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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 923,113 92,075 9.97%
All Tests 1,012,810 106,789 10.54%

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 106,469 226,816 91,216 195,097
Non-Directed 159,518 251,629 145,013 230,687
Total 265,987 478,445 236,229 425,784

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 478 127 220 50
Non-Directed 146,719 21,539 136,451 19,793
Total 147,197 21,666 136,671 19,843

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 536 128 23.88% 14.55% 4.29% 12.31% 6.90% NA
1977 674 147 21.81% 15.43% 5.79% 10.39% 5.04% NA
1978 821 176 21.44% 13.52% 7.06% 10.96% 6.94% NA
1979 793 176 22.19% 14.50% 6.18% 11.60% 5.93% NA
1980 509 114 22.40% 15.52% 7.27% 9.82% 5.50% NA
1981 544 131 24.08% 16.18% 6.43% 9.93% 6.25% NA
1982 572 132 23.08% 14.51% 5.59% 12.94% 7.87% NA
1983 777 190 24.45% 17.25% 6.31% 9.01% 6.18% NA
1984 1,354 340 25.11% 19.72% 7.68% 11.67% 6.13% NA
1985 1,832 434 23.69% 17.69% 6.82% 9.72% 5.68% NA
1986 2,251 491 21.81% 15.33% 5.46% 10.57% 5.91% NA
1987 2,535 611 24.10% 16.96% 5.92% 10.85% 5.17% NA
1988 3,027 681 22.50% 15.66% 5.22% 9.68% 4.79% NA
1989 4,060 879 21.65% 14.19% 4.53% 10.20% 4.31% NA
1990 4,895 1,025 20.94% 14.01% 4.19% 9.68% 4.58% NA
1991 5,726 1,192 20.82% 13.90% 3.75% 9.24% 4.07% NA
1992 5,827 1,196 20.53% 13.63% 3.96% 9.32% 3.78% NA
1993 6,958 1,577 22.66% 15.87% 3.59% 9.64% 4.80% NA
1994 8,751 1,987 22.71% 15.05% 3.20% 9.95% 4.58% NA
1995 12,809 2,692 21.02% 14.15% 2.53% 8.79% 4.15% NA
1996 10,948 2,273 20.76% 9.65% 1.50% 12.28% 4.17% 12.23%
1997 20,748 3,858 18.59% 7.51% 1.13% 11.66% 3.25% 11.62%
1998 20,334 3,706 18.23% 6.76% 1.24% 12.11% 3.19% 12.06%
1999 33,957 5,162 15.20% 4.39% 0.85% 10.81% 3.01% 10.77%
2000 588 79 13.44% 6.97% 3.40% 7.99% 1.36% 7.65%
2001 568 53 9.33% 2.82% 1.41% 7.39% 2.29% 7.39%
2002 457 35 7.66% 3.94% 0.88% 5.47% 1.53% 5.47%
2003 640 44 6.88% 3.28% 1.56% 3.91% 1.09% 3.91%
2004 487 28 5.75% 3.08% 1.23% 4.11% 0.41% 4.11%
2005 618 29 4.69% 2.43% 0.81% 1.78% 1.29% 1.78%
2006 485 21 4.33% 2.47% 0.62% 2.06% 0.82% 2.06%
2007 472 18 3.81% 2.12% 0.64% 1.91% 0.00% 1.91%
2008 335 11 3.28% 1.19% 0.30% 1.49% 0.90% 1.49%
2009 188 5 2.66% 1.60% 0.53% 1.06% 0.53% 1.06%
2010 115 6 5.22% 2.61% 0.87% 5.22% 0.00% 5.22%
2011 264 4 1.52% 0.38% 0.38% 0.76% 0.38% 0.76%
2012 64 2 3.13% 0.00% 0.00% 3.13% 0.00% 3.13%
2013 106 3 2.83% 0.00% 0.00% 1.89% 0.94% 1.89%
2014 64 4 6.25% 0.00% 0.00% 3.13% 4.69% 3.13%
2015 64 1 1.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.56% 0.00%
2016 61 3 4.92% 1.64% 0.00% 1.64% 3.28% 1.64%
2017 67 1 1.49% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.49% 0.00%
2018 122 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 141 1 0.71% 0.71% 0.00% 0.00% 0.71% 0.00%
2020 14 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 157,158 29,646 18.86% 9.77% 2.34% 10.46% 3.76% 6.41%

