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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
June 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 875,133 85,670 9.79%
All Tests 959,116 99,042 10.33%

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 101,058 219,029 86,782 189,332
Non-Directed 150,045 242,477 136,980 222,754
Total 251,103 461,506 223,762 412,086

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 414 133 214 45
Non-Directed 131,686 22,078 122,680 20,244
Total 132,100 22,211 122,894 20,289

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 576 133 23.09% 15.97% 5.38% 11.98% 6.42% NA
1977 709 168 23.70% 16.22% 6.06% 12.13% 6.91% NA
1978 751 171 22.77% 13.98% 5.59% 11.72% 7.32% NA
1979 788 191 24.24% 15.48% 5.84% 11.55% 6.85% NA
1980 459 128 27.89% 19.39% 8.71% 14.38% 6.10% NA
1981 563 137 24.33% 18.47% 7.64% 10.83% 9.06% NA
1982 511 129 25.24% 16.83% 6.07% 12.72% 9.98% NA
1983 738 192 26.02% 19.11% 6.64% 13.01% 7.72% NA
1984 1,141 297 26.03% 18.84% 9.64% 12.36% 7.01% NA
1985 1,620 390 24.07% 17.41% 6.36% 10.93% 5.62% NA
1986 2,200 525 23.86% 16.41% 6.14% 11.82% 6.32% NA
1987 2,453 628 25.60% 18.22% 6.89% 11.29% 5.75% NA
1988 2,869 665 23.18% 15.93% 5.16% 10.04% 5.05% NA
1989 3,827 855 22.34% 14.71% 4.52% 10.32% 4.76% NA
1990 4,580 966 21.09% 14.15% 4.04% 9.78% 4.00% NA
1991 5,230 1,142 21.84% 13.96% 3.79% 10.11% 4.80% NA
1992 5,489 1,116 20.33% 13.86% 3.73% 9.00% 3.86% NA
1993 6,549 1,474 22.51% 16.17% 3.71% 9.45% 4.26% NA
1994 7,820 1,734 22.17% 14.88% 3.20% 9.72% 4.22% NA
1995 11,601 2,511 21.64% 13.95% 2.49% 9.44% 4.36% NA
1996 10,182 2,148 21.10% 9.65% 1.27% 12.58% 3.72% 12.47%
1997 19,115 3,608 18.88% 7.88% 1.21% 11.80% 3.08% 11.78%
1998 18,799 3,462 18.42% 6.93% 1.19% 11.93% 3.63% 11.87%
1999 31,276 4,554 14.56% 4.13% 0.72% 10.20% 2.89% 10.17%
2000 426 65 15.26% 7.98% 3.52% 9.15% 0.47% 9.15%
2001 386 55 14.25% 6.99% 2.33% 9.33% 2.07% 9.33%
2002 323 34 10.53% 4.95% 0.93% 5.88% 2.48% 5.88%
2003 475 40 8.42% 5.47% 1.89% 5.47% 1.26% 5.47%
2004 409 30 7.33% 4.16% 1.47% 5.13% 2.44% 5.13%
2005 477 37 7.76% 3.35% 1.05% 5.45% 0.21% 5.45%
2006 367 21 5.72% 3.81% 1.36% 4.09% 0.82% 4.09%
2007 424 26 6.13% 4.48% 2.36% 3.77% 0.94% 3.77%
2008 204 13 6.37% 1.96% 0.98% 3.92% 0.49% 3.92%
2009 103 6 5.83% 3.88% 1.94% 2.91% 0.00% 2.91%
2010 80 4 5.00% 3.75% 2.50% 3.75% 0.00% 3.75%
2011 215 3 1.40% 0.00% 0.00% 1.40% 0.47% 1.40%
2012 53 3 5.66% 3.77% 3.77% 5.66% 1.89% 5.66%
2013 53 3 5.66% 1.89% 0.00% 5.66% 0.00% 5.66%
2014 61 1 1.64% 1.64% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 63 0 0.00% 1.59% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 53 3 5.66% 1.89% 0.00% 3.77% 3.77% 3.77%
2017 59 1 1.69% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.69% 0.00%
2018 91 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 140 1 0.71% 0.71% 0.00% 0.00% 0.71% 0.00%
2020 38 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 144,350 27,670 19.17% 10.00% 2.36% 10.60% 3.83% 6.34%

