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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
August 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 914,069 92,007 10.07%
All Tests 1,004,126 106,936 10.65%

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 106,560 226,115 92,309 195,695
Non-Directed 157,312 254,764 142,296 232,128
Total 263,872 480,879 234,605 427,823

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 505 210 239 61
Non-Directed 138,288 21,846 127,825 20,003
Total 138,793 22,056 128,064 20,064

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 463 124 26.78% 18.57% 7.56% 11.23% 6.48% NA
1977 640 176 27.50% 18.59% 7.34% 12.34% 8.28% NA
1978 678 175 25.81% 18.29% 8.26% 10.77% 7.82% NA
1979 750 205 27.33% 20.40% 8.40% 11.60% 6.00% NA
1980 446 109 24.44% 17.04% 7.17% 10.76% 6.28% NA
1981 470 113 24.04% 20.00% 9.36% 9.15% 6.60% NA
1982 482 127 26.35% 18.88% 8.71% 12.24% 7.68% NA
1983 700 182 26.00% 18.71% 7.14% 10.29% 8.43% NA
1984 1,118 296 26.48% 18.78% 6.80% 11.99% 7.25% NA
1985 1,517 382 25.18% 18.46% 7.45% 11.27% 6.39% NA
1986 2,106 507 24.07% 17.19% 7.08% 11.25% 5.37% NA
1987 2,327 559 24.02% 16.97% 5.41% 10.14% 5.24% NA
1988 2,878 722 25.09% 17.41% 6.36% 11.95% 5.46% NA
1989 3,949 936 23.70% 16.21% 5.60% 10.74% 4.84% NA
1990 4,468 949 21.24% 14.26% 4.10% 9.83% 4.32% NA
1991 5,366 1,123 20.93% 14.20% 3.63% 9.13% 3.91% NA
1992 5,119 1,139 22.25% 14.57% 3.93% 9.81% 4.51% NA
1993 6,930 1,549 22.35% 15.83% 3.55% 9.35% 3.85% NA
1994 7,836 1,788 22.82% 15.21% 3.16% 9.97% 4.62% NA
1995 12,213 2,562 20.98% 14.42% 2.65% 8.61% 3.64% NA
1996 10,295 2,192 21.29% 9.52% 1.40% 12.63% 4.08% 12.59%
1997 18,654 3,543 18.99% 7.90% 1.25% 11.88% 3.20% 11.87%
1998 18,860 3,560 18.88% 7.02% 1.36% 12.43% 3.44% 12.38%
1999 29,948 4,650 15.53% 4.36% 0.80% 11.05% 2.91% 11.00%
2000 384 79 20.57% 12.50% 4.69% 11.20% 2.08% 11.20%
2001 354 49 13.84% 7.06% 3.11% 9.60% 0.56% 9.60%
2002 300 39 13.00% 5.00% 1.33% 8.67% 3.67% 8.67%
2003 481 54 11.23% 4.99% 2.08% 7.07% 2.70% 6.86%
2004 337 25 7.42% 2.67% 0.89% 5.34% 1.19% 5.34%
2005 407 22 5.41% 1.72% 0.49% 4.18% 0.49% 4.18%
2006 306 30 9.80% 4.90% 1.63% 6.86% 0.65% 6.86%
2007 348 19 5.46% 2.30% 0.57% 3.74% 1.15% 3.74%
2008 222 14 6.31% 3.60% 1.80% 1.80% 1.35% 1.80%
2009 145 11 7.59% 5.52% 2.07% 4.14% 0.00% 3.45%
2010 54 5 9.26% 1.85% 0.00% 7.41% 0.00% 7.41%
2011 268 6 2.24% 0.75% 0.37% 1.87% 0.75% 1.49%
2012 50 1 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.00% 0.00% 2.00%
2013 68 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 62 1 1.61% 0.00% 0.00% 1.61% 0.00% 1.61%
2015 75 3 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 4.00% 0.00%
2016 39 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 49 1 2.04% 2.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 121 1 0.83% 0.00% 0.00% 0.83% 0.00% 0.83%
2019 211 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 3 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 142,560 28,028 19.66% 10.32% 2.50% 10.78% 3.78% 6.57%

