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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
February 2019

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 Test 822,460 84,188 10.24%
All Tests 902,310 96,624 10.71%

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 95,737 200,168 81,353 171,415
Non-Directed 145,431 229,276 131,860 209,482
Total 241,168 429,444 213,213 380,897

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 352 118 177 48
Non-Directed 124,932 19,538 115,578 18,007
Total 125,284 19,656 115,755 18,055

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 379 72 19.00% 13.19% 5.80% 8.18% 5.01% NA
1977 496 114 22.98% 14.52% 6.45% 12.70% 4.64% NA
1978 607 137 22.57% 14.33% 3.62% 10.05% 6.10% NA
1979 681 153 22.47% 17.03% 6.02% 10.13% 6.90% NA
1980 368 68 18.48% 11.41% 4.89% 9.78% 4.35% NA
1981 407 88 21.62% 15.72% 6.39% 10.81% 5.16% NA
1982 443 104 23.48% 15.58% 6.55% 11.96% 6.55% NA
1983 550 140 25.45% 19.45% 8.00% 11.09% 7.27% NA
1984 1,016 233 22.93% 16.14% 6.79% 10.83% 5.31% NA
1985 1,317 340 25.82% 18.91% 7.21% 11.47% 6.15% NA
1986 1,734 446 25.72% 18.34% 6.86% 11.59% 6.40% NA
1987 1,989 483 24.28% 16.54% 5.58% 11.21% 5.68% NA
1988 2,344 543 23.17% 16.64% 5.59% 9.85% 5.55% NA
1989 3,258 778 23.88% 15.25% 4.73% 11.48% 4.94% NA
1990 3,971 919 23.14% 15.08% 4.10% 10.90% 5.59% NA
1991 4,420 949 21.47% 13.71% 3.46% 10.25% 4.34% NA
1992 4,590 1,001 21.81% 14.73% 4.03% 9.43% 4.25% NA
1993 5,510 1,342 24.36% 17.10% 3.81% 10.74% 4.75% NA
1994 7,674 1,783 23.23% 15.35% 3.34% 10.52% 5.16% NA
1995 10,778 2,298 21.32% 13.64% 2.64% 9.35% 4.54% NA
1996 9,621 2,180 22.66% 10.35% 1.56% 13.43% 4.48% 13.34%
1997 17,207 3,575 20.78% 8.62% 1.28% 13.02% 3.77% 12.94%
1998 17,495 3,421 19.55% 7.33% 1.18% 12.79% 3.77% 12.72%
1999 27,757 4,523 16.29% 4.68% 0.89% 11.56% 3.30% 11.52%
2000 362 61 16.85% 9.12% 5.52% 9.67% 3.04% 9.67%
2001 309 35 11.33% 6.15% 2.27% 7.44% 2.27% 7.44%
2002 232 25 10.78% 6.90% 3.88% 8.19% 1.29% 8.19%
2003 345 34 9.86% 4.93% 1.74% 6.96% 0.87% 6.96%
2004 267 18 6.74% 3.00% 1.50% 5.24% 0.37% 5.24%
2005 361 34 9.42% 4.99% 1.66% 4.43% 0.83% 4.16%
2006 302 28 9.27% 4.30% 1.99% 4.97% 1.32% 4.97%
2007 299 20 6.69% 2.68% 1.34% 4.35% 0.00% 4.35%
2008 181 14 7.73% 5.52% 3.87% 1.66% 1.66% 1.66%
2009 103 5 4.85% 3.88% 0.97% 0.97% 0.00% 0.97%
2010 45 1 2.22% 2.22% 2.22% 2.22% 0.00% 2.22%
2011 127 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2012 61 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 53 3 5.66% 1.89% 0.00% 3.77% 0.00% 3.77%
2014 44 1 2.27% 0.00% 0.00% 2.27% 0.00% 2.27%
2015 34 1 2.94% 2.94% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 29 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 51 1 1.96% 0.00% 0.00% 1.96% 0.00% 1.96%
2018 68 1 1.47% 1.47% 0.00% 0.00% 1.47% 0.00%
2019 93 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 127,982 25,972 20.29% 10.34% 2.39% 11.39% 4.16% 7.11%

