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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
February 2025

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 891,196 78,199 8.77%
All Tests 965,377 89,646 9.29%

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 85,950 212,654 75,165 187,130
Non-Directed 153,153 292,689 140,115 270,596
Total 239,103 505,343 215,280 457,726

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 112,797 28,046 105,373 26,214
Total 112,797 28,046 105,373 26,214

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 275 52 18.91% 16.00% 5.45% 5.82% 3.64% NA
1977 344 73 21.22% 15.12% 5.23% 9.01% 5.81% NA
1978 401 81 20.20% 14.21% 6.48% 8.48% 4.49% NA
1979 456 93 20.39% 14.29% 5.05% 7.47% 6.14% NA
1980 275 58 21.09% 16.73% 6.91% 7.64% 7.64% NA
1981 286 73 25.52% 18.88% 5.24% 8.74% 4.90% NA
1982 284 60 21.13% 16.55% 5.99% 9.15% 4.58% NA
1983 341 72 21.11% 17.30% 4.69% 7.33% 5.28% NA
1984 653 136 20.83% 15.77% 5.97% 8.88% 4.59% NA
1985 819 187 22.83% 17.09% 4.76% 10.74% 5.01% NA
1986 1,060 203 19.15% 14.62% 4.81% 7.45% 3.40% NA
1987 1,192 276 23.15% 16.69% 5.29% 9.56% 4.53% NA
1988 1,371 270 19.69% 13.79% 4.01% 8.46% 3.79% NA
1989 1,892 416 21.99% 14.53% 4.65% 9.88% 3.49% NA
1990 2,136 427 19.99% 13.86% 3.93% 8.66% 3.98% NA
1991 2,411 456 18.91% 13.07% 3.82% 8.34% 2.70% NA
1992 2,362 453 19.18% 13.67% 3.85% 8.17% 3.22% NA
1993 2,666 597 22.39% 16.17% 3.68% 9.30% 3.64% NA
1994 3,534 726 20.54% 13.95% 2.18% 8.43% 3.25% NA
1995 4,823 1,032 21.40% 14.97% 2.99% 8.29% 3.38% NA
1996 4,415 891 20.18% 10.58% 1.40% 10.65% 2.97% 10.65%
1997 7,726 1,522 19.70% 9.88% 1.53% 10.39% 2.85% 10.38%
1998 8,232 1,621 19.69% 8.60% 1.51% 11.78% 3.36% 11.79%
1999 13,174 2,139 16.24% 5.98% 0.86% 10.41% 2.84% 10.41%
2000 220 24 10.91% 7.27% 4.09% 2.73% 4.09% 2.74%
2001 192 16 8.33% 6.25% 2.08% 2.60% 1.56% 2.09%
2002 186 16 8.60% 6.99% 4.30% 0.54% 2.15% 0.54%
2003 256 14 5.47% 3.12% 1.17% 0.39% 1.95% 0.39%
2004 202 20 9.90% 5.94% 1.49% 2.97% 1.49% 2.97%
2005 245 15 6.12% 4.49% 1.22% 0.82% 0.82% 0.82%
2006 275 26 9.45% 7.27% 2.55% 0.73% 2.18% 0.73%
2007 276 17 6.16% 4.71% 2.90% 0.72% 0.72% 0.72%
2008 185 10 5.41% 2.70% 1.08% 1.08% 1.62% 1.08%
2009 106 7 6.60% 5.66% 1.89% 0.00% 1.89% 0.00%
2010 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 174 4 2.30% 0.57% 0.00% 0.00% 1.72% 0.00%
2012 119 2 1.68% 1.68% 0.84% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 209 2 0.96% 0.00% 0.00% 0.96% 0.00% 0.96%
2014 178 2 1.12% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56% 0.00% 0.56%
2015 333 5 1.50% 0.30% 0.00% 0.90% 0.30% 0.90%
2016 254 3 1.18% 0.39% 0.00% 0.39% 0.39% 0.39%
2017 421 6 1.43% 0.71% 0.24% 0.71% 0.00% 0.71%
2018 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 51 2 3.92% 1.96% 1.96% 1.96% 0.00% 1.96%
2021 26 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 39 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 48 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 109 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 70 1 1.43% 1.43% 1.43% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 65,465 12,106 18.49% 10.57% 2.35% 9.21% 3.16% 9.64%

