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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
December 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 755,022 73,828 9.78%
All Tests 825,735 85,277 10.33%

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 86,862 188,410 75,704 164,087
Non-Directed 127,538 209,959 114,383 190,249
Total 214,400 398,369 190,087 354,336

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 475 100 161 42
Non-Directed 116,067 18,440 106,993 16,962
Total 116,542 18,540 107,154 17,004

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 304 74 24.34% 15.79% 5.92% 10.86% 5.59% NA
1977 424 104 24.53% 16.04% 5.66% 12.26% 7.08% NA
1978 486 108 22.22% 14.61% 5.35% 10.49% 5.56% NA
1979 541 135 24.95% 16.64% 7.76% 10.54% 6.28% NA
1980 351 92 26.21% 17.66% 7.98% 12.82% 5.98% NA
1981 322 80 24.84% 17.70% 6.52% 10.87% 5.28% NA
1982 405 92 22.72% 15.80% 3.46% 9.63% 6.91% NA
1983 398 98 24.62% 17.34% 6.53% 11.81% 4.52% NA
1984 817 214 26.19% 18.24% 6.61% 11.38% 5.39% NA
1985 981 236 24.06% 18.35% 6.42% 8.36% 4.38% NA
1986 1,456 362 24.86% 17.03% 5.43% 11.61% 5.70% NA
1987 1,825 454 24.88% 17.26% 5.92% 10.79% 5.32% NA
1988 1,963 446 22.72% 15.59% 4.89% 10.29% 4.28% NA
1989 2,740 625 22.81% 14.78% 4.34% 10.95% 3.91% NA
1990 3,115 691 22.18% 14.64% 3.72% 10.05% 3.98% NA
1991 3,896 854 21.92% 14.53% 3.80% 9.98% 3.70% NA
1992 3,649 809 22.17% 14.69% 3.81% 9.84% 3.92% NA
1993 4,531 1,093 24.12% 16.60% 3.69% 10.37% 3.86% NA
1994 5,670 1,325 23.37% 14.97% 3.33% 10.92% 4.18% NA
1995 7,921 1,726 21.79% 14.08% 2.78% 9.39% 4.12% NA
1996 7,582 1,613 21.27% 9.18% 1.08% 13.08% 3.69% 13.02%
1997 12,083 2,634 21.80% 9.23% 1.55% 13.52% 3.83% 13.51%
1998 14,259 2,637 18.49% 7.22% 1.49% 12.05% 3.10% 12.03%
1999 20,274 3,351 16.53% 4.82% 0.98% 11.73% 3.01% 11.70%
2000 306 58 18.95% 11.44% 4.58% 10.78% 1.63% 10.78%
2001 235 34 14.47% 5.11% 2.55% 11.06% 1.70% 11.06%
2002 224 34 15.18% 5.80% 2.23% 11.61% 1.34% 11.61%
2003 252 28 11.11% 3.97% 0.79% 8.33% 1.19% 7.94%
2004 241 24 9.96% 2.90% 1.24% 7.47% 1.66% 7.47%
2005 269 34 12.64% 7.06% 2.60% 6.69% 2.60% 6.69%
2006 333 26 7.81% 2.70% 1.20% 4.80% 1.20% 4.80%
2007 277 24 8.66% 3.61% 1.08% 5.42% 0.00% 5.42%
2008 209 15 7.18% 0.96% 0.48% 5.74% 1.44% 5.74%
2009 106 7 6.60% 1.89% 1.89% 3.77% 1.89% 3.77%
2010 54 1 1.85% 1.85% 0.00% 1.85% 0.00% 1.85%
2011 149 1 0.67% 0.67% 0.00% 0.67% 0.00% 0.67%
2012 123 2 1.63% 1.63% 0.81% 0.81% 0.00% 0.81%
2013 47 1 2.13% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 2.13% 2.13%
2014 44 5 11.36% 0.00% 0.00% 9.09% 2.27% 9.09%
2015 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 30 3 10.00% 3.33% 0.00% 6.67% 0.00% 6.67%
2017 44 1 2.27% 0.00% 0.00% 2.27% 2.27% 2.27%
2018 49 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 138 1 0.72% 0.72% 0.72% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 34 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 2 1 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 99,195 20,153 20.32% 10.44% 2.44% 11.31% 3.66% 6.96%

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 6 2 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 5 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 231 33 14.29% 12.12% 3.46% 10.82% 5.63% 1.30%
1999 780 113 14.49% 13.08% 1.79% 12.82% 8.33% 0.26%
2000 27,467 4,422 16.10% 14.44% 3.04% 14.19% 10.03% 0.25%
2001 33,920 5,238 15.44% 13.78% 2.69% 13.58% 9.24% 0.20%
2002 35,193 4,488 12.75% 11.16% 2.56% 10.91% 7.17% 0.25%
2003 43,052 5,288 12.28% 10.69% 2.39% 10.46% 6.82% 0.23%
2004 43,851 4,458 10.17% 8.80% 1.97% 8.58% 5.78% 0.23%
2005 51,825 5,038 9.72% 8.51% 1.68% 8.33% 5.63% 0.18%
2006 51,944 4,173 8.03% 6.99% 1.40% 6.84% 4.56% 0.15%
2007 58,075 4,181 7.20% 6.27% 1.26% 6.15% 3.85% 0.12%
2008 45,160 2,712 6.01% 5.32% 0.87% 5.20% 3.53% 0.11%
2009 30,525 1,805 5.91% 5.29% 0.80% 5.22% 3.64% 0.08%
2010 35,899 1,770 4.93% 4.56% 0.48% 4.50% 2.20% 0.06%
2011 49,489 2,842 5.74% 5.40% 0.47% 5.35% 2.29% 0.05%
2012 45,226 2,126 4.70% 4.40% 0.36% 4.37% 2.44% 0.02%
2013 14,601 952 6.52% 6.10% 0.58% 6.06% 2.99% 0.03%
2014 14,592 787 5.39% 5.12% 0.36% 5.10% 2.69% 0.02%
2015 16,904 871 5.15% 4.88% 0.30% 4.86% 2.71% 0.02%
2016 25,587 1,197 4.68% 4.51% 0.21% 4.48% 3.28% 0.03%
2017 12,433 466 3.75% 3.57% 0.19% 3.52% 2.67% 0.05%
2018 10,466 347 3.32% 3.20% 0.12% 3.17% 2.65% 0.03%
2019 7,886 313 3.97% 3.82% 0.15% 3.77% 3.26% 0.05%
2020 699 45 6.44% 6.29% 0.14% 6.29% 5.87% 0.00%
Other 11 8 72.73% 36.36% 27.27% 36.36% 9.09% 0.00%
All Model Years 655,827 53,675 8.18% 7.30% 1.28% 