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 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 185 36 19.46% 16.22% 5.41% 15.14% 8.11% 1.08%
1999 915 126 13.77% 12.35% 2.62% 11.80% 6.99% 0.55%
2000 29,105 5,033 17.29% 15.19% 3.35% 14.94% 10.22% 0.26%
2001 49,038 7,017 14.31% 12.63% 2.65% 12.42% 8.48% 0.21%
2002 33,890 4,702 13.87% 12.09% 2.89% 11.84% 7.70% 0.24%
2003 64,034 6,847 10.69% 9.28% 2.07% 9.05% 5.93% 0.22%
2004 39,786 4,341 10.91% 9.36% 2.21% 9.12% 6.18% 0.24%
2005 83,722 6,967 8.32% 7.22% 1.50% 7.08% 4.68% 0.15%
2006 42,587 3,924 9.21% 8.00% 1.58% 7.86% 5.29% 0.15%
2007 86,262 5,160 5.98% 5.08% 1.05% 4.99% 3.23% 0.09%
2008 36,505 2,517 6.89% 5.96% 1.06% 5.82% 3.94% 0.14%
2009 57,419 2,612 4.55% 4.08% 0.53% 4.01% 2.78% 0.07%
2010 25,553 1,254 4.91% 4.36% 0.67% 4.30% 3.13% 0.06%
2011 71,981 2,982 4.14% 3.73% 0.45% 3.68% 2.72% 0.05%
2012 14,890 767 5.15% 4.81% 0.41% 4.77% 3.85% 0.04%
2013 17,150 771 4.50% 4.14% 0.41% 4.10% 3.52% 0.03%
2014 15,864 640 4.03% 3.76% 0.31% 3.72% 3.32% 0.04%
2015 22,654 851 3.76% 3.50% 0.25% 3.45% 3.15% 0.05%
2016 14,220 590 4.15% 3.96% 0.20% 3.93% 3.62% 0.03%
2017 11,515 374 3.25% 3.06% 0.16% 3.05% 2.90% 0.01%
2018 10,143 294 2.90% 2.74% 0.10% 2.72% 2.63% 0.02%
2019 3,323 185 5.57% 5.48% 0.06% 5.39% 5.24% 0.09%
2020 24 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 12 10 83.33% 50.00% 41.67% 50.00% 25.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 730,783 58,000 7.94% 6.96% 1.34% 6.83% 4.73% 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 14,431 10.00%
All Visual 9,815 1.34% 5,525 3.83%
All Functional 50,873 6.96% 15,298 10.60%
OBDII 49,933 6.83% 9,157 6.34%
Overall 58,000 7.94% 27,670 19.17%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 634,634 50,875 8.02% 112,993 22,253 19.69%
Partial 33,700 2,571 7.63% 8,463 1,792 21.17%
Basic 57,064 4,158 7.29% 17,232 2,401 13.93%
Change of Ownership 5,385 396 7.35% 1,284 302 23.52%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,377 922 21.06%
All Program Areas 730,783 58,000 7.94% 144,350 27,670 19.17%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 376,165 32,166 8.55% 85,341 16,117 18.89%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 941 60 6.38% 90 15 16.67%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,873 1,431 7.20% 2,338 371 15.87%
STAR Test-and-Repair 208,410 17,241 8.27% 42,693 9,064 21.23%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 351 30 8.55% 39 11 28.21%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 119,769 6,470 5.40% 12,331 1,761 14.28%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,674 128 4.79% 13 3 23.08%
Business Fleet 361 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 69 2 2.90% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 444 393 88.51% 152 74 48.68%
Government Fleet 1,726 79 4.58% 1,353 254 18.77%
All Stations 730,783 58,000 7.94% 144,350 27,670 19.17%

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 783,409 89.52% 91,724 10.48%
All Tests 853,307 88.97% 105,809 11.03%

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 412,086 89.29% 49,420 10.71%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,289 91.35% 1,922 8.65%
STAR Test-and-Repair 223,762 89.11% 27,341 10.89%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 122,894 93.03% 9,206 6.97%
All Stations 779,031 89.86% 87,889 10.14%

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 42,631 $55.00 207,553 $48.50 250,184 $49.61
STAR Test-Only 84,944 $49.51 374,796 $48.77 459,740 $48.91
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,092 $53.82 117,678 $54.19 129,770 $54.15
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,272 $44.01 19,778 $46.95 22,050 $46.65
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 13 $68.07 2,674 $62.05 2,687 $62.08
Total 141,952 $51.44 722,479 $49.58 864,431 $49.88

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 $71.70 7,987 $43.63 42,630 $55.00 199,566 $48.70
STAR Test-Only 1,649 $32.58 8,057 $41.06 83,295 $49.85 366,739 $48.94
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 $99.00 74,626 $59.58 12,090 $53.82 43,052 $44.83
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 $50.00 8,100 $40.92 2,271 $44.00 11,678 $51.13
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,496 $61.59 13 $68.07 178 $68.44
Total 1,653 $32.70 101,266 $55.41 140,299 $51.66 621,213 $48.63

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 1280 $48.84 4,900 $416.37
$101-250 1093 $169.85
$251-500 1186 $363.41
$501-650 406 $573.49
Over $650 935 $1,206.63
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 331 $49.19 1,252 $420.44
$101-250 326 $174.38
$251-500 288 $355.66
$501-650 92 $570.84
Over $650 215 $1,387.53
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 $0.00 176 $722.74
$101-250 7 $221.22
$251-500 40 $401.81
$501-650 46 $576.15
Over $650 83 $1,000.95
Total Repairs $1-100 1611 $48.91 6,328 $425.70
$101-250 1426 $171.14
$251-500 1514 $362.95
$501-650 544 $573.27
Over $650 1233 $1,224.33

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 1,930 82 2,175
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,719 33 1,771
STAR Sub-Total 131 51 3,649 115 3,946
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 503 46 2,249 244 3,042
Non-STAR Test-Only 22 7 468 30 527
Non-STAR Sub-Total 525 53 2,717 274 3,569
Basic Area Dealer 63 0 0 0 63
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 46 1 49
Unknown Type 0 0 6 0 6
Other Station Sub-Total 114 6 429 18 567
All Stations 770 110 6,795 407 8,082

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 187 1,923
STAR Test-Only 4 65 1,659
STAR Sub-Total 5 252 3,582
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,928 440
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 148 96
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,076 536
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 20 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 56 4
Unknown Type 0 0 5
Government Fleet 7 139 35
Referee 0 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 7 219 74
All Stations 14 2,547 4,192

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 237 172
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 36 7
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 22
Exempted by Directive 3 2
Parts Exemption 6 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 282 203

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,088
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,746
All License Types 9,834

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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