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 4 1 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 5 3 60.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 0.00%
1998 182 43 23.63% 21.98% 3.85% 20.33% 9.34% 1.65%
1999 664 85 12.80% 10.84% 2.86% 10.69% 7.68% 0.15%
2000 29,005 5,338 18.40% 16.15% 3.53% 15.81% 10.97% 0.33%
2001 46,651 6,977 14.96% 13.17% 2.83% 12.89% 8.91% 0.28%
2002 34,664 5,049 14.57% 12.43% 3.22% 12.16% 8.11% 0.27%
2003 59,345 6,693 11.28% 9.68% 2.28% 9.44% 6.23% 0.24%
2004 40,797 4,691 11.50% 9.98% 2.22% 9.75% 6.52% 0.24%
2005 69,919 6,253 8.94% 7.65% 1.73% 7.48% 5.01% 0.17%
2006 44,668 4,168 9.33% 8.07% 1.65% 7.90% 5.37% 0.17%
2007 76,971 4,837 6.28% 5.39% 1.13% 5.27% 3.43% 0.11%
2008 40,405 2,801 6.93% 6.09% 1.05% 5.99% 4.06% 0.10%
2009 46,226 2,246 4.86% 4.33% 0.63% 4.26% 3.02% 0.07%
2010 26,082 1,517 5.82% 5.32% 0.67% 5.24% 3.81% 0.08%
2011 72,130 2,846 3.95% 3.56% 0.45% 3.51% 2.56% 0.04%
2012 16,928 995 5.88% 5.51% 0.48% 5.49% 4.40% 0.02%
2013 15,751 737 4.68% 4.34% 0.44% 4.28% 3.78% 0.06%
2014 14,990 678 4.52% 4.25% 0.33% 4.19% 3.70% 0.06%
2015 24,734 1,012 4.09% 3.88% 0.26% 3.83% 3.59% 0.04%
2016 12,748 516 4.05% 3.82% 0.29% 3.80% 3.58% 0.02%
2017 11,493 370 3.22% 3.06% 0.20% 3.03% 2.86% 0.03%
2018 8,628 258 2.99% 2.86% 0.15% 2.86% 2.71% 0.00%
2019 1,486 101 6.80% 6.80% 0.00% 6.80% 6.80% 0.00%
Other 2 1 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 694,478 58,216 8.38% 7.34% 1.46% 7.20% 5.02% 0.14%

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 13,235 10.34%
All Visual 10,117 1.46% 5,327 4.16%
All Functional 50,973 7.34% 14,579 11.39%
OBDII 49,971 7.20% 9,101 7.11%
Overall 58,216 8.38% 25,972 20.29%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 603,626 50,912 8.43% 101,248 20,942 20.68%
Partial 32,116 2,614 8.14% 7,732 1,765 22.83%
Basic 53,275 4,290 8.05% 14,948 2,223 14.87%
Change of Ownership 5,461 400 7.32% 1,121 256 22.84%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 2,933 786 26.80%
All Program Areas 694,478 58,216 8.38% 127,982 25,972 20.29%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 355,249 32,029 9.02% 74,195 15,098 20.35%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 593 39 6.58% 35 9 25.71%
Non-STAR Test-Only 17,337 1,178 6.79% 2,319 296 12.76%
STAR Test-and-Repair 201,009 17,719 8.82% 40,159 8,859 22.06%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 182 13 7.14% 16 4 25.00%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 114,263 6,759 5.92% 11,021 1,645 14.93%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,683 146 5.44% 38 3 7.89%
Business Fleet 215 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 98 3 3.06% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 283 186 65.72% 133 54 40.60%
Government Fleet 2,566 144 5.61% 66 4 6.06%
All Stations 694,478 58,216 8.38% 127,982 25,972 20.29%

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 Test 731,658 88.96% 90,802 11.04%
All Tests 798,488 88.49% 103,822 11.51%

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-Only 380,897 88.70% 48,547 11.30%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,055 91.85% 1,601 8.15%
STAR Test-and-Repair 213,213 88.41% 27,955 11.59%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 115,755 92.39% 9,529 7.61%
All Stations 727,920 89.25% 87,632 10.75%

