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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
September 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 802,407 81,707 10.18%
All Tests 882,365 94,968 10.76%

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 91,882 198,347 79,419 171,370
Non-Directed 136,898 221,660 123,197 201,208
Total 228,780 420,007 202,616 372,578

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 457 158 193 45
Non-Directed 123,550 20,341 114,117 18,633
Total 124,007 20,499 114,310 18,678

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 378 104 27.51% 20.63% 8.20% 10.05% 7.41% NA
1977 520 137 26.35% 18.08% 8.27% 11.15% 6.54% NA
1978 595 141 23.70% 16.81% 4.20% 11.09% 5.88% NA
1979 692 189 27.31% 19.22% 7.37% 12.28% 6.79% NA
1980 346 98 28.32% 19.94% 8.67% 12.72% 9.83% NA
1981 403 106 26.30% 20.10% 8.93% 9.18% 6.70% NA
1982 476 114 23.95% 16.60% 7.35% 13.03% 5.67% NA
1983 552 148 26.81% 22.10% 10.51% 11.59% 6.70% NA
1984 935 247 26.42% 18.93% 8.98% 12.73% 6.95% NA
1985 1,336 341 25.52% 19.54% 7.93% 10.85% 5.76% NA
1986 2,047 532 25.99% 18.76% 6.94% 11.63% 6.60% NA
1987 2,064 556 26.94% 18.56% 6.83% 11.77% 6.25% NA
1988 2,445 576 23.56% 16.36% 6.05% 10.84% 5.36% NA
1989 3,478 751 21.59% 14.26% 4.57% 9.95% 5.06% NA
1990 3,786 820 21.66% 14.87% 3.88% 9.54% 4.60% NA
1991 4,939 1,069 21.64% 14.64% 4.11% 9.76% 4.13% NA
1992 4,503 971 21.56% 13.95% 3.35% 9.73% 4.00% NA
1993 6,197 1,401 22.61% 15.12% 3.34% 9.42% 4.53% NA
1994 7,231 1,577 21.81% 14.11% 2.92% 10.19% 4.00% NA
1995 11,213 2,318 20.67% 13.56% 2.47% 8.81% 4.09% NA
1996 8,863 1,883 21.25% 9.69% 1.38% 12.39% 4.29% 12.31%
1997 16,671 3,283 19.69% 8.37% 1.27% 12.00% 3.49% 11.94%
1998 16,894 3,249 19.23% 7.27% 1.18% 12.53% 3.65% 12.45%
1999 25,627 4,054 15.82% 4.74% 0.81% 11.14% 2.91% 11.11%
2000 382 69 18.06% 8.64% 3.66% 10.99% 3.14% 10.99%
2001 314 32 10.19% 4.46% 0.96% 7.01% 2.55% 6.69%
2002 264 28 10.61% 6.06% 0.76% 4.17% 1.14% 4.17%
2003 404 29 7.18% 2.97% 1.73% 4.46% 1.49% 4.46%
2004 342 30 8.77% 3.51% 1.75% 5.85% 2.63% 5.85%
2005 381 31 8.14% 4.72% 2.36% 4.46% 0.52% 4.46%
2006 303 32 10.56% 5.28% 2.64% 4.29% 2.31% 4.29%
2007 327 17 5.20% 2.75% 0.92% 2.75% 0.31% 2.75%
2008 209 10 4.78% 2.39% 0.48% 2.87% 0.48% 2.87%
2009 129 8 6.20% 3.10% 1.55% 2.33% 1.55% 2.33%
2010 64 4 6.25% 3.13% 3.13% 4.69% 1.56% 4.69%
2011 192 3 1.56% 2.08% 0.52% 1.04% 0.00% 1.04%
2012 46 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 53 1 1.89% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.89% 0.00%
2014 50 1 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.00% 0.00%
2015 52 1 1.92% 1.92% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 45 3 6.67% 2.22% 0.00% 0.00% 4.44% 0.00%
2017 62 1 1.61% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.61% 0.00%
2018 67 1 1.49% 1.49% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 174 1 0.57% 0.57% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 126,106 24,967 19.80% 10.38% 2.45% 10.81% 3.93% 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 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 8 3 37.50% 37.50% 25.00% 37.50% 37.50% 0.00%
1998 174 30 17.24% 16.09% 1.72% 16.09% 8.62% 0.00%
1999 755 106 14.04% 11.92% 2.91% 11.52% 7.42% 0.40%
2000 26,763 4,605 17.21% 15.18% 3.56% 14.90% 10.23% 0.28%
2001 45,941 6,716 14.62% 12.93% 2.72% 12.67% 8.70% 0.26%
2002 31,734 4,450 14.02% 12.07% 2.94% 11.78% 7.66% 0.29%
2003 61,972 6,564 10.59% 9.09% 2.17% 8.81% 5.78% 0.27%
2004 37,886 4,262 11.25% 9.71% 2.31% 9.43% 6.12% 0.29%
2005 67,058 5,949 8.87% 7.71% 1.55% 7.54% 5.07% 0.16%
2006 41,802 3,679 8.80% 7.57% 1.61% 7.39% 4.91% 0.18%
2007 79,319 5,079 6.40% 5.57% 1.04% 5.48% 3.53% 0.10%
2008 33,322 2,321 6.97% 6.15% 1.10% 6.01% 4.12% 0.14%
2009 46,895 2,505 5.34% 4.84% 0.63% 4.73% 3.27% 0.12%
2010 23,296 1,565 6.72% 6.15% 0.77% 6.04% 2.70% 0.10%
2011 67,316 3,355 4.98% 4.61% 0.46% 4.55% 2.06% 0.06%
2012 14,586 1,007 6.90% 6.56% 0.48% 6.53% 3.01% 0.03%
2013 16,980 1,006 5.92% 5.58% 0.41% 5.55% 2.65% 0.03%
2014 16,287 850 5.22% 4.96% 0.37% 4.91% 2.58% 0.05%
2015 20,534 1,048 5.10% 4.85% 0.27% 4.79% 2.79% 0.05%
2016 14,078 592 4.21% 3.97% 0.28% 3.93% 2.83% 0.04%
2017 12,148 456 3.75% 3.48% 0.27% 3.45% 2.51% 0.03%
2018 11,601 328 2.83% 2.74% 0.08% 2.72% 2.28% 0.02%
2019 5,621 248 4.41% 4.38% 0.05% 4.34% 3.82% 0.04%
2020 218 10 4.59% 4.59% 0.00% 4.59% 4.59% 0.00%
Other 6 6 100.00% 16.67% 50.00% 16.67% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 676,302 56,740 8.39% 7.41% 1.39% 7.26% 4.64% 0.15%

