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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
April 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 893,788 92,108 10.31%
All Tests 984,810 106,392 10.80%

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 102,209 219,697 87,235 187,821
Non-Directed 157,146 247,112 142,470 225,543
Total 259,355 466,809 229,705 413,364

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 443 132 209 60
Non-Directed 138,431 21,112 128,335 19,307
Total 138,874 21,244 128,544 19,367

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 542 124 22.88% 16.42% 7.56% 10.33% 6.09% NA
1977 698 142 20.34% 15.33% 5.73% 9.46% 5.16% NA
1978 780 180 23.08% 14.62% 4.62% 10.64% 6.03% NA
1979 870 211 24.25% 15.63% 5.98% 13.45% 7.47% NA
1980 442 95 21.49% 14.03% 6.11% 9.95% 7.69% NA
1981 527 110 20.87% 15.56% 6.26% 8.35% 5.88% NA
1982 614 138 22.48% 16.29% 7.00% 12.05% 5.86% NA
1983 744 166 22.31% 14.65% 7.53% 11.16% 5.51% NA
1984 1,272 313 24.61% 18.08% 7.55% 10.38% 6.45% NA
1985 1,754 428 24.40% 18.19% 7.24% 10.49% 5.99% NA
1986 2,250 548 24.36% 16.44% 5.51% 11.73% 5.60% NA
1987 2,547 633 24.85% 17.55% 6.91% 11.43% 6.01% NA
1988 2,892 653 22.58% 16.08% 4.88% 9.92% 5.05% NA
1989 4,043 915 22.63% 15.09% 4.65% 10.66% 4.90% NA
1990 4,894 1,026 20.96% 13.96% 3.60% 9.48% 4.84% NA
1991 5,701 1,200 21.05% 14.37% 3.82% 9.16% 4.19% NA
1992 5,547 1,171 21.11% 13.99% 3.70% 9.52% 4.27% NA
1993 6,760 1,613 23.86% 16.63% 3.85% 10.15% 4.25% NA
1994 8,597 2,054 23.89% 16.05% 3.22% 10.55% 4.59% NA
1995 12,445 2,642 21.23% 14.02% 2.56% 8.74% 4.33% NA
1996 11,096 2,359 21.26% 9.86% 1.58% 12.71% 4.26% 12.62%
1997 20,236 4,009 19.81% 8.30% 1.36% 12.02% 3.64% 11.95%
1998 19,969 3,757 18.81% 6.89% 1.28% 12.52% 3.49% 12.49%
1999 32,707 5,050 15.44% 4.38% 0.84% 10.97% 2.98% 10.96%
2000 528 67 12.69% 5.30% 2.84% 7.20% 2.84% 7.01%
2001 528 49 9.28% 5.49% 2.46% 5.87% 1.52% 5.87%
2002 463 42 9.07% 5.83% 1.94% 4.97% 1.08% 4.97%
2003 579 32 5.53% 2.59% 1.38% 4.15% 1.21% 4.15%
2004 481 34 7.07% 3.12% 1.25% 5.20% 1.46% 5.20%
2005 569 31 5.45% 3.16% 0.88% 3.69% 0.70% 3.69%
2006 513 32 6.24% 3.12% 1.36% 3.70% 1.17% 3.70%
2007 506 23 4.55% 2.37% 0.79% 2.77% 0.59% 2.77%
2008 257 13 5.06% 2.72% 0.78% 2.33% 0.39% 2.33%
2009 147 6 4.08% 1.36% 1.36% 2.04% 1.36% 2.04%
2010 88 2 2.27% 1.14% 0.00% 1.14% 0.00% 1.14%
2011 247 3 1.21% 1.21% 0.40% 0.81% 0.00% 0.81%
2012 87 3 3.45% 2.30% 2.30% 2.30% 0.00% 2.30%
2013 90 2 2.22% 1.11% 0.00% 1.11% 1.11% 1.11%
2014 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 64 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 61 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 93 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 135 1 0.74% 0.74% 0.00% 0.00% 0.74% 0.00%
2020 33 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 153,503 29,877 19.46% 10.11% 2.40% 10.74% 3.91% 6.58%