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 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 14 4 28.57% 21.43% 7.14% 14.29% 0.00% 7.14%
1998 250 43 17.20% 13.60% 5.60% 12.00% 6.40% 1.60%
1999 907 132 14.55% 12.79% 2.65% 11.91% 8.27% 0.88%
2000 30,532 5,473 17.93% 15.98% 3.49% 15.68% 10.95% 0.29%
2001 51,972 7,648 14.72% 12.96% 2.65% 12.71% 8.74% 0.25%
2002 35,244 5,203 14.76% 12.54% 3.16% 12.26% 7.94% 0.28%
2003 66,756 7,245 10.85% 9.28% 2.17% 9.06% 5.88% 0.22%
2004 42,835 4,908 11.46% 9.79% 2.26% 9.61% 6.38% 0.17%
2005 83,224 7,081 8.51% 7.32% 1.57% 7.17% 4.80% 0.15%
2006 44,678 4,273 9.56% 8.25% 1.67% 8.07% 5.57% 0.19%
2007 89,959 5,504 6.12% 5.23% 1.07% 5.15% 3.30% 0.08%
2008 39,938 2,670 6.69% 5.86% 0.96% 5.75% 3.97% 0.11%
2009 55,775 2,750 4.93% 4.38% 0.64% 4.31% 3.03% 0.07%
2010 26,428 1,461 5.53% 4.99% 0.64% 4.93% 3.60% 0.06%
2011 75,705 3,151 4.16% 3.79% 0.45% 3.75% 2.73% 0.05%
2012 16,453 820 4.98% 4.66% 0.38% 4.63% 3.74% 0.03%
2013 18,471 827 4.48% 4.14% 0.45% 4.09% 3.55% 0.04%
2014 17,121 624 3.64% 3.39% 0.30% 3.36% 2.93% 0.04%
2015 25,258 974 3.86% 3.60% 0.25% 3.58% 3.24% 0.02%
2016 16,295 648 3.98% 3.74% 0.24% 3.71% 3.52% 0.04%
2017 12,870 423 3.29% 3.08% 0.22% 3.06% 2.87% 0.02%
2018 11,650 336 2.88% 2.76% 0.15% 2.72% 2.57% 0.03%
2019 3,592 220 6.12% 6.07% 0.03% 6.07% 6.01% 0.00%
2020 14 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 12 11 91.67% 41.67% 41.67% 41.67% 16.67% 0.00%
All Model Years 765,955 62,429 8.15% 7.13% 1.39% 7.00% 4.86% 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 15,358 9.77%
All Visual 10,623 1.39% 5,911 3.76%
All Functional 54,606 7.13% 16,444 10.46%
OBDII 53,603 7.00% 10,069 6.41%
Overall 62,429 8.15% 29,646 18.86%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 660,969 54,551 8.25% 121,958 23,312 19.11%
Partial 36,318 2,749 7.57% 9,539 2,091 21.92%
Basic 62,387 4,675 7.49% 19,413 2,840 14.63%
Change of Ownership 6,281 454 7.23% 1,392 337 24.21%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 2 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,854 1,066 21.96%
All Program Areas 765,955 62,429 8.15% 157,158 29,646 18.86%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 385,977 34,475 8.93% 92,468 16,997 18.38%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,588 126 7.93% 162 36 22.22%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,404 1,358 7.00% 2,262 329 14.54%
STAR Test-and-Repair 219,224 18,458 8.42% 46,763 9,865 21.10%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 360 27 7.50% 47 7 14.89%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 133,275 7,249 5.44% 13,922 2,072 14.88%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 3,068 154 5.02% 17 2 11.76%
Business Fleet 331 3 0.91% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 58 2 3.45% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 519 458 88.25% 176 76 43.18%
Government Fleet 2,151 119 5.53% 1,341 262 19.54%
All Stations 765,955 62,429 8.15% 157,158 29,646 18.86%

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 823,926 89.26% 99,187 10.74%
All Tests 898,144 88.68% 114,666 11.32%

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 425,784 88.99% 52,661 11.01%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,843 91.59% 1,823 8.41%
STAR Test-and-Repair 236,229 88.81% 29,758 11.19%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 136,671 92.85% 10,526 7.15%
All Stations 818,527 89.62% 94,768 10.38%

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 46,745 $54.86 218,677 $48.26 265,422 $49.42
STAR Test-Only 92,181 $49.55 385,824 $49.47 478,005 $49.48
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 13,920 $53.24 132,623 $54.56 146,543 $54.44
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,233 $44.21 19,305 $47.12 21,538 $46.82
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 17 $64.00 3,068 $62.58 3,085 $62.58
Total 155,096 $51.41 759,497 $50.00 914,593 $50.24

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 9,531 $45.00 46,745 $54.86 209,146 $48.41
STAR Test-Only 1,579 $38.33 10,214 $38.77 90,602 $49.75 375,610 $49.76
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 $84.38 86,464 $59.73 13,918 $53.24 46,159 $44.88
Non-STAR Test-Only 8 $20.91 8,998 $41.68 2,225 $44.29 10,307 $51.88
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,900 $62.40 17 $64.00 168 $65.64
Total 1,589 $38.30 118,107 $55.42 153,507 $51.54 641,390 $49.01

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 1402 $46.63 5,364 $399.44
$101-250 1211 $171.68
$251-500 1318 $362.34
$501-650 450 $571.70
Over $650 983 $1,154.11
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 427 $49.54 1,493 $399.01
$101-250 377 $171.25
$251-500 354 $361.67
$501-650 94 $570.23
Over $650 241 $1,362.57
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 $0.00 213 $652.34
$101-250 6 $205.08
$251-500 58 $381.73
$501-650 58 $580.66
Over $650 91 $899.99
Total Repairs $1-100 1829 $47.31 7,070 $406.97
$101-250 1594 $171.70
$251-500 1730 $362.85
$501-650 602 $572.34
Over $650 1315 $1,174.73

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 113 50 1,938 82 2,183
STAR Test-Only 17 1 1,724 34 1,776
STAR Sub-Total 130 51 3,662 116 3,959
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 505 46 2,248 243 3,042
Non-STAR Test-Only 22 7 460 29 518
Non-STAR Sub-Total 527 53 2,708 272 3,560
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 4 295 13 353
Repair-Only 2 0 48 1 51
Unknown Type 2 0 20 0 22
Other Station Sub-Total 117 6 445 18 586
All Stations 774 110 6,815 406 8,105

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 197 1,924
STAR Test-Only 3 74 1,655
STAR Sub-Total 3 271 3,579
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 1,934 443
Non-STAR Test-Only 3 146 89
Non-STAR Sub-Total 5 2,080 532
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 56 4
Unknown Type 0 1 16
Government Fleet 5 146 33
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 5 228 84
All Stations 13 2,579 4,195

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 221 190
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 32 14
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 19
Exempted by Directive 4 0
Parts Exemption 49 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 306 224

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,093
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,777
All License Types 9,870

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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