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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
August 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 975,369 82,389 8.45%
All Tests 1,056,097 94,829 8.98%

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 92,632 234,956 81,538 208,084
Non-Directed 165,866 328,774 152,213 305,148
Total 258,498 563,730 233,751 513,232

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 135 0 1 0
Non-Directed 114,128 34,161 106,739 32,043
Total 114,263 34,161 106,740 32,043

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 293 66 22.53% 16.72% 5.46% 7.85% 4.10% NA
1977 412 79 19.17% 13.35% 5.83% 7.77% 3.16% NA
1978 454 87 19.16% 13.00% 3.96% 7.93% 3.30% NA
1979 495 120 24.24% 18.59% 7.27% 8.08% 4.24% NA
1980 278 42 15.11% 12.23% 5.40% 5.40% 2.16% NA
1981 290 73 25.17% 20.00% 8.62% 10.00% 5.52% NA
1982 301 59 19.60% 14.29% 5.32% 6.64% 3.65% NA
1983 414 90 21.74% 16.43% 7.00% 9.18% 2.17% NA
1984 646 145 22.45% 17.49% 6.04% 8.67% 5.26% NA
1985 875 187 21.37% 16.69% 6.86% 8.00% 3.54% NA
1986 1,217 252 20.71% 15.04% 5.51% 8.46% 4.44% NA
1987 1,385 308 22.24% 17.47% 5.85% 8.52% 4.33% NA
1988 1,606 325 20.24% 14.82% 4.98% 8.53% 4.05% NA
1989 2,080 381 18.32% 13.13% 4.33% 7.40% 3.12% NA
1990 2,376 461 19.40% 12.58% 3.41% 9.18% 3.28% NA
1991 2,699 522 19.34% 13.19% 3.82% 8.34% 3.11% NA
1992 2,506 455 18.16% 12.05% 2.79% 7.70% 3.19% NA
1993 3,138 637 20.30% 14.44% 3.57% 8.06% 3.31% NA
1994 3,623 736 20.31% 14.46% 2.93% 7.73% 3.56% NA
1995 5,331 1,065 19.98% 14.27% 2.70% 7.30% 3.58% NA
1996 4,731 908 19.19% 9.98% 1.20% 9.72% 3.11% 9.70%
1997 8,252 1,521 18.43% 8.86% 1.18% 10.18% 2.92% 10.18%
1998 8,761 1,669 19.05% 8.80% 1.80% 11.29% 3.12% 11.29%
1999 13,467 2,073 15.39% 5.70% 0.91% 9.70% 2.68% 9.70%
2000 233 29 12.45% 8.58% 3.43% 3.00% 3.43% 3.00%
2001 181 24 13.26% 8.29% 1.66% 2.76% 2.76% 2.76%
2002 206 17 8.25% 6.31% 2.43% 0.97% 1.94% 0.97%
2003 279 16 5.73% 3.23% 1.79% 2.51% 0.00% 2.52%
2004 267 14 5.24% 4.12% 2.25% 0.37% 0.75% 0.37%
2005 280 17 6.07% 5.00% 1.07% 1.07% 0.00% 1.08%
2006 260 17 6.54% 3.08% 0.38% 1.54% 2.69% 1.54%
2007 229 13 5.68% 4.37% 2.18% 0.00% 1.31% 0.00%
2008 237 13 5.49% 4.22% 1.27% 0.42% 0.84% 0.42%
2009 87 5 5.75% 3.45% 2.30% 0.00% 2.30% 0.00%
2010 49 1 2.04% 2.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 158 3 1.90% 1.90% 0.00% 0.00% 0.63% 0.00%
2012 117 1 0.85% 0.85% 0.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 234 5 2.14% 1.71% 0.85% 0.85% 0.00% 0.85%
2014 180 4 2.22% 0.56% 0.00% 1.11% 0.56% 1.11%
2015 373 8 2.14% 0.80% 0.27% 0.80% 0.54% 0.80%
2016 183 1 0.55% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.55% 0.00%
2017 521 5 0.96% 0.38% 0.00% 0.38% 0.19% 0.38%
2018 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 82 1 1.22% 1.22% 1.22% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 73 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 50 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 23 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 39 1 2.56% 0.00% 0.00% 2.56% 0.00% 2.56%
2024 75 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 133 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 14 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 70,246 12,456 17.73% 10.28% 2.41% 8.63% 3.05% 9.13%

