Skip to Main Content
BAR Headquarters and the Sacramento Field Office are temporarily closed until further notice for building maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience.
CA.govCA.gov Logo image
Home Facebook Twitter YouTube
 Contact Us  Translate  Accessibility
Bureau of Automotive Repair Logo
  • Consumers
    • Consumer Information
    • Consumer Assistance Program
    • Smog Check Program
    • Collision Repair Inspection Request
    • Auto Repair Basics
    • Auto Shop Locator
    • License Search
    • File a Complaint
  • Licensees
    • News and Updates
    • Automotive Repair Businesses
    • Inspectors/Technicians
    • Training
    • Convictions/Discipline/Denial
    • Smog Check Program
    • STAR Program
    • CAP Repairs
  • Industry
    • News and Updates
    • Certified Training Providers
    • Government Fleet Facilities
    • Cars for Schools Program
    • Careers
  • Information
    • About BAR
    • BAR Advisory Group
    • Educational Advisory Group
    • Public Workshops
    • Laws and Regulations
    • Regulatory Actions
    • Quarterly Licensing Data
    • Resources and Forms
    • Records Requests
    • News Releases
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Online Services
    • Locate an Auto Shop
    • Find a Smog Check Station
    • Check a License
    • File a Complaint
    • Check CAP Application Status
    • Submit CAP Documents
    • Search Enforcement Actions
    • Check STAR Report Card
    • Renew a License
    • View All
Custom Google Search
  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
October 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 807,185 82,755 10.25%
All Tests 889,630 96,415 10.84%

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 93,706 199,653 80,875 172,530
Non-Directed 138,056 224,064 123,641 202,684
Total 231,762 423,717 204,516 375,214

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 515 132 207 45
Non-Directed 123,294 20,085 113,310 18,438
Total 123,809 20,217 113,517 18,483

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 388 93 23.97% 15.21% 4.90% 10.31% 6.19% NA
1977 525 110 20.95% 11.81% 3.43% 12.57% 6.29% NA
1978 603 149 24.71% 16.75% 6.63% 12.44% 5.80% NA
1979 753 193 25.63% 17.13% 5.98% 11.95% 7.30% NA
1980 432 85 19.68% 14.12% 7.64% 9.03% 7.41% NA
1981 429 110 25.64% 18.65% 7.46% 10.72% 7.69% NA
1982 488 109 22.34% 15.98% 5.53% 9.02% 5.94% NA
1983 575 153 26.61% 18.78% 7.48% 12.70% 9.04% NA
1984 1,062 279 26.27% 19.87% 7.82% 11.21% 5.08% NA
1985 1,327 346 26.07% 19.29% 7.54% 11.15% 6.33% NA
1986 1,980 491 24.80% 17.37% 6.62% 11.77% 5.20% NA
1987 2,115 534 25.25% 18.06% 6.05% 10.50% 5.39% NA
1988 2,459 568 23.10% 16.75% 5.57% 9.39% 4.43% NA
1989 3,609 782 21.67% 14.91% 4.66% 10.20% 4.35% NA
1990 3,661 757 20.68% 13.63% 3.69% 10.16% 5.33% NA
1991 5,020 1,062 21.16% 13.43% 3.61% 10.04% 4.08% NA
1992 4,374 994 22.73% 14.70% 3.86% 10.31% 4.32% NA
1993 6,076 1,443 23.75% 16.44% 3.46% 10.06% 4.26% NA
1994 7,393 1,638 22.16% 14.57% 2.77% 10.20% 4.17% NA
1995 11,056 2,307 20.87% 13.30% 2.34% 8.96% 4.27% NA
1996 8,668 1,927 22.23% 10.31% 1.57% 13.32% 4.37% 13.24%
1997 16,544 3,347 20.23% 8.73% 1.34% 12.71% 3.37% 12.67%
1998 16,360 3,212 19.63% 7.31% 1.49% 13.35% 3.69% 13.31%
1999 25,856 4,012 15.52% 4.66% 0.89% 10.79% 2.93% 10.75%
2000 378 70 18.52% 10.58% 5.29% 8.73% 1.85% 8.73%
2001 356 53 14.89% 7.58% 1.40% 8.71% 2.81% 8.71%
2002 292 39 13.36% 7.88% 3.08% 9.25% 2.05% 9.25%
2003 429 56 13.05% 7.93% 3.26% 6.76% 2.10% 6.76%
2004 309 29 9.39% 5.50% 1.62% 7.12% 0.65% 7.12%
2005 433 52 12.01% 8.55% 3.23% 6.93% 2.31% 6.93%
2006 322 35 10.87% 4.66% 2.80% 7.45% 1.24% 7.45%
2007 350 21 6.00% 3.14% 0.29% 3.71% 1.14% 3.71%
2008 220 15 6.82% 4.09% 1.82% 3.18% 0.00% 3.18%
2009 132 6 4.55% 3.03% 0.76% 2.27% 0.00% 2.27%
2010 81 7 8.64% 0.00% 0.00% 7.41% 2.47% 7.41%
2011 234 9 3.85% 3.42% 0.85% 3.85% 0.43% 3.85%
2012 68 4 5.88% 4.41% 1.47% 4.41% 2.94% 4.41%
2013 36 4 11.11% 5.56% 5.56% 5.56% 5.56% 5.56%
2014 51 1 1.96% 0.00% 0.00% 1.96% 0.00% 1.96%
2015 70 1 1.43% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.43% 0.00%
2016 47 2 4.26% 6.38% 2.13% 4.26% 0.00% 4.26%
2017 65 1 1.54% 1.54% 0.00% 0.00% 1.54% 0.00%
2018 52 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 188 2 1.06% 0.53% 0.00% 0.53% 0.53% 0.53%
2020 86 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 125,952 25,108 19.93% 10.45% 2.45% 11.08% 3.89% 6.70%