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 5 2 40.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 9 2 22.22% 22.22% 0.00% 22.22% 22.22% 0.00%
1998 219 31 14.16% 12.33% 5.02% 11.42% 4.57% 0.91%
1999 862 144 16.71% 15.43% 1.86% 14.50% 9.51% 0.93%
2000 30,786 5,348 17.37% 15.17% 3.62% 14.88% 9.96% 0.29%
2001 51,822 7,291 14.07% 12.44% 2.64% 12.24% 8.44% 0.20%
2002 36,365 5,192 14.28% 12.31% 3.01% 12.04% 7.92% 0.27%
2003 70,782 7,539 10.65% 9.12% 2.18% 8.91% 5.85% 0.20%
2004 42,467 4,609 10.85% 9.40% 2.10% 9.21% 6.25% 0.19%
2005 80,939 7,156 8.84% 7.68% 1.58% 7.53% 5.06% 0.15%
2006 46,527 4,185 8.99% 7.76% 1.63% 7.60% 5.03% 0.16%
2007 90,861 5,540 6.10% 5.30% 0.99% 5.19% 3.41% 0.11%
2008 37,261 2,543 6.82% 6.03% 0.99% 5.91% 4.05% 0.12%
2009 61,187 3,045 4.98% 4.48% 0.62% 4.39% 3.02% 0.08%
2010 26,692 1,725 6.46% 5.92% 0.68% 5.82% 2.56% 0.10%
2011 75,655 3,685 4.87% 4.50% 0.45% 4.45% 2.01% 0.05%
2012 16,017 1,147 7.16% 6.70% 0.56% 6.67% 2.97% 0.02%
2013 18,770 1,096 5.84% 5.46% 0.39% 5.40% 2.73% 0.05%
2014 17,070 913 5.35% 5.07% 0.31% 5.02% 2.62% 0.05%
2015 23,235 1,089 4.69% 4.39% 0.32% 4.37% 2.52% 0.02%
2016 15,225 663 4.35% 4.26% 0.11% 4.22% 2.95% 0.04%
2017 12,602 461 3.66% 3.48% 0.17% 3.45% 2.67% 0.02%
2018 11,117 321 2.89% 2.80% 0.09% 2.79% 2.26% 0.01%
2019 4,857 231 4.76% 4.59% 0.12% 4.57% 3.99% 0.02%
2020 164 12 7.32% 7.32% 0.00% 7.32% 6.10% 0.00%
Other 13 9 69.23% 23.08% 15.38% 23.08% 15.38% 0.00%
All Model Years 771,509 63,979 8.29% 7.31% 1.37% 7.18% 4.61% 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 14,713 10.32%
All Visual 10,598 1.37% 5,394 3.78%
All Functional 56,431 7.31% 15,369 10.78%
OBDII 55,417 7.18% 9,364 6.57%
Overall 63,979 8.29% 28,028 19.66%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 667,389 55,849 8.37% 111,393 22,463 20.17%
Partial 36,094 2,890 8.01% 8,238 1,759 21.35%
Basic 62,034 4,734 7.63% 17,304 2,448 14.15%
Change of Ownership 5,992 506 8.44% 1,338 357 26.68%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,287 1,001 23.35%
All Program Areas 771,509 63,979 8.29% 142,560 28,028 19.66%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 398,283 35,387 8.88% 82,596 16,421 19.88%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,575 113 7.17% 89 21 23.60%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,620 1,431 7.29% 2,436 333 13.67%
STAR Test-and-Repair 220,082 18,725 8.51% 43,790 9,170 20.94%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 611 45 7.36% 53 8 15.09%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 126,376 7,647 6.05% 12,417 1,802 14.51%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,634 134 5.09% 21 3 14.29%
Business Fleet 360 6 1.67% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 161 7 4.35% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 476 421 88.45% 156 74 47.44%
Government Fleet 1,331 63 4.73% 1,002 196 19.56%
All Stations 771,509 63,979 8.29% 142,560 28,028 19.66%

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 815,761 89.25% 98,308 10.75%
All Tests 890,195 88.65% 113,931 11.35%

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 427,823 88.97% 53,056 11.03%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,064 90.97% 1,992 9.03%
STAR Test-and-Repair 234,605 88.91% 29,267 11.09%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 128,064 92.27% 10,729 7.73%
All Stations 810,556 89.50% 95,044 10.50%

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 43,717 $54.65 219,415 $50.03 263,132 $50.80
STAR Test-Only 81,943 $49.94 396,345 $49.67 478,288 $49.72
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,357 $54.10 125,288 $56.30 137,645 $56.11
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,420 $44.95 19,498 $44.11 21,918 $44.20
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 21 $66.48 2,595 $61.15 2,616 $61.19
Total 140,458 $51.69 763,141 $50.76 903,599 $50.90

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 19 $65.00 7,360 $51.17 43,698 $54.64 212,055 $49.99
STAR Test-Only 289 $43.10 5,748 $40.48 81,654 $49.97 390,597 $49.80
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5 $51.80 78,197 $61.45 12,352 $54.10 47,091 $47.76
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 8,256 $42.61 2,420 $44.95 11,242 $45.22
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,393 $60.56 21 $66.48 202 $68.09
Total 313 $44.56 101,954 $57.98 140,145 $51.71 661,187 $49.65

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 1333 $46.68 5,334 $418.91
$101-250 1212 $172.21
$251-500 1276 $365.79
$501-650 482 $571.71
Over $650 1031 $1,184.50
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 378 $47.66 1,414 $402.76
$101-250 397 $167.14
$251-500 307 $355.64
$501-650 102 $579.56
Over $650 230 $1,377.53
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 1 $44.95 165 $676.84
$101-250 6 $220.29
$251-500 42 $406.77
$501-650 42 $582.24
Over $650 74 $929.37
Total Repairs $1-100 1712 $46.90 6,913 $421.76
$101-250 1615 $171.14
$251-500 1625 $364.93
$501-650 626 $573.69
Over $650 1335 $1,203.62

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 112 49 1,904 78 2,143
STAR Test-Only 17 1 1,716 34 1,768
STAR Sub-Total 129 50 3,620 112 3,911
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 498 48 2,218 247 3,011
Non-STAR Test-Only 21 8 429 29 487
Non-STAR Sub-Total 519 56 2,647 276 3,498
Basic Area Dealer 62 0 0 0 62
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 51 4 60
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 5 298 13 357
Repair-Only 2 0 46 1 49
Unknown Type 1 0 28 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 114 7 454 19 594
All Stations 762 113 6,721 407 8,003

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 161 1,917
STAR Test-Only 6 49 1,669
STAR Sub-Total 7 210 3,586
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 1,899 436
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 140 86
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,039 522
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 28 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 54 5
Unknown Type 0 1 23
Government Fleet 9 148 33
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 9 234 92
All Stations 18 2,483 4,200

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 253 152
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 38 11
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 1 27
Exempted by Directive 5 1
Parts Exemption 0 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 297 191

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,075
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,687
All License Types 9,762

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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