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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
November 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 737,499 73,955 10.03%
All Tests 809,238 85,670 10.59%

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 86,437 188,008 74,985 163,388
Non-Directed 123,853 206,159 110,949 186,821
Total 210,290 394,167 185,934 350,209

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 475 85 145 55
Non-Directed 109,221 17,191 100,658 15,751
Total 109,696 17,276 100,803 15,806

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 335 81 24.18% 17.61% 6.87% 10.15% 6.57% NA
1977 445 102 22.92% 14.16% 5.84% 11.46% 5.84% NA
1978 541 119 22.00% 13.86% 5.18% 8.87% 5.18% NA
1979 639 174 27.23% 19.56% 8.61% 13.93% 7.82% NA
1980 329 66 20.06% 12.46% 4.56% 11.55% 6.69% NA
1981 393 99 25.19% 18.32% 7.38% 11.96% 6.36% NA
1982 424 115 27.12% 19.58% 7.78% 11.79% 6.84% NA
1983 468 117 25.00% 17.95% 7.91% 9.83% 5.56% NA
1984 916 212 23.14% 17.47% 7.42% 8.95% 4.48% NA
1985 1,172 291 24.83% 17.24% 6.74% 10.49% 5.80% NA
1986 1,617 394 24.37% 16.39% 5.81% 12.86% 6.06% NA
1987 1,947 447 22.96% 17.15% 5.91% 9.96% 4.73% NA
1988 2,035 469 23.05% 16.56% 4.96% 9.98% 4.57% NA
1989 3,073 688 22.39% 13.96% 4.20% 11.29% 5.24% NA
1990 3,258 703 21.58% 13.84% 4.14% 10.44% 4.30% NA
1991 4,015 868 21.62% 13.97% 3.36% 10.19% 4.06% NA
1992 3,718 766 20.60% 13.10% 3.42% 9.71% 4.55% NA
1993 5,059 1,194 23.60% 16.01% 3.36% 10.48% 4.39% NA
1994 6,442 1,481 22.99% 14.86% 2.92% 10.68% 4.33% NA
1995 8,931 1,937 21.69% 14.89% 2.73% 9.15% 4.01% NA
1996 7,608 1,608 21.14% 10.16% 1.45% 13.14% 3.30% 13.04%
1997 13,916 2,835 20.37% 8.71% 1.23% 12.54% 3.42% 12.49%
1998 14,782 2,758 18.66% 7.23% 1.39% 12.13% 3.50% 12.10%
1999 22,335 3,596 16.10% 5.02% 0.94% 11.22% 2.97% 11.20%
2000 315 63 20.00% 11.75% 5.71% 10.48% 2.54% 10.48%
2001 295 58 19.66% 6.44% 3.05% 14.58% 4.07% 14.58%
2002 268 35 13.06% 7.46% 2.61% 8.21% 2.61% 8.21%
2003 343 56 16.33% 6.41% 3.21% 11.66% 2.62% 11.66%
2004 269 26 9.67% 2.97% 0.37% 7.43% 1.12% 7.43%
2005 338 29 8.58% 3.85% 0.59% 5.03% 1.48% 4.44%
2006 299 35 11.71% 4.35% 1.67% 7.02% 1.67% 7.02%
2007 305 33 10.82% 7.87% 2.30% 4.92% 0.98% 4.92%
2008 197 12 6.09% 2.54% 1.02% 4.57% 1.52% 4.57%
2009 119 11 9.24% 3.36% 3.36% 5.04% 0.84% 5.04%
2010 41 2 4.88% 0.00% 0.00% 2.44% 2.44% 2.44%
2011 259 4 1.54% 0.39% 0.00% 1.16% 0.39% 1.16%
2012 153 1 0.65% 0.00% 0.00% 0.65% 0.00% 0.65%
2013 55 1 1.82% 0.00% 0.00% 1.82% 1.82% 1.82%
2014 56 2 3.57% 0.00% 0.00% 3.57% 0.00% 3.57%
2015 52 1 1.92% 1.92% 0.00% 0.00% 1.92% 0.00%
2016 21 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 43 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 44 0 0.00% 2.27% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 100 2 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
2020 59 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 108,030 21,491 19.89% 10.43% 2.40% 11.09% 3.78% 6.71%

