03%
All Functional 50,406 7.00% 5,212 9.05%
OBDII 49,727 6.91% 3,131 9.63%
Overall 56,457 7.84% 10,277 17.84%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 623,367 48,985 7.86% 47,787 8,682 18.17%
Partial Enhanced 57,362 4,351 7.59% 6,562 925 14.10%
Basic 35,069 2,760 7.87% 2,909 579 19.90%
Change of Ownership 4,345 361 8.31% 361 91 25.21%
All Program Areas 720,143 56,457 7.84% 57,619 10,277 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 404,903 33,407 8.25% 34,764 6,109 17.57%
Non-STAR Test-Only 23,953 1,424 5.94% 1,405 188 13.38%
STAR Test-and-Repair 192,139 15,875 8.26% 16,717 3,319 19.85%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 95,626 5,432 5.68% 4,196 500 11.92%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,731 93 5.37% 28 3 10.71%
Business Fleet 203 9 4.43% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 11 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 244 154 63.11% 84 55 65.48%
Government Fleet 1,333 63 4.73% 425 103 24.24%
All Stations 720,143 56,457 7.84% 57,619 10,277 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 703,801 90.49% 73,961 9.51%
All Tests 757,616 90.01% 84,118 9.99%

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 187,459 89.76% 21,397 10.24%
STAR Test-Only 398,086 90.54% 41,581 9.46%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 92,781 92.95% 7,041 7.05%
Non-STAR Test-Only 23,518 92.74% 1,840 7.26%
Total 701,844 90.71% 71,859 9.29%

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 16,717 $73.74 192,139 $61.62 208,856 $67.68
STAR Test-Only 34,764 $63.35 404,903 $56.85 439,667 $60.10
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 4,196 $66.55 95,626 $73.61 99,822 $70.08
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,405 $61.20 23,953 $51.07 25,358 $56.14
Total 57,082 $67.99 716,621 $63.44 773,703 $65.71

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 $0.00 286 $55.85 16,717 $73.74 191,853 $61.64
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 882 $48.00 34,764 $63.35 404,021 $56.89
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 38,303 $79.04 4,196 $66.64 57,323 $69.35
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 8,122 $52.13 1,405 $61.63 15,831 $50.03
Total 0 $0.00 47,593 $75.05 57,082 $68.01 669,028 $61.18

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) $1-100 397 $52.69 2,546 $645.32
$101-250 588 $173.12
$251-500 487 $363.71
$501-650 226 $573.94
Over $650 848 $1,430.95
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 80 $55.71 522 $669.02
$101-250 138 $177.99
$251-500 107 $367.65
$501-650 49 $582.82
Over $650 148 $1,704.81
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 $0.00 352 $1,314.58
$101-250 16 $215.58
$251-500 32 $368.79
$501-650 17 $586.22
Over $650 287 $1,524.44
Total Repairs $1-100 477 $53.20 3,420 $717.82
$101-250 742 $174.94
$251-500 626 $364.64
$501-650 292 $576.15
Over $650 1283 $1,483.45

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 1,642 78 1,869
STAR Test-Only 18 3 1,675 37 1,733
STAR Sub-Total 132 38 3,317 115 3,602
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 426 50 1,743 185 2,404
Non-STAR Test-Only 34 9 306 37 386
Non-STAR Sub-Total 460 59 2,049 222 2,790
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 50 0 0 0 50
Business Fleet 1 0 27 1 29
Permanent Fleet Registered 5 0 30 0 35
Referee 0 0 12 1 13
Government Fleet 44 5 300 13 362
Repair Only 0 0 3 0 3
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 372 15 492
All Stations 692 102 5,738 352 6,884

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 3 306 1,481
STAR Test-Only 0 155 1,514
STAR Sub-Total 3 461 2,995
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,567 247
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 164 86
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,731 333
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 43 3
Business Fleet 0 2 31
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 6 0
Government Fleet 5 139 25
Referee 0 2 0
Other Station Sub-Total 5 192 59
All Stations 8 2,384 3,387

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 387
Law Enforcement Citations 274
BAR Referrals 236
Clean Gas 124
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 124
CAT BAR Label 78
Engine Change/Replacement 66
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 18
OBD Monitor Issues 17
Grey Market 10
All Inspections 1,334

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 174 79
Repair Cost Waiver 39 7
Limited Parts Exemption 8 0
Exempt Vehicle 2 8
Exempted by Directive 6 0
Hardship Extensions 0 1
All Certificates Issued 229 95

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,560 7,354
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,919 5,150
All License Types 8,479 12,504

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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