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 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 3 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 134 14 10.45% 7.46% 3.76% 6.77% 2.26% 0.68%
1999 489 63 12.88% 11.45% 1.84% 11.34% 7.01% 0.18%
2000 14,523 2,536 17.46% 15.44% 3.73% 15.19% 11.09% 0.59%
2001 22,443 3,436 15.31% 13.71% 2.76% 13.51% 9.75% 0.44%
2002 18,554 2,814 15.17% 13.51% 3.03% 13.23% 9.18% 0.50%
2003 30,498 3,940 12.92% 11.40% 2.65% 11.15% 7.68% 0.41%
2004 25,411 3,443 13.55% 11.88% 2.88% 11.70% 8.15% 0.37%
2005 38,566 4,362 11.31% 9.91% 2.25% 9.75% 6.65% 0.32%
2006 30,777 3,533 11.48% 9.86% 2.43% 9.70% 6.51% 0.32%
2007 47,067 4,181 8.88% 7.60% 1.90% 7.44% 5.08% 0.26%
2008 30,920 3,011 9.74% 8.60% 1.70% 8.44% 5.86% 0.27%
2009 29,499 2,350 7.97% 7.05% 1.39% 6.97% 4.91% 0.18%
2010 24,720 2,389 9.66% 8.79% 1.33% 8.71% 4.08% 0.16%
2011 46,928 3,497 7.45% 6.84% 0.92% 6.78% 3.15% 0.12%
2012 31,444 2,973 9.45% 8.69% 1.20% 8.59% 3.78% 0.12%
2013 73,831 4,746 6.43% 5.65% 1.03% 5.59% 2.71% 0.08%
2014 34,363 2,722 7.92% 7.20% 1.01% 7.12% 3.18% 0.11%
2015 96,096 4,809 5.00% 4.44% 0.71% 4.41% 2.15% 0.05%
2016 36,782 2,514 6.83% 6.26% 0.80% 6.23% 2.90% 0.06%
2017 104,347 4,269 4.09% 3.72% 0.48% 3.68% 1.98% 0.04%
2018 14,718 812 5.52% 5.24% 0.40% 5.19% 3.23% 0.05%
2019 14,677 799 5.44% 5.20% 0.32% 5.18% 3.47% 0.04%
2020 12,294 633 5.15% 4.94% 0.29% 4.93% 3.57% 0.02%
2021 17,910 867 4.84% 4.65% 0.23% 4.64% 3.43% 0.01%
2022 12,099 576 4.76% 4.65% 0.15% 4.65% 3.62% 0.01%
2023 9,204 414 4.50% 4.40% 0.13% 4.39% 3.49% 0.01%
2024 5,979 274 4.58% 4.47% 0.13% 4.43% 3.56% 0.03%
2025 1,446 113 7.81% 7.81% 0.07% 7.87% 6.48% 0.00%
Other 8 3 37.50% 14.29% 42.86% 0.00% 0.00% 9.09%
All Model Years 825,731 66,093 8.00% 7.16% 1.29% 7.06% 4.27% 0.17%

