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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
March 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 980,348 104,087 10.62%
All Tests 1,079,328 119,705 11.09%

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 112,772 243,941 95,622 207,807
Non-Directed 171,673 274,458 155,372 249,851
Total 284,445 518,399 250,994 457,658

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 462 186 223 77
Non-Directed 145,563 24,298 134,655 22,240
Total 146,025 24,484 134,878 22,317

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 539 126 23.38% 17.25% 6.68% 10.20% 5.19% NA
1977 667 145 21.74% 14.39% 6.45% 10.49% 5.25% NA
1978 821 176 21.44% 13.76% 5.60% 10.84% 5.24% NA
1979 908 207 22.80% 14.87% 6.50% 11.34% 6.83% NA
1980 491 94 19.14% 13.24% 6.31% 9.78% 5.50% NA
1981 587 124 21.12% 14.48% 5.62% 10.90% 6.47% NA
1982 611 131 21.44% 15.88% 6.71% 9.00% 5.89% NA
1983 750 166 22.13% 15.07% 6.40% 10.80% 6.00% NA
1984 1,358 346 25.48% 18.63% 6.92% 10.53% 6.85% NA
1985 1,775 447 25.18% 18.03% 6.76% 12.11% 6.25% NA
1986 2,308 589 25.52% 17.81% 6.59% 12.56% 6.28% NA
1987 2,740 654 23.87% 15.84% 5.11% 10.88% 5.66% NA
1988 3,076 701 22.79% 15.57% 5.82% 10.37% 5.27% NA
1989 4,224 907 21.47% 14.09% 4.19% 10.30% 4.78% NA
1990 5,097 1,115 21.88% 14.73% 4.49% 10.26% 5.00% NA
1991 5,834 1,294 22.18% 14.54% 3.72% 10.18% 4.61% NA
1992 5,990 1,300 21.70% 13.82% 3.47% 10.15% 4.92% NA
1993 7,407 1,737 23.45% 16.27% 3.67% 9.48% 4.68% NA
1994 9,480 2,173 22.92% 15.09% 3.19% 10.47% 5.00% NA
1995 13,623 2,847 20.90% 13.68% 2.58% 8.65% 4.45% NA
1996 12,487 2,803 22.45% 9.74% 1.32% 13.35% 4.66% 13.30%
1997 21,951 4,457 20.30% 8.17% 1.15% 12.78% 3.66% 12.72%
1998 22,408 4,363 19.47% 6.89% 1.29% 12.97% 3.83% 12.92%
1999 35,952 5,635 15.67% 4.58% 0.93% 10.98% 3.05% 10.93%
2000 422 73 17.30% 9.00% 4.50% 9.95% 1.42% 9.95%
2001 411 46 11.19% 4.87% 3.41% 9.73% 0.97% 9.73%
2002 317 54 17.03% 9.78% 4.42% 11.99% 2.84% 11.99%
2003 509 45 8.84% 4.72% 1.18% 6.68% 1.18% 6.68%
2004 337 30 8.90% 5.34% 2.08% 6.82% 0.89% 6.82%
2005 482 36 7.47% 4.15% 1.66% 4.98% 0.83% 4.98%
2006 366 23 6.28% 3.83% 1.91% 3.55% 0.27% 3.55%
2007 437 19 4.35% 2.52% 0.92% 2.29% 0.46% 2.29%
2008 240 13 5.42% 3.33% 1.67% 2.92% 0.42% 2.92%
2009 162 6 3.70% 2.47% 1.23% 1.23% 0.62% 1.23%
2010 60 7 11.67% 5.00% 0.00% 6.67% 5.00% 6.67%
2011 199 3 1.51% 0.00% 0.00% 1.51% 0.00% 1.51%
2012 69 2 2.90% 2.90% 0.00% 2.90% 0.00% 2.90%
2013 87 2 2.30% 2.30% 1.15% 2.30% 0.00% 2.30%
2014 46 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 37 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 46 1 2.17% 0.00% 0.00% 2.17% 2.17% 2.17%
2017 54 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 72 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 101 2 1.98% 1.98% 0.00% 0.00% 1.98% 0.00%
2020 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 1 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 165,543 32,900 19.87% 10.03% 2.36% 11.14% 4.11% 6.96%

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 10 6 60.00% 10.00% 50.00% 10.00% 10.00% 0.00%
1997 15 6 40.00% 33.33% 13.33% 33.33% 6.67% 0.00%
1998 237 41 17.30% 15.61% 3.80% 13.08% 7.17% 2.53%
1999 890 154 17.30% 15.39% 2.36% 15.06% 9.78% 0.34%
2000 34,381 6,445 18.75% 15.99% 3.88% 15.72% 11.01% 0.27%
2001 56,107 8,726 15.55% 13.35% 2.96% 13.13% 9.22% 0.22%
2002 40,028 6,247 15.61% 13.07% 3.26% 12.83% 8.69% 0.24%
2003 70,242 8,090 11.52% 9.71% 2.27% 9.51% 6.38% 0.21%
2004 48,007 5,842 12.17% 10.31% 2.38% 10.06% 6.83% 0.25%
2005 83,418 7,734 9.27% 7.90% 1.72% 7.73% 5.29% 0.16%
2006 50,721 5,085 10.03% 8.45% 1.86% 8.29% 5.64% 0.16%
2007 92,533 6,176 6.67% 5.61% 1.16% 5.52% 3.56% 0.09%
2008 46,085 3,239 7.03% 6.14% 0.95% 6.03% 4.18% 0.12%
2009 58,250 2,879 4.94% 4.32% 0.66% 4.26% 3.04% 0.07%
2010 29,602 1,775 6.00% 5.35% 0.66% 5.31% 3.87% 0.04%
2011 83,699 3,584 4.28% 3.87% 0.47% 3.81% 2.83% 0.05%
2012 18,166 1,082 5.96% 5.42% 0.54% 5.38% 4.29% 0.04%
2013 18,227 870 4.77% 4.34% 0.46% 4.32% 3.74% 0.02%
2014 17,428 741 4.25% 3.96% 0.28% 3.92% 3.54% 0.04%
2015 26,464 1,056 3.99% 3.74% 0.25% 3.71% 3.42% 0.03%
2016 14,921 609 4.08% 3.83% 0.23% 3.83% 3.57% 0.00%
2017 13,287 387 2.91% 2.70% 0.18% 2.69% 2.52% 0.01%
2018 9,688 300 3.10% 2.98% 0.12% 2.94% 2.81% 0.04%
2019 2,388 105 4.40% 4.23% 0.17% 4.19% 4.15% 0.04%
Other 11 8 72.73% 0.00% 27.27% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 814,805 71,187 8.74% 7.51% 1.51% 7.38% 5.19% 0.13%

