STAR Certification

Information for stations applying for or participating in the STAR program

Eligibility Requirements

A Smog Check test-and-repair or test-only station seeking STAR certification must submit to BAR a completed STAR Station Certification Application. As of the date the application is received by BAR, the station must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

  1. The station must be in compliance with all of the following:

    • Licensure requirements, including timely renewal of the station’s automotive repair dealer registration and Smog Check station license.
    • Signage and license posting requirements.
    • Estimate, repair order, invoice, and record-keeping requirements.
    • Access to all required manuals and publications.
    • Possession of all required tools and equipment, including the EIS and OIS, in proper working order.

  2. The station must have performed enough inspections in the most recently completed calendar quarter calendar quarter to allow for calculation of the STAR performance measures.

  3. In the most recently completed calendar quarter:

  4. In the most recently completed FPR reporting period, the station must meet ONE of the following Follow-up Pass Rate (FPR) score criteria:

    • Each Smog Check inspector maintained in the station’s Inspector Information Table has an FPR score greater than or equal to 0.40.

    • The station’s FPR score is greater than or equal to 0.40 and each Smog Check inspector maintained in the station’s Inspector Information Table has no FPR score OR an FPR score greater than or equal to 0.40.

      Check your STAR Report Card

  5. The station or any Smog Check inspector maintained in the station’s Inspector Information Table must not have received a citation that became final and effective within the one-year period preceding the date of application for violation of any of the following sections:

    • Health and Safety Code (HSC) sections 44012, 44015(a), 44015(b), 44015.5, 44016, 44032, and 44035(b)
    • California Code of Regulations (CCR) sections 3340.15(a), 3340.15(b), 3340.16(a), 3340.16(b), 3340.16.5(a), 3340.16.5(b), 3340.17, 3340.30(a), 3340.35, 3340.41(b), 3340.41(c), 3340.42, 3340.42.2, and 3340.45

  6. The current or any previous registration or license of the station owner, responsible managing employee, Smog Check repair technician(s) or inspector(s), or other employee of the station must not be subject to or have been issued an order of suspension, a probationary order that became effective within the three-year period preceding the date of application.

  7. The station owner, partner, corporate officer, member, director, trustee, responsible managing employee, Smog Check repair technicians, Smog Check inspectors, or other employees of the station must not:

    • Have been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector within the three-year period preceding the date of application.
    • Have been found liable in a civil proceeding, excluding small claims matters, for acts or omissions that are substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector within the three-year period preceding the date of application.
    • Be serving a probationary period as a result of a criminal or civil proceeding substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector.

  8. The station must not have withdrawn its STAR certification within the six-month period preceding the date of application.

(California Code of Regulations section 3392.2

Service and Equipment Requirements

Required Services

STAR stations provide the following services:

  • Testing and certification of all vehicles subject to Smog Check.
  • Testing and certification of gross polluters.
  • Testing and certification of directed vehicles, regardless of the station’s program area location.
  • Testing and certification of vehicles registered in enhanced areas and are intended for sale by a motor vehicle dealer licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the dealer’s premises located in a basic or change of ownership area. (Applies to STAR stations located in basic or change of ownership program areas that do not perform ASM inspections pursuant to HSC sections 44003 and 44003.5.)
  • Repair assistance services. (Applies only to STAR test-and-repair stations which are located in basic or enhanced areas and are operating under a Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) agreement.)

Required Equipment

STAR stations must maintain the equipment necessary to test all vehicles subject to the Smog Check Program. Refer to the Smog Check Manual for a list of required equipment.

(California Code of Regulations section 3392.1

Certification Suspension

BAR may suspend a station’s STAR certification for any of the causes listed below. If BAR finds cause to suspend a station’s STAR certification, BAR will notify the station via email or U.S. mail. The notice indicates the grounds and term of suspension and includes important appeal information. When the term of suspension ends, and unless otherwise prohibited, the station may resume operation as a STAR station.

Causes for Suspension of STAR Certification

  • The STAR station’s automotive repair dealer registration or Smog Check station license expires or otherwise become delinquent.

  • The STAR station fails to allow access for, or prevents BAR from, conducting a physical inspection of the station.

  • The STAR station fails to meet any of the eligibility requirements for two consecutive calendar quarters.

  • The STAR station fails or is unable to provide any required services.

  • The STAR station fails to meet any of the equipment requirements.

  • In the most recently completed FPR reporting period:

    • The STAR station did not receive an FPR score and it adds a Smog Check inspector who did not receive an FPR score to its Inspector Information Table.
    • The STAR station’s FPR score is less than 0.40 and it adds a Smog Check inspector who did not receive an FPR score to its Inspector Information Table.
    • The STAR station adds a Smog Check inspector who received an FPR score less than 0.40 to its Inspector Information Table.
    • The STAR station maintains a Smog Check inspector who received an FPR score less than 0.10 in its Inspector Information Table.
    • The STAR station’s FPR score is less than 0.10 and it maintains a Smog Check inspector who did not receive an FPR score in its Inspector Information Table.

  • The STAR station or any Smog Check inspector maintained in the station’s Inspector Information Table receives a citation, other than a citation containing an order of abatement, that becomes final and effective for violation of any of the following sections:

    • Health and Safety Code (HSC) sections 44012, 44015(a), 44015(b), 44015.5, 44016, 44032, and 44035(b)
    • California Code of Regulations (CCR) sections 3340.15(a), 3340.15(b), 3340.16(a), 3340.16(b), 3340.16.5(a), 3340.16.5(b), 3340.17, 3340.30(a), 3340.35, 3340.41(b), 3340.41(c), 3340.42, 3340.42.2, and 3340.45

  • The license held by the STAR station, responsible managing employee, any Smog Check repair technician, or any Smog Check inspector maintained in the station’s Inspector Information Table receives an order of suspension or a probationary order.

  • The STAR station owner, partner, corporate officer, member, director, trustee, responsible managing employee, Smog Check repair technicians, Smog Check inspectors, or any other employee of the station:

    • Is convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector.
    • Is found liable in a civil proceeding, excluding small claims matters, for acts or omissions that are substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector.
    • Receives a probationary order as a result of a criminal or civil proceeding substantially related to the duties of an automotive repair dealer, a Smog Check station, or a Smog Check repair technician or inspector.

(California Code of Regulations section 3392.3