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 13,096 10.38%
All Visual 9,410 1.39% 4,951 3.93%
All Functional 50,137 7.41% 13,637 10.81%
OBDII 49,099 7.26% 8,197 6.50%
Overall 56,740 8.39% 24,967 19.80%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 584,127 49,449 8.47% 99,345 20,098 20.23%
Partial 31,676 2,503 7.90% 7,637 1,638 21.45%
Basic 54,923 4,317 7.86% 14,382 2,160 15.02%
Change of Ownership 5,576 471 8.45% 1,118 251 22.45%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,624 820 22.63%
All Program Areas 676,302 56,740 8.39% 126,106 24,967 19.80%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 345,931 31,263 9.04% 74,076 14,669 19.80%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,479 208 8.39% 230 43 18.70%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,252 1,298 7.11% 2,247 345 15.35%
STAR Test-and-Repair 190,759 16,462 8.63% 38,021 8,076 21.24%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 907 73 8.05% 99 12 12.12%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 113,523 6,820 6.01% 10,484 1,558 14.86%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,366 135 5.71% 12 3 25.00%
Business Fleet 315 7 2.22% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 94 5 5.32% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 461 392 85.03% 190 91 47.89%
Government Fleet 1,215 77 6.34% 747 170 22.76%
All Stations 676,302 56,740 8.39% 126,106 24,967 19.80%

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 714,254 89.01% 88,153 10.99%
All Tests 780,254 88.43% 102,111 11.57%

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 372,578 88.71% 47,429 11.29%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,678 91.12% 1,821 8.88%
STAR Test-and-Repair 202,616 88.56% 26,164 11.44%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 114,310 92.18% 9,697 7.82%
All Stations 708,182 89.27% 85,111 10.73%

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 37,915 $55.02 190,218 $49.03 228,133 $50.03
STAR Test-Only 73,668 $49.83 345,050 $48.57 418,718 $48.79
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 10,418 $52.59 112,815 $54.97 123,233 $54.77
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,241 $44.98 17,900 $44.02 20,141 $44.12
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 12 $65.54 2,355 $63.40 2,367 $63.41
Total 124,254 $51.56 668,338 $49.71 792,592 $50.00

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 $56.75 6,916 $46.09 37,914 $55.02 183,302 $49.15
STAR Test-Only 1 $21.75 3,601 $40.98 73,667 $49.83 341,449 $48.65
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 $60.00 71,875 $60.91 10,417 $52.59 40,940 $44.53
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,717 $42.44 2,241 $44.98 10,183 $45.21
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,219 $62.84 12 $65.54 136 $72.44
Total 3 $46.17 92,328 $57.53 124,251 $51.56 576,010 $48.46

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 1182 $48.38 4,494 $401.82
$101-250 1054 $171.95
$251-500 1069 $361.56
$501-650 374 $573.20
Over $650 815 $1,185.88
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 369 $50.06 1,302 $403.20
$101-250 334 $165.93
$251-500 300 $360.82
$501-650 84 $569.05
Over $650 215 $1,372.20
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 $0.00 217 $712.87
$101-250 5 $216.86
$251-500 54 $401.55
$501-650 55 $581.82
Over $650 103 $970.14
Total Repairs $1-100 1551 $48.78 6,013 $413.35
$101-250 1393 $170.67
$251-500 1423 $362.92
$501-650 513 $573.44
Over $650 1133 $1,201.63

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 109 49 1,904 80 2,142
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,697 30 1,746
STAR Sub-Total 127 50 3,601 110 3,888
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 496 46 2,209 245 2,996
Non-STAR Test-Only 22 8 448 30 508
Non-STAR Sub-Total 518 54 2,657 275 3,504
Basic Area Dealer 62 0 0 0 62
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 5 298 13 357
Repair-Only 2 0 44 1 47
Unknown Type 1 0 24 3 28
Other Station Sub-Total 114 7 446 21 588
All Stations 759 111 6,704 406 7,980

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 169 1,899
STAR Test-Only 1 46 1,670
STAR Sub-Total 2 215 3,569
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,891 424
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 135 95
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 2,026 519
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 24 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 4
Unknown Type 0 2 20
Government Fleet 8 130 35
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 8 213 90
All Stations 11 2,454 4,178

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 274 172
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 25 9
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 18
Exempted by Directive 4 0
Parts Exemption 5 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 308 199

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,012
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,597
All License Types 9,609

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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