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 42,277 $54.44 200,088 $48.95 242,365 $49.91
STAR Test-Only 77,684 $48.91 354,372 $49.26 432,056 $49.20
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 11,622 $50.96 112,523 $54.37 124,145 $54.05
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,437 $40.74 17,077 $50.71 19,514 $49.46
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 39 $55.12 2,617 $60.92 2,656 $60.84
Total 134,059 $50.68 686,677 $50.09 820,736 $50.19

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 14,032 $45.20 42,274 $54.44 186,056 $49.24
STAR Test-Only 751 $39.26 21,261 $41.37 76,933 $49.00 333,111 $49.76
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 71,996 $59.97 11,621 $50.96 40,527 $44.43
Non-STAR Test-Only 21 $36.20 7,995 $40.43 2,416 $40.78 9,082 $59.76
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,394 $61.00 39 $55.12 223 $60.12
Total 772 $39.17 117,678 $53.54 133,283 $50.75 568,999 $49.37

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) $1-100 985 $49.17 3,928 $411.02
$101-250 935 $171.76
$251-500 936 $360.69
$501-650 323 $571.48
Over $650 749 $1,179.25
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 414 $47.45 1,495 $394.04
$101-250 378 $167.34
$251-500 370 $364.78
$501-650 103 $567.89
Over $650 230 $1,359.69
Repair-Only $1-100 7 $57.43 15 $322.73
$101-250 3 $186.67
$251-500 3 $304.67
$501-650 0 $0.00
Over $650 2 $1,482.50
CAP Repairs $1-100 0 $0.00 177 $738.47
$101-250 1 $221.75
$251-500 44 $396.45
$501-650 44 $599.11
Over $650 88 $985.02
Total Repairs $1-100 1406 $48.71 5,615 $416.59
$101-250 1317 $170.57
$251-500 1353 $362.85
$501-650 470 $573.28
Over $650 1069 $1,202.65

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 121 60 2,065 85 2,331
STAR Test-Only 18 0 1,785 33 1,836
STAR Sub-Total 139 60 3,850 118 4,167
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 509 36 2,174 242 2,961
Non-STAR Test-Only 24 8 428 32 492
Non-STAR Sub-Total 533 44 2,602 274 3,453
Basic Area Dealer 65 0 0 0 65
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 51 4 60
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 4 291 13 349
Repair-Only 2 0 46 1 49
Unknown Type 0 0 10 0 10
Other Station Sub-Total 116 6 429 18 569
All Stations 788 110 6,881 410 8,189

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 346 1,890
STAR Test-Only 2 165 1,592
STAR Sub-Total 2 511 3,482
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,848 429
Non-STAR Test-Only 2 133 83
Non-STAR Sub-Total 3 1,981 512
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 21 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 56 6
Unknown Type 0 1 4
Government Fleet 2 147 10
Referee 0 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 2 228 50
All Stations 7 2,720 4,044

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 206 150
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 44 13
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 20
Exempted by Directive 1 3
Parts Exemption 4 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 255 186

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,037
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,828
All License Types 9,865

Smog Check Requirements by Vehicle Type

Fuel Type Model-Year GVWR1 OBD II Equipped? Smog Check Required
All2 Four model-years and newer3 All All None
Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth model-years4 All All None
1975 and earlier All All None
Gasoline and Flex Fuel
(Methanol or Ethanol)
1976-1999 All All BAR-97
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes5 OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 All BAR-97
Hybrid 2000 and newer 14,000 and less All OIS
Dedicated Propane and Natural Gas
(CNG, LNG, or LPG)
1976-1999 14,000 and less All BAR-97
Over 14,000 All None
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 All None
Diesel 1976-1997 All All None
1998 and newer 14,000 and less All OIS
Over 14,000 All None6
Full Electric Powered All All All None
Motorcycle All All All None
Other Vehicles: Two Cylinder Engine,
Two-stroke Engine,
Off-highway Registered
All 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 2010 model-year vehicle will be first subject a change-of-ownership Smog Check in 2014 (2010+4=2014).
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 2010 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2018 (2010+8=2018).
5 In the future, BAR may identify 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 Fleet vehicles are subject to the ARB Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP).

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