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 16,612 10.03%
All Visual 12,301 1.51% 6,812 4.11%
All Functional 61,185 7.51% 18,434 11.14%
OBDII 60,118 7.38% 11,524 6.96%
Overall 71,187 8.74% 32,900 19.87%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 706,157 62,307 8.82% 130,517 26,317 20.16%
Partial 38,436 3,234 8.41% 10,172 2,263 22.25%
Basic 63,285 5,142 8.13% 19,516 3,024 15.49%
Change of Ownership 6,927 504 7.28% 1,422 341 23.98%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,916 955 24.39%
All Program Areas 814,805 71,187 8.74% 165,543 32,900 19.87%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 420,679 40,131 9.54% 97,720 19,194 19.64%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 178 18 10.11% 25 10 40.00%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,375 1,600 7.49% 3,109 397 12.77%
STAR Test-and-Repair 234,344 21,095 9.00% 50,101 11,019 21.99%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 86 9 10.47% 5 3 60.00%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 131,864 7,793 5.91% 14,161 2,171 15.33%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,776 140 5.04% 23 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 314 2 0.64% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 56 2 3.57% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 352 271 76.99% 145 69 47.59%
Government Fleet 2,781 126 4.53% 254 37 14.57%
All Stations 814,805 71,187 8.74% 165,543 32,900 19.87%

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 869,232 88.67% 111,116 11.33%
All Tests 951,974 88.20% 127,354 11.80%

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 457,658 88.28% 60,741 11.72%
Non-STAR Test-Only 22,317 91.15% 2,167 8.85%
STAR Test-and-Repair 250,994 88.24% 33,451 11.76%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 134,878 92.37% 11,147 7.63%
All Stations 865,847 88.96% 107,506 11.04%

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 49,994 $54.47 233,598 $48.49 283,592 $49.55
STAR Test-Only 97,251 $49.33 419,350 $49.46 516,601 $49.44
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 14,153 $52.19 130,501 $54.72 144,654 $54.48
Non-STAR Test-Only 3,045 $41.54 21,279 $51.54 24,324 $50.29
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 23 $66.35 2,717 $61.36 2,740 $61.41
Total 164,466 $51.00 807,445 $50.13 971,911 $50.27

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 1 $60.00 12,980 $45.08 49,993 $54.47 220,618 $48.69
STAR Test-Only 165 $48.75 20,453 $39.70 97,086 $49.33 398,897 $49.96
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 $41.75 82,110 $59.46 14,151 $52.19 48,391 $46.69
Non-STAR Test-Only 390 $34.75 9,105 $40.47 2,655 $42.54 12,174 $59.81
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,581 $60.83 23 $66.35 136 $71.47
Total 558 $38.96 127,229 $53.48 163,908 $51.04 680,216 $49.50

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 1487 $47.85 5,830 $403.86
$101-250 1355 $172.13
$251-500 1443 $365.54
$501-650 483 $574.36
Over $650 1062 $1,172.52
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 429 $47.34 1,522 $398.59
$101-250 388 $169.84
$251-500 345 $360.36
$501-650 98 $567.53
Over $650 262 $1,299.66
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 $0.00 222 $739.85
$101-250 4 $230.79
$251-500 47 $380.55
$501-650 57 $578.53
Over $650 114 $986.51
Total Repairs $1-100 1916 $47.74 7,574 $412.65
$101-250 1747 $171.75
$251-500 1835 $364.95
$501-650 638 $573.68
Over $650 1438 $1,180.94

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 116 51 1,972 83 2,222
STAR Test-Only 17 1 1,751 35 1,804
STAR Sub-Total 133 52 3,723 118 4,026
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 508 45 2,248 244 3,045
Non-STAR Test-Only 26 7 462 29 524
Non-STAR Sub-Total 534 52 2,710 273 3,569
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 4 292 13 350
Repair-Only 2 0 45 1 48
Unknown Type 0 0 4 0 4
Other Station Sub-Total 116 6 423 18 563
All Stations 783 110 6,856 409 8,158

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 234 1,935
STAR Test-Only 1 127 1,627
STAR Sub-Total 3 361 3,562
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,909 430
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 145 87
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,054 517
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 19 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 57 4
Unknown Type 0 2 1
Government Fleet 2 161 20
Referee 0 0 30
Other Station Sub-Total 2 242 55
All Stations 7 2,657 4,134

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 225 197
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 49 13
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 17
Exempted by Directive 3 2
Parts Exemption 5 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 282 230

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,067
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,824
All License Types 9,891

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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