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 6,918 10.57%
All Visual 10,675 1.29% 2,068 3.16%
All Functional 59,094 7.16% 6,031 9.21%
OBDII 58,326 7.06% 3,650 9.64%
Overall 66,093 8.00% 12,106 18.49%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 713,300 57,004 7.99% 54,364 10,224 18.81%
Partial Enhanced 41,719 3,440 8.25% 3,369 722 21.43%
Basic 65,852 5,241 7.96% 7,322 1,075 14.68%
Change of Ownership 4,860 408 8.40% 410 85 20.73%
All Program Areas 825,731 66,093 8.00% 65,465 12,106 18.49%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 465,630 38,994 8.37% 39,713 7,201 18.13%
Non-STAR Test-Only 26,572 1,593 6.00% 1,503 184 12.24%
STAR Test-and-Repair 220,280 18,761 8.52% 18,823 3,920 20.83%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 108,247 6,312 5.83% 4,675 612 13.09%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,824 88 4.82% 32 1 3.12%
Business Fleet 357 12 3.36% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 8 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 321 227 70.72% 115 71 61.74%
Government Fleet 2,492 106 4.25% 604 117 19.37%
All Stations 825,731 66,093 8.00% 65,465 12,106 18.49%

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 806,832 90.53% 84,364 9.47%
All Tests 869,006 90.02% 96,371 9.98%

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 215,280 90.04% 23,823 9.96%
STAR Test-Only 457,726 90.58% 47,617 9.42%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 105,373 93.31% 7,549 6.69%
Non-STAR Test-Only 26,214 93.37% 1,861 6.63%
Total 804,593 90.87% 80,850 9.13%

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 18,823 $74.89 220,280 $62.46 239,103 $68.67
STAR Test-Only 39,713 $64.07 465,630 $56.06 505,343 $60.07
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 4,675 $69.53 108,247 $71.86 112,922 $70.69
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,503 $60.82 26,572 $52.36 28,075 $56.59
Total 64,714 $69.10 820,729 $63.09 885,443 $66.09

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.

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 $0.00 523 $57.11 18,823 $74.89 219,757 $62.49
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 1,148 $47.90 39,713 $64.07 464,482 $56.11
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 42,936 $75.33 4,675 $69.53 65,311 $69.02
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,668 $55.31 1,503 $60.51 16,904 $49.10
Total 0 $0.00 54,275 $72.21 64,714 $69.10 766,454 $61.20

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) $1-100 373 $51.98 2,877 $691.77
$101-250 640 $177.34
$251-500 572 $369.78
$501-650 273 $575.77
Over $650 1019 $1,460.87
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 96 $57.88 611 $661.42
$101-250 168 $181.87
$251-500 126 $356.24
$501-650 59 $568.19
Over $650 162 $1,787.72
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 $0.00 362 $1,324.98
$101-250 19 $215.01
$251-500 40 $388.41
$501-650 25 $580.73
Over $650 278 $1,602.52
Total Repairs $1-100 469 $53.19 3,850 $746.49
$101-250 827 $179.12
$251-500 738 $368.48
$501-650 357 $574.86
Over $650 1459 $1,524.15

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 34 1,633 79 1,858
STAR Test-Only 18 3 1,684 39 1,744
STAR Sub-Total 130 37 3,317 118 3,602
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 429 52 1,729 184 2,394
Non-STAR Test-Only 37 10 309 37 393
Non-STAR Sub-Total 466 62 2,038 221 2,787
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 5 303 13 365
Repair Only 1 0 27 1 29
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 375 15 495
All Stations 696 104 5,730 354 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 2 305 1,478
STAR Test-Only 0 161 1,510
STAR Sub-Total 2 466 2,988
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,571 247
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 176 75
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,747 322
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 4 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 42 4
Government Fleet 2 136 35
Referee 0 3 28
Other Station Sub-Total 2 187 67
All Stations 4 2,400 3,377

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 472
BAR Referrals 402
Law Enforcement Citations 402
Clean Gas 164
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 132
Engine Change/Replacement 84
CAT BAR Label 59
OBD Monitor Issues 24
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 19
Grey Market 11
All Inspections 1,769

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 186 112
Repair Cost Waiver 32 5
Limited Parts Exemption 10 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 9
Exempted by Directive 12 1
Hardship Extensions 0 0
All Certificates Issued 240 127

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,618 7,365
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,880 5,104
All License Types 8,498 12,469

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 250 1,115 3,633 1,391 6,389
Inspectors 301 1,634 5,454 5,080 12,469

Station FPR Score Distribution

Inspector FPR Score Distribution

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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