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 6 4 66.67% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.00%
1997 12 4 33.33% 25.00% 25.00% 25.00% 8.33% 0.00%
1998 228 43 18.86% 15.35% 5.26% 13.60% 5.70% 1.75%
1999 870 112 12.87% 11.38% 2.30% 10.69% 7.24% 0.69%
2000 30,669 5,623 18.33% 15.88% 3.79% 15.62% 11.14% 0.25%
2001 50,880 7,754 15.24% 13.10% 2.90% 12.88% 9.00% 0.23%
2002 35,461 5,327 15.02% 12.65% 3.18% 12.38% 8.21% 0.28%
2003 63,591 7,126 11.21% 9.59% 2.19% 9.39% 6.14% 0.20%
2004 41,910 4,933 11.77% 10.09% 2.23% 9.86% 6.78% 0.23%
2005 76,718 6,945 9.05% 7.73% 1.63% 7.54% 5.10% 0.19%
2006 45,030 4,197 9.32% 7.89% 1.69% 7.74% 5.24% 0.15%
2007 84,570 5,279 6.24% 5.35% 1.03% 5.24% 3.39% 0.11%
2008 40,292 2,799 6.95% 6.02% 1.05% 5.93% 4.07% 0.09%
2009 51,505 2,456 4.77% 4.19% 0.59% 4.11% 2.90% 0.08%
2010 26,102 1,592 6.10% 5.46% 0.73% 5.36% 4.01% 0.10%
2011 73,461 3,046 4.15% 3.80% 0.40% 3.74% 2.71% 0.06%
2012 16,661 905 5.43% 4.89% 0.56% 4.86% 4.03% 0.03%
2013 17,900 817 4.56% 4.05% 0.50% 4.04% 3.47% 0.01%
2014 16,984 723 4.26% 3.97% 0.29% 3.90% 3.49% 0.07%
2015 25,246 1,026 4.06% 3.83% 0.23% 3.80% 3.47% 0.03%
2016 15,749 612 3.89% 3.71% 0.17% 3.71% 3.49% 0.00%
2017 12,693 403 3.17% 2.94% 0.24% 2.91% 2.75% 0.02%
2018 10,829 338 3.12% 2.94% 0.18% 2.90% 2.78% 0.04%
2019 2,897 157 5.42% 5.11% 0.31% 5.07% 5.01% 0.03%
2020 7 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 14 10 71.43% 42.86% 42.86% 42.86% 7.14% 0.00%
All Model Years 740,285 62,231 8.41% 7.28% 1.43% 7.14% 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 15,524 10.11%
All Visual 10,608 1.43% 6,007 3.91%
All Functional 53,903 7.28% 16,493 10.74%
OBDII 52,890 7.14% 10,106 6.58%
Overall 62,231 8.41% 29,877 19.46%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 640,977 54,461 8.50% 119,990 23,707 19.76%
Partial 35,067 2,785 7.94% 9,168 2,073 22.61%
Basic 57,659 4,483 7.78% 18,579 2,765 14.88%
Change of Ownership 6,582 502 7.63% 1,476 329 22.29%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,289 1,003 23.39%
All Program Areas 740,285 62,231 8.41% 153,503 29,877 19.46%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 375,859 34,899 9.29% 90,950 17,304 19.03%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 421 26 6.18% 72 19 26.39%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,867 1,392 7.38% 2,377 361 15.19%
STAR Test-and-Repair 213,222 18,287 8.58% 46,133 10,010 21.70%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 75 2 2.67% 7 0 0.00%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 125,674 7,071 5.63% 13,200 2,028 15.36%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,733 149 5.45% 10 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 394 7 1.78% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 66 4 6.06% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 297 245 82.49% 125 57 45.60%
Government Fleet 2,677 149 5.57% 629 98 15.58%
All Stations 740,285 62,231 8.41% 153,503 29,877 19.46%

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 794,616 88.90% 99,172 11.10%
All Tests 870,609 88.40% 114,201 11.60%

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 413,364 88.55% 53,445 11.45%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,367 91.16% 1,877 8.84%
STAR Test-and-Repair 229,705 88.57% 29,650 11.43%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 128,544 92.56% 10,330 7.44%
All Stations 790,980 89.25% 95,302 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 46,086 $54.79 212,756 $49.33 258,842 $50.30
STAR Test-Only 90,640 $49.00 374,322 $48.22 464,962 $48.38
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 13,198 $51.94 124,950 $54.94 138,148 $54.66
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,360 $43.51 18,725 $47.35 21,085 $46.92
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 10 $69.66 2,733 $62.86 2,743 $62.89
Total 152,294 $50.92 733,486 $49.72 885,780 $49.93

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 10,933 $45.54 46,086 $54.79 201,823 $49.54
STAR Test-Only 1,296 $37.82 12,224 $40.14 89,344 $49.16 362,098 $48.50
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5 $58.00 81,917 $59.85 13,193 $51.94 43,033 $45.61
Non-STAR Test-Only 2 $34.75 8,457 $41.89 2,358 $43.51 10,268 $51.84
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,579 $62.20 10 $69.66 154 $73.95
Total 1,303 $37.89 116,110 $55.17 150,991 $51.04 617,376 $48.70

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 1355 $48.89 5,417 $416.43
$101-250 1219 $171.89
$251-500 1405 $363.59
$501-650 405 $568.57
Over $650 1033 $1,199.36
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 392 $48.15 1,381 $381.97
$101-250 353 $167.51
$251-500 325 $362.51
$501-650 97 $576.51
Over $650 214 $1,288.58
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 $0.00 224 $752.53
$101-250 6 $211.86
$251-500 49 $406.27
$501-650 54 $591.46
Over $650 115 $1,003.91
Total Repairs $1-100 1747 $48.72 7,022 $420.38
$101-250 1578 $171.06
$251-500 1779 $364.57
$501-650 556 $572.18
Over $650 1362 $1,196.88

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 118 51 1,971 83 2,223
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,755 34 1,808
STAR Sub-Total 136 52 3,726 117 4,031
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 501 45 2,233 241 3,020
Non-STAR Test-Only 23 7 461 31 522
Non-STAR Sub-Total 524 52 2,694 272 3,542
Basic Area Dealer 64 0 0 0 64
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 51 4 60
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 4 293 13 351
Repair-Only 2 0 45 1 48
Unknown Type 0 0 9 0 9
Other Station Sub-Total 115 6 429 18 568
All Stations 775 110 6,849 407 8,141

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 223 1,931
STAR Test-Only 5 101 1,643
STAR Sub-Total 5 324 3,574
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,907 437
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 142 76
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,049 513
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 4
Unknown Type 0 0 8
Government Fleet 2 147 28
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 2 226 71
All Stations 9 2,599 4,158

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 190 159
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 44 12
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 20
Exempted by Directive 8 0
Parts Exemption 2 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 244 191

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,051
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,750
All License Types 9,801

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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