STAR Report Card Terms

Aborted Tests

This STAR performance measure compares the rate at which each station aborts inspections (ASM, TSI) to the aborted test rates for similar vehicles tested on the same brand of emissions inspection system statewide. Inspectors who legitimately abort inspections, for reasons such as previously unidentified safety issues (e.g., a fuel leak), will tend to have abort rates at or below average. Inspectors who abort inspections for other reasons, such as trying to get a vehicle to pass through over-conditioning or clean piping, will tend to have abort rates above average.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's aborted test rate is greater than 125% of the statewide average for similar vehicles tested on the same brand of inspection system. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is only based on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

ASM Restarts

This STAR performance measure compares the rate at which each station restarts ASM tests on vehicles to the ASM restart rates for similar vehicles statewide. Restarts occur when the speed or acceleration during an ASM test mode falls outside of the allowable limits. If multiple restarts occur while performing a single test, only one restart is counted as a restart deviation. Restarting tests for legitimate reasons such as drive-by-wire vehicles that are difficult to keep within the allowable speed threshold on an ASM test will be compared to similar vehicles, and therefore will not negatively affect a station that tests these vehicles.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's ASM restart rate, during inspections where a certification was issued, is greater than 125% of the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Evap Not Performed

This STAR performance measure calculates the rate at which each station indicates that a low-pressure fuel evaporative test (LPFET) cannot be performed on vehicles when at least 90% of the inspections performed on similar vehicles statewide indicate that the evaporative system is testable. The LPFET must be performed on all 1976 to 1995 model year vehicles with some exceptions listed in the On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference. The LPFET does not need to be performed when the evaporative canister or the evaporative lines cannot be tested without partially dismantling the vehicle.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's rate of not performing the LPFET is greater than the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Follow-up Pass Rate

The Follow-up Pass Rate (FPR) is a long-term STAR performance measure which evaluates whether vehicles previously certified by the station or inspector in their previous inspection cycle are passing, in their current cycle, at a higher than expected rate. It is the only performance measure that evaluates the performance of each individual inspector as well as the station to determine a station’s eligibility for STAR certification.

FPR scores range from zero to one, with zero representing the lowest possible score and one representing the highest possible score. Stations and inspectors with insufficient inspection histories from which to calculate an FPR score will not receive an FPR score.

Scores should be evaluated by whether or not they are above 0.50. Scores above 0.50 are trending better than average. Above average performance should be the goal for stations that want to participate in the STAR program. The criteria for STAR certification eligibility and when adding an inspector to a station’s Inspector Information Table is an FPR score greater than or equal to 0.40.

Learn more about FPR and view FPR score criteria.

Fuel Cap Not Performed

This STAR performance measure calculates the rate at which each station indicates that a fuel cap pressure test cannot be performed on vehicles when at least 90% of the inspections performed on similar vehicles statewide indicate that the fuel cap is testable. The fuel cap test must be performed on all 1999 and older model year vehicles unless the vehicle is specifically excluded in the On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference or the adapter necessary to properly test the vehicle in question is not produced by the fuel cap tester manufacturer.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's rate of not performing fuel cap pressure tests is greater than the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Incidents

A specific case(s) where the inspection results indicate that the inspector followed incorrect test procedures based on a comparison of that inspector's inspections to test results for similar vehicles throughout the state. The STAR Report Card details incidents for the following test deviations:

• Fuel Cap Not Performed
• Evap Not Performed
• Timing Not Performed
• OBD II Not Performed
• Incorrect Equipment Platform

NOTE: If a station or inspector feels that an incident(s) has been incorrectly identified, and the incident(s) is causing the licensee to not meet the STAR performance measures, they may challenge the incident. Learn more.

Incorrect Equipment Platform

This STAR performance measure calculates the rate at which each station performs inspections using the incorrect platform (i.e., BAR-OIS vs. BAR-97) to the incorrect equipment platform rates for similar vehicles tested statewide.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's incorrect equipment platform rate is greater than 125% of the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is only based on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Max Readiness Monitors

This performance measure compared the rate at which each station passed vehicles on the initial test with the maximum allowable unset OBD II readiness monitors to the maximum unset monitor rates for similar vehicles statewide. It was removed as a performance measure, effective May 4, 2015. For informational purposes, prior Max Readiness Monitors inspection information remains on the STAR Report Card.

Incorrect Gear Selection

This STAR performance measure compares the rate at which vehicles tested by each station are shifted into the incorrect gear during an ASM inspection to the incorrect gear selection rates for similar vehicles statewide. The correct gear in which to drive a vehicle during an ASM test is clearly spelled out in the On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference. Automatic transmission vehicles should be tested in "Drive" while manual transmission vehicles should be tested in 2nd gear. Manual transmission vehicles may be shifted into another gear only when the engine RPM during the test falls outside the EIS-specified RPM range. This measure works by first finding the 90th percentile RPM reading for similar vehicles inspected statewide, and then adding 300 rpm to that reading in order to establish the maximum allowable RPM limit for a particular vehicle.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the overall rate that vehicles are ASM tested in the wrong gear at a station is greater than 2%. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

OBD II Not Performed

This STAR performance measure calculates the rate at which each station fails to perform the OBD II test on model year 1996 and newer vehicles when at least 90% of the inspections performed on similar vehicles statewide indicate that the OBD II system is testable.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's rate of not performing the OBD II test is greater than the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Overall Result

The Overall Result summarizes a station's overall performance on all STAR performance measures, including the FPR and short-term performance measures.

• A Pass result indicates the station is eligible to apply for, or maintain its current, STAR certification. However, stations still may be determined ineligible for other reasons, such as not being in compliance with the enforcement-related standards of the STAR program, such as citations and administrative actions.
• A Fail result indicates the station currently does not meet the STAR program performance measures. A STAR station showing a "Fail" result may be in jeopardy of having its STAR certification suspended.

Similar Vehicle Failure Rate

This STAR performance measure compares the initial test failure rate for vehicles inspected at each station to the initial test failure rate for similar vehicles statewide. An initial test may be an official inspection or a pretest and is the first test performed on a vehicle in its current inspection cycle, which may be for biennial inspection, change-of-ownership, or initial registration. Additional factors such as time since last certification, previous initial test result, and odometer readings are also taken into consideration.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the overall rate that vehicles fail their initial test at a station is less than 50% of the statewide average for similar vehicles. In other words, the overall failure rate must be well below average in order for a station not to meet the SVFR. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months. However, STAR eligibility for this performance measure is based only on the scores calculated at the end of each calendar quarter.

Timing Not Performed

This STAR performance measure calculates the rate at which each station indicates that a vehicle's timing is not adjustable, and therefore cannot be tested, when at least 90% of the inspections performed on similar vehicles statewide indicate that the ignition timing is testable. As described in the On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference, ignition timing does not have to be checked if the underhood label indicates that the timing is not adjustable or the vehicle is computer controlled and does not have timing adjustments.

The standard for this performance measure is not met if the station's rate of not performing the Ignition Timing Test is greater than the statewide average for similar vehicles. This performance measure is calculated every month based on data from the three most recent months.

Vehicle Lookup Table ID (VLT ID)

The Vehicle Lookup Table row identification number that identifies a vehicle using information about its body type, model year, make, model, engine displacement, and transmission type.