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% 40.00% 0.00% 40.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 14 7 50.00% 42.86% 7.14% 42.86% 28.57% 0.00%
1998 206 45 21.84% 17.48% 4.37% 17.48% 8.25% 0.00%
1999 713 102 14.31% 12.48% 2.66% 11.08% 6.59% 1.40%
2000 26,785 4,522 16.88% 14.92% 3.35% 14.62% 9.97% 0.30%
2001 47,607 6,944 14.59% 12.92% 2.76% 12.63% 8.65% 0.28%
2002 33,379 4,549 13.63% 11.79% 2.83% 11.52% 7.60% 0.27%
2003 59,226 6,414 10.83% 9.37% 2.11% 9.12% 6.04% 0.25%
2004 37,188 4,181 11.24% 9.68% 2.23% 9.45% 6.55% 0.23%
2005 66,675 6,021 9.03% 7.82% 1.67% 7.63% 5.08% 0.19%
2006 42,588 3,899 9.16% 8.05% 1.50% 7.87% 5.10% 0.18%
2007 79,605 5,140 6.46% 5.70% 1.01% 5.54% 3.54% 0.16%
2008 34,388 2,436 7.08% 6.27% 1.08% 6.10% 4.04% 0.17%
2009 45,186 2,403 5.32% 4.76% 0.71% 4.66% 3.26% 0.10%
2010 23,827 1,601 6.72% 6.28% 0.63% 6.17% 2.82% 0.11%
2011 68,016 3,518 5.17% 4.79% 0.47% 4.73% 2.13% 0.06%
2012 15,583 1,079 6.92% 6.56% 0.46% 6.53% 3.02% 0.03%
2013 17,032 1,024 6.01% 5.68% 0.42% 5.64% 2.74% 0.04%
2014 16,696 908 5.44% 5.10% 0.38% 5.06% 2.79% 0.04%
2015 19,984 993 4.97% 4.73% 0.28% 4.70% 2.63% 0.03%
2016 14,464 665 4.60% 4.40% 0.25% 4.36% 3.14% 0.04%
2017 12,936 464 3.59% 3.41% 0.19% 3.39% 2.54% 0.02%
2018 12,312 404 3.28% 3.19% 0.11% 3.17% 2.71% 0.02%
2019 6,400 294 4.59% 4.44% 0.16% 4.42% 3.86% 0.02%
2020 406 25 6.16% 6.16% 0.00% 6.16% 5.67% 0.00%
Other 12 7 58.33% 33.33% 8.33% 33.33% 16.67% 0.00%
All Model Years 681,233 57,647 8.46% 7.51% 1.37% 7.35% 4.71% 0.16%

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 13,160 10.45%
All Visual 9,335 1.37% 4,902 3.89%
All Functional 51,173 7.51% 13,951 11.08%
OBDII 50,087 7.35% 8,443 6.70%
Overall 57,647 8.46% 25,108 19.93%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 588,621 50,146 8.52% 100,854 20,590 20.42%
Partial 32,072 2,684 8.37% 7,716 1,645 21.32%
Basic 55,011 4,345 7.90% 12,796 1,856 14.50%
Change of Ownership 5,529 472 8.54% 860 196 22.79%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,726 821 22.03%
All Program Areas 681,233 57,647 8.46% 125,952 25,108 19.93%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 348,635 31,699 9.09% 75,082 14,989 19.96%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,186 110 9.27% 119 23 19.33%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,054 1,250 6.92% 2,163 306 14.15%
STAR Test-and-Repair 193,924 16,757 8.64% 37,838 8,063 21.31%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 422 30 7.11% 85 8 9.41%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 114,076 7,117 6.24% 9,733 1,478 15.19%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,541 156 6.14% 14 1 7.14%
Business Fleet 372 7 1.88% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 87 2 2.30% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 521 441 84.64% 182 101 55.49%
Government Fleet 1,415 78 5.51% 736 139 18.89%
All Stations 681,233 57,647 8.46% 125,952 25,108 19.93%

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 716,287 88.74% 90,898 11.26%
All Tests 784,218 88.15% 105,412 11.85%

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 375,214 88.55% 48,503 11.45%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,483 91.42% 1,734 8.58%
STAR Test-and-Repair 204,516 88.24% 27,246 11.76%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 113,517 91.69% 10,292 8.31%
All Stations 711,730 89.02% 87,775 10.98%

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 37,591 $55.36 193,250 $49.97 230,841 $50.84
STAR Test-Only 74,737 $50.00 347,803 $50.72 422,540 $50.60
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 9,613 $53.67 113,298 $56.84 122,911 $56.59
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,153 $44.23 17,774 $43.80 19,927 $43.84
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 14 $70.78 2,491 $63.88 2,505 $63.91
Total 124,108 $51.81 674,616 $51.40 798,724 $51.46

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.

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 17 $71.01 9,287 $47.66 37,574 $55.35 183,963 $50.08
STAR Test-Only 1 $65.00 6,197 $40.31 74,736 $50.00 341,606 $50.91
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 $51.75 74,708 $61.92 9,612 $53.67 38,590 $47.01
Non-STAR Test-Only 2 $51.75 7,238 $44.21 2,151 $44.22 10,536 $43.51
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,374 $63.31 14 $70.78 117 $75.36
Total 21 $67.97 99,804 $58.00 124,087 $51.80 574,812 $50.25

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 1130 $48.24 4,857 $435.89
$101-250 1089 $173.62
$251-500 1186 $362.17
$501-650 417 $572.26
Over $650 1035 $1,164.63
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 395 $51.69 1,411 $378.76
$101-250 392 $172.23
$251-500 301 $367.58
$501-650 114 $573.06
Over $650 209 $1,294.36
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 $0.00 256 $729.84
$101-250 9 $218.79
$251-500 61 $385.57
$501-650 62 $576.68
Over $650 124 $1,012.88
Total Repairs $1-100 1525 $49.13 6,524 $435.07
$101-250 1490 $173.52
$251-500 1548 $364.14
$501-650 593 $572.88
Over $650 1368 $1,170.70

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 1,900 79 2,140
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,728 35 1,782
STAR Sub-Total 130 50 3,628 114 3,922
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 500 45 2,205 248 2,998
Non-STAR Test-Only 23 8 420 28 479
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 53 2,625 276 3,477
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 45 1 48
Unknown Type 0 0 7 0 7
Other Station Sub-Total 113 7 430 18 568
All Stations 766 110 6,683 408 7,967

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 3 179 1,890
STAR Test-Only 1 52 1,681
STAR Sub-Total 4 231 3,571
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,906 405
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 128 88
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,034 493
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 18 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 54 3
Unknown Type 0 2 5
Government Fleet 8 136 33
Referee 0 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 8 214 71
All Stations 14 2,479 4,135

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 288 182
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 23 7
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 16
Exempted by Directive 8 0
Parts Exemption 6 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 325 206

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,003
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,610
All License Types 9,613

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).

  • Back to Top
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Web Accessibility Certification
  • Careers
  • Register to Vote
Copyright © State of California