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% 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 3 1 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 145 11 7.59% 6.90% 0.69% 7.04% 2.82% 0.00%
1999 557 64 11.49% 10.41% 1.97% 9.95% 6.15% 0.48%
2000 15,187 2,510 16.53% 14.58% 3.69% 14.30% 10.38% 0.64%
2001 24,295 3,628 14.93% 13.34% 2.85% 13.15% 9.56% 0.34%
2002 19,977 2,977 14.90% 12.94% 3.26% 12.68% 8.89% 0.48%
2003 35,307 4,274 12.11% 10.60% 2.52% 10.36% 7.09% 0.42%
2004 26,477 3,375 12.75% 11.02% 2.86% 10.79% 7.49% 0.39%
2005 42,945 4,715 10.98% 9.57% 2.17% 9.38% 6.52% 0.32%
2006 31,425 3,610 11.49% 10.10% 2.26% 9.90% 6.82% 0.37%
2007 52,941 4,671 8.82% 7.51% 1.93% 7.37% 4.92% 0.22%
2008 29,311 2,755 9.40% 8.24% 1.72% 8.10% 5.34% 0.22%
2009 36,377 2,856 7.85% 6.98% 1.27% 6.88% 4.96% 0.16%
2010 26,807 2,478 9.24% 8.44% 1.28% 8.33% 3.68% 0.19%
2011 47,456 3,630 7.65% 6.92% 1.00% 6.85% 3.22% 0.11%
2012 30,348 2,932 9.66% 8.70% 1.39% 8.62% 3.70% 0.11%
2013 83,868 5,187 6.18% 5.44% 0.96% 5.38% 2.56% 0.08%
2014 33,155 2,486 7.50% 6.70% 1.04% 6.64% 2.96% 0.10%
2015 112,427 5,704 5.07% 4.37% 0.84% 4.34% 2.05% 0.05%
2016 29,780 1,890 6.35% 5.83% 0.75% 5.77% 2.73% 0.08%
2017 130,647 5,328 4.08% 3.69% 0.50% 3.67% 1.89% 0.03%
2018 16,458 865 5.26% 4.89% 0.47% 4.85% 2.86% 0.05%
2019 16,343 971 5.94% 5.66% 0.40% 5.64% 3.74% 0.03%
2020 13,021 678 5.21% 4.97% 0.32% 4.94% 3.41% 0.03%
2021 15,267 699 4.58% 4.45% 0.20% 4.41% 3.18% 0.03%
2022 10,760 463 4.30% 4.14% 0.19% 4.13% 3.16% 0.03%
2023 10,986 475 4.32% 4.26% 0.11% 4.26% 3.36% 0.00%
2024 8,585 459 5.35% 5.24% 0.13% 5.23% 4.59% 0.01%
2025 4,192 231 5.51% 5.42% 0.10% 5.52% 4.64% 0.00%
2026 70 7 10.00% 10.00% 0.00% 20.59% 14.71% 0.00%
Other 5 2 40.00% 40.00% 20.00% 40.00% 20.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 905,123 69,933 7.73% 6.86% 1.29% 6.77% 4.06% 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 7,218 10.28%
All Visual 11,671 1.29% 2,139 3.05%
All Functional 62,089 6.86% 6,064 8.63%
OBDII 61,240 6.77% 3,634 9.13%
Overall 69,933 7.73% 12,456 17.73%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 782,536 60,469 7.73% 58,303 10,538 18.07%
Partial Enhanced 44,616 3,455 7.74% 3,487 718 20.59%
Basic 72,540 5,525 7.62% 7,991 1,098 13.74%
Change of Ownership 5,431 484 8.91% 465 102 21.94%
All Program Areas 905,123 69,933 7.73% 70,246 12,456 17.73%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 520,608 41,754 8.02% 43,122 7,478 17.34%
Non-STAR Test-Only 32,749 1,894 5.78% 1,471 181 12.30%
STAR Test-and-Repair 238,179 19,600 8.23% 20,319 4,020 19.78%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 109,602 6,244 5.70% 4,661 615 13.19%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,880 103 5.48% 26 1 3.85%
Business Fleet 226 5 2.21% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 24 2 8.33% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 358 266 74.30% 100 62 62.00%
Government Fleet 1,497 65 4.34% 547 99 18.10%
All Stations 905,123 69,933 7.73% 70,246 12,456 17.73%

