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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
July 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 899,620 89,148 9.91%
All Tests 986,488 103,589 10.50%

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 103,423 222,827 89,340 193,088
Non-Directed 155,198 246,752 140,625 225,587
Total 258,621 469,579 229,965 418,675

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 404 148 192 53
Non-Directed 138,595 23,477 128,433 21,528
Total 138,999 23,625 128,625 21,581

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 495 130 26.26% 18.79% 7.68% 11.72% 6.87% NA
1977 609 153 25.12% 17.57% 7.06% 11.00% 5.25% NA
1978 704 154 21.88% 13.07% 5.82% 11.65% 6.96% NA
1979 732 179 24.45% 16.67% 8.33% 12.16% 7.10% NA
1980 452 108 23.89% 16.15% 7.96% 11.95% 6.42% NA
1981 503 121 24.06% 18.89% 8.55% 8.35% 4.77% NA
1982 489 127 25.97% 18.40% 9.41% 12.07% 6.95% NA
1983 738 180 24.39% 18.16% 7.59% 10.57% 6.37% NA
1984 1,115 281 25.20% 19.55% 8.16% 9.87% 6.10% NA
1985 1,680 394 23.45% 17.20% 6.55% 9.64% 5.89% NA
1986 2,024 503 24.85% 17.49% 6.32% 11.31% 5.98% NA
1987 2,363 593 25.10% 16.93% 5.54% 11.38% 5.54% NA
1988 2,905 620 21.34% 14.94% 5.47% 9.50% 4.65% NA
1989 4,014 856 21.33% 13.68% 4.58% 10.06% 4.68% NA
1990 4,456 955 21.43% 14.52% 4.04% 9.49% 4.08% NA
1991 5,373 1,154 21.48% 14.35% 3.83% 9.31% 4.00% NA
1992 5,349 1,131 21.14% 14.15% 3.85% 9.07% 4.17% NA
1993 6,529 1,516 23.22% 16.01% 3.45% 9.27% 4.24% NA
1994 7,938 1,757 22.13% 14.92% 3.14% 9.73% 4.16% NA
1995 11,709 2,436 20.80% 13.87% 2.43% 8.37% 4.01% NA
1996 10,346 2,172 20.99% 9.51% 1.32% 12.33% 3.87% 12.21%
1997 19,112 3,662 19.16% 8.18% 1.36% 11.81% 3.21% 11.78%
1998 19,265 3,520 18.27% 6.81% 1.34% 12.03% 3.63% 11.99%
1999 30,928 4,647 15.03% 4.17% 0.82% 10.75% 2.90% 10.72%
2000 444 70 15.77% 8.11% 4.73% 9.68% 2.48% 9.68%
2001 368 64 17.39% 8.97% 3.53% 12.23% 1.63% 11.96%
2002 301 34 11.30% 4.65% 2.33% 7.97% 1.99% 7.64%
2003 453 52 11.48% 5.08% 1.77% 7.73% 1.55% 7.73%
2004 363 37 10.19% 4.41% 1.65% 5.51% 2.48% 5.23%
2005 471 34 7.22% 3.82% 1.27% 4.67% 1.27% 4.67%
2006 334 16 4.79% 2.10% 1.20% 2.99% 0.00% 2.99%
2007 401 20 4.99% 2.99% 1.00% 3.49% 0.75% 3.49%
2008 250 12 4.80% 2.00% 0.80% 2.40% 1.20% 2.40%
2009 119 6 5.04% 1.68% 1.68% 3.36% 0.84% 3.36%
2010 63 5 7.94% 1.59% 1.59% 6.35% 0.00% 6.35%
2011 225 5 2.22% 0.44% 0.44% 0.89% 0.89% 0.89%
2012 58 2 3.45% 0.00% 0.00% 3.45% 0.00% 3.45%
2013 53 3 5.66% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 5.66% 0.00%
2014 53 5 9.43% 3.77% 0.00% 3.77% 5.66% 3.77%
2015 58 1 1.72% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.72% 0.00%
2016 40 3 7.50% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 7.50% 0.00%
2017 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 66 1 1.52% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.52% 0.00%
2019 210 1 0.48% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.48% 0.00%
2020 43 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 144,258 27,720 19.22% 9.98% 2.43% 10.50% 3.75% 6.50%