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 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 7 2 28.57% 14.29% 0.00% 14.29% 14.29% 0.00%
1998 209 38 18.18% 16.27% 3.83% 14.83% 4.78% 1.44%
1999 721 107 14.84% 13.45% 2.77% 12.62% 8.74% 0.83%
2000 25,917 4,373 16.87% 15.20% 3.29% 14.92% 10.36% 0.28%
2001 39,032 5,879 15.06% 13.31% 2.84% 13.00% 8.87% 0.31%
2002 32,110 4,405 13.72% 12.01% 2.76% 11.66% 7.62% 0.35%
2003 49,407 5,628 11.39% 10.00% 2.15% 9.75% 6.40% 0.25%
2004 38,094 4,058 10.65% 9.18% 2.12% 8.93% 5.94% 0.25%
2005 58,035 5,257 9.06% 7.96% 1.59% 7.74% 5.18% 0.22%
2006 44,326 3,684 8.31% 7.22% 1.48% 7.04% 4.72% 0.18%
2007 66,376 4,313 6.50% 5.64% 1.12% 5.51% 3.47% 0.13%
2008 37,317 2,294 6.15% 5.50% 0.91% 5.39% 3.63% 0.11%
2009 36,278 1,974 5.44% 4.90% 0.71% 4.81% 3.38% 0.09%
2010 27,174 1,626 5.98% 5.55% 0.56% 5.46% 2.63% 0.10%
2011 57,645 3,073 5.33% 4.98% 0.46% 4.92% 2.09% 0.06%
2012 25,621 1,439 5.62% 5.35% 0.34% 5.30% 2.84% 0.05%
2013 14,597 883 6.05% 5.73% 0.38% 5.67% 2.70% 0.07%
2014 14,461 806 5.57% 5.29% 0.35% 5.26% 2.83% 0.03%
2015 16,990 849 5.00% 4.81% 0.21% 4.77% 2.57% 0.05%
2016 15,622 704 4.51% 4.33% 0.19% 4.28% 3.14% 0.04%
2017 11,571 458 3.96% 3.75% 0.26% 3.72% 2.73% 0.03%
2018 10,866 335 3.08% 2.88% 0.21% 2.85% 2.31% 0.03%
2019 6,604 244 3.69% 3.57% 0.12% 3.53% 3.09% 0.05%
2020 478 30 6.28% 5.65% 0.42% 5.65% 4.81% 0.00%
Other 7 5 71.43% 57.14% 28.57% 57.14% 28.57% 0.00%
All Model Years 629,469 52,464 8.33% 7.44% 1.34% 7.28% 4.65% 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 11,267 10.43%
All Visual 8,405 1.34% 4,081 3.78%
All Functional 46,815 7.44% 11,984 11.09%
OBDII 45,806 7.28% 7,254 6.71%
Overall 52,464 8.33% 21,491 19.89%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 545,543 45,744 8.39% 87,767 17,755 20.23%
Partial 29,221 2,454 8.40% 6,562 1,469 22.39%
Basic 49,946 3,886 7.78% 9,955 1,416 14.22%
Change of Ownership 4,759 380 7.98% 682 153 22.43%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 2 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,062 698 22.80%
All Program Areas 629,469 52,464 8.33% 108,030 21,491 19.89%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 328,312 29,202 8.89% 65,855 13,064 19.84%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 713 46 6.45% 86 8 9.30%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,598 1,054 6.76% 1,678 260 15.49%
STAR Test-and-Repair 178,045 15,276 8.58% 32,245 6,872 21.31%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 519 44 8.48% 36 8 22.22%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 102,229 6,297 6.16% 7,467 1,111 14.88%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,180 129 5.92% 5 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 348 8 2.30% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 88 2 2.27% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 375 334 89.07% 108 65 60.19%
Government Fleet 1,062 72 6.78% 550 103 18.73%
All Stations 629,469 52,464 8.33% 108,030 21,491 19.89%

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 656,493 89.02% 81,006 10.98%
All Tests 715,796 88.45% 93,442 11.55%

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 350,209 88.85% 43,958 11.15%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,806 91.49% 1,470 8.51%
STAR Test-and-Repair 185,934 88.42% 24,356 11.58%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 100,803 91.89% 8,893 8.11%
All Stations 652,752 89.24% 78,677 10.76%

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 32,116 $54.86 174,285 $49.83 206,401 $50.62
STAR Test-Only 65,615 $50.06 326,522 $51.49 392,137 $51.25
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 7,462 $53.86 97,739 $55.97 105,201 $55.82
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,663 $45.12 14,952 $43.12 16,615 $43.32
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 5 $70.59 2,078 $64.87 2,083 $64.89
Total 106,861 $51.69 615,576 $51.57 722,437 $51.59

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 9,210 $64.12 32,116 $54.86 165,075 $49.04
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 6,019 $40.84 65,615 $50.06 320,503 $51.69
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 67,040 $60.53 7,462 $53.86 30,699 $46.02
Non-STAR Test-Only 25 $50.00 7,120 $42.79 1,638 $45.05 7,832 $43.42
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,014 $64.18 5 $70.59 64 $86.77
Total 25 $50.00 91,403 $58.29 106,836 $51.69 524,173 $50.40

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) $1-100 940 $47.73 4,069 $414.97
$101-250 975 $172.08
$251-500 1006 $363.10
$501-650 366 $574.81
Over $650 782 $1,151.15
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 288 $50.39 1,101 $449.96
$101-250 287 $167.31
$251-500 259 $356.02
$501-650 67 $570.42
Over $650 200 $1,512.27
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 $0.00 140 $740.61
$101-250 3 $196.49
$251-500 32 $395.50
$501-650 29 $570.52
Over $650 76 $972.29
Total Repairs $1-100 1228 $48.35 5,310 $430.81
$101-250 1265 $171.06
$251-500 1297 $362.48
$501-650 462 $573.90
Over $650 1058 $1,206.56

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 110 48 1,886 79 2,123
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,717 35 1,771
STAR Sub-Total 128 49 3,603 114 3,894
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 495 46 2,208 249 2,998
Non-STAR Test-Only 21 8 429 28 486
Non-STAR Sub-Total 516 54 2,637 277 3,484
Basic Area Dealer 61 0 0 0 61
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 46 4 55
Referee 5 0 27 0 32
Government Fleet 41 5 298 13 357
Repair-Only 2 0 45 1 48
Unknown Type 1 0 14 0 15
Other Station Sub-Total 113 7 434 18 572
All Stations 757 110 6,674 409 7,950

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 192 1,856
STAR Test-Only 0 54 1,671
STAR Sub-Total 0 246 3,527
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,928 360
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 120 99
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 2,048 459
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 54 2
Unknown Type 0 1 11
Government Fleet 15 135 21
Referee 0 2 29
Other Station Sub-Total 15 216 63
All Stations 16 2,510 4,049

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 162 115
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 20 3
Hardship Extensions 1 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 7
Exempted by Directive 4 1
Parts Exemption 1 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 188 127

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EI (Repair Only) 1
EO (Inspect Only) 3,982
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,507
All License Types 9,490

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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