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 887,912 91.03% 87,457 8.97%
All Tests 955,724 90.50% 100,373 9.50%

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 233,751 90.43% 24,747 9.57%
STAR Test-Only 513,232 91.04% 50,498 8.96%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 106,740 93.42% 7,523 6.58%
Non-STAR Test-Only 32,043 93.64% 2,177 6.36%
Total 885,766 91.25% 84,945 8.75%

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 20,319 $76.50 238,179 $63.50 258,498 $70.00
STAR Test-Only 43,122 $64.94 520,608 $56.73 563,730 $60.84
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 4,661 $71.91 109,602 $74.31 114,263 $73.11
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,471 $62.55 32,749 $55.87 34,220 $59.21
Total 69,573 $70.37 901,138 $64.51 970,711 $67.44

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 $0.00 350 $50.44 20,319 $76.50 237,829 $63.55
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 2,362 $48.30 43,122 $64.96 518,246 $56.79
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 43,164 $78.97 4,661 $71.96 66,438 $70.23
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 13,604 $53.66 1,471 $61.37 19,145 $59.22
Total 0 $0.00 59,480 $74.51 69,573 $70.37 841,658 $62.29

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) $0-100 424 $53.00 3,042 $630.61
$101-250 728 $177.97
$251-500 610 $370.80
$501-650 281 $577.71
Over $651 999 $1,379.13
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $0-100 79 $56.61 599 $686.94
$101-250 157 $177.83
$251-500 124 $356.23
$501-650 58 $568.47
Over $651 181 $1,668.20
Repair-Only $0-100 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
$101-250 0 $0.00
$251-500 0 $0.00
$501-650 0 $0.00
Over $651 0 $0.00
CAP Repairs $0-100 0 $0.00 423 $1,393.60
$101-250 21 $208.57
$251-500 39 $387.55
$501-650 37 $577.01
Over $651 326 $1,682.97
Total Repairs $0-100 503 $53.56 4,064 $718.33
$101-250 906 $178.66
$251-500 773 $369.31
$501-650 376 $576.22
Over $651 1506 $1,479.65

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 32 1,603 78 1,825
STAR Test-Only 19 4 1,695 39 1,757
STAR Sub-Total 131 36 3,298 117 3,582
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 433 47 1,710 185 2,375
Non-STAR Test-Only 39 9 318 41 407
Non-STAR Sub-Total 472 56 2,028 226 2,782
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 29 1 35
Government Fleet 44 5 303 13 365
Repair Only 1 0 22 1 24
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 369 16 490
All Stations 703 97 5,695 359 6,854

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 271 1,477
STAR Test-Only 3 155 1,528
STAR Sub-Total 4 426 3,005
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,574 238
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 211 55
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,785 293
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 7 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 40 4
Government Fleet 3 140 31
Referee 0 2 31
Other Station Sub-Total 3 191 66
All Stations 7 2,402 3,364

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 492
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 454
Law Enforcement Citations 335
Clean Gas 188
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 152
Engine Change/Replacement 83
CAT BAR Label 66
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 23
OBD Monitor Issues 14
Grey Market 13
All Inspections 1,820

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 208 103
Repair Cost Waiver 48 5
Limited Parts Exemption 5 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 6
Exempted by Directive 9 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 270 114

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,760 7,474
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,893 5,034
All License Types 8,653 12,508

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 252 1,117 3,651 1,344 6,364
Inspectors 293 1,663 5,590 4,962 12,508

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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