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 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 33.33% 0.00%
1997 14 2 14.29% 7.14% 0.00% 7.14% 7.14% 0.00%
1998 250 40 16.00% 13.20% 4.80% 12.80% 4.80% 0.40%
1999 837 103 12.31% 10.63% 2.03% 10.51% 6.93% 0.12%
2000 29,539 5,040 17.06% 15.03% 3.46% 14.69% 10.01% 0.35%
2001 49,690 7,010 14.11% 12.46% 2.64% 12.24% 8.41% 0.22%
2002 35,385 4,849 13.70% 11.95% 2.71% 11.69% 7.72% 0.26%
2003 65,721 6,895 10.49% 9.10% 2.06% 8.86% 5.85% 0.24%
2004 40,902 4,532 11.08% 9.53% 2.20% 9.33% 6.17% 0.20%
2005 86,275 7,178 8.32% 7.12% 1.56% 6.98% 4.62% 0.14%
2006 44,893 4,031 8.98% 7.79% 1.62% 7.66% 5.15% 0.14%
2007 88,750 5,330 6.01% 5.13% 1.07% 5.03% 3.24% 0.10%
2008 35,959 2,496 6.94% 6.17% 0.94% 6.05% 4.17% 0.12%
2009 60,975 2,815 4.62% 4.11% 0.64% 4.04% 2.81% 0.08%
2010 26,200 1,794 6.85% 6.35% 0.66% 6.26% 2.81% 0.08%
2011 73,835 3,576 4.84% 4.50% 0.44% 4.45% 1.99% 0.05%
2012 15,476 1,062 6.86% 6.47% 0.53% 6.42% 2.89% 0.05%
2013 18,310 1,112 6.07% 5.73% 0.42% 5.69% 2.87% 0.04%
2014 16,721 841 5.03% 4.81% 0.26% 4.78% 2.64% 0.04%
2015 23,020 1,166 5.07% 4.90% 0.18% 4.87% 2.78% 0.03%
2016 15,058 597 3.96% 3.74% 0.22% 3.71% 2.70% 0.03%
2017 12,290 404 3.29% 3.11% 0.15% 3.08% 2.36% 0.02%
2018 10,950 326 2.98% 2.88% 0.09% 2.86% 2.42% 0.02%
2019 4,240 217 5.12% 4.95% 0.09% 4.95% 4.27% 0.00%
2020 56 1 1.79% 1.79% 0.00% 1.79% 1.79% 0.00%
Other 13 10 76.92% 38.46% 38.46% 38.46% 15.38% 0.00%
All Model Years 755,362 61,428 8.13% 7.18% 1.34% 7.05% 4.51% 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 14,399 9.98%
All Visual 10,139 1.34% 5,414 3.75%
All Functional 54,228 7.18% 15,153 10.50%
OBDII 53,230 7.05% 9,370 6.50%
Overall 61,428 8.13% 27,720 19.22%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 652,898 53,732 8.23% 112,018 21,957 19.60%
Partial 35,241 2,682 7.61% 8,576 1,843 21.49%
Basic 61,384 4,530 7.38% 17,861 2,588 14.49%
Change of Ownership 5,839 484 8.29% 1,442 339 23.51%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 2 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,359 993 22.78%
All Program Areas 755,362 61,428 8.13% 144,258 27,720 19.22%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 385,482 33,709 8.74% 84,097 15,954 18.97%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,591 132 8.30% 123 37 30.08%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,122 1,547 7.32% 2,503 393 15.70%
STAR Test-and-Repair 215,225 18,066 8.39% 43,396 9,190 21.18%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 555 41 7.39% 42 6 14.29%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 126,291 7,330 5.80% 12,708 1,858 14.62%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,732 155 5.67% 16 1 6.25%
Business Fleet 363 6 1.65% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 158 4 2.53% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 439 364 82.92% 159 75 47.17%
Government Fleet 1,404 74 5.27% 1,214 206 16.97%
All Stations 755,362 61,428 8.13% 144,258 27,720 19.22%

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 804,135 89.39% 95,485 10.61%
All Tests 875,837 88.78% 110,651 11.22%

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 418,675 89.16% 50,904 10.84%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,581 91.35% 2,044 8.65%
STAR Test-and-Repair 229,965 88.92% 28,656 11.08%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 128,625 92.54% 10,374 7.46%
All Stations 798,846 89.67% 91,978 10.33%

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 43,364 $54.68 214,783 $51.65 258,147 $52.16
STAR Test-Only 83,639 $49.84 383,662 $51.38 467,301 $51.11
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,688 $53.90 125,530 $55.63 138,218 $55.47
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,490 $44.54 21,045 $47.18 23,535 $46.90
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 16 $69.66 2,732 $62.86 2,748 $62.89
Total 142,197 $51.59 747,752 $52.10 889,949 $52.02

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 7,870 $45.01 43,364 $54.68 206,913 $51.90
STAR Test-Only 672 $41.43 6,933 $38.25 82,967 $49.91 376,729 $51.63
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 3 $40.00 78,604 $61.49 12,685 $53.91 46,926 $45.80
Non-STAR Test-Only 17 $46.70 7,866 $42.23 2,473 $44.52 13,179 $50.13
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,576 $62.41 16 $69.66 156 $70.24
Total 692 $41.55 103,849 $57.25 141,505 $51.64 643,903 $51.26

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 1315 $47.17 5,146 $404.42
$101-250 1200 $171.54
$251-500 1245 $365.49
$501-650 430 $574.67
Over $650 956 $1,162.27
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 365 $46.77 1,306 $414.00
$101-250 352 $172.36
$251-500 281 $360.94
$501-650 86 $564.00
Over $650 222 $1,409.95
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 $0.00 168 $746.75
$101-250 6 $229.97
$251-500 50 $389.20
$501-650 34 $575.47
Over $650 78 $1,090.37
Total Repairs $1-100 1680 $47.09 6,620 $415.00
$101-250 1558 $171.95
$251-500 1576 $365.43
$501-650 550 $573.05
Over $650 1256 $1,201.58

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 1,910 80 2,153
STAR Test-Only 17 1 1,723 33 1,774
STAR Sub-Total 130 51 3,633 113 3,927
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 502 46 2,239 245 3,032
Non-STAR Test-Only 21 8 442 29 500
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 54 2,681 274 3,532
Basic Area Dealer 63 0 0 0 63
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 50 3 58
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 5 298 13 357
Repair-Only 2 0 46 1 49
Unknown Type 1 0 26 1 28
Other Station Sub-Total 115 7 451 18 591
All Stations 768 112 6,765 405 8,050

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 172 1,919
STAR Test-Only 4 49 1,684
STAR Sub-Total 4 221 3,603
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 3 1,904 445
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 135 83
Non-STAR Sub-Total 4 2,039 528
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 32 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 4
Unknown Type 0 0 23
Government Fleet 8 137 38
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 8 227 96
All Stations 16 2,487 4,227

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 263 178
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 39 8
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 2 16
Exempted by Directive 10 0
Parts Exemption 2 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 316 202

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,081
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,740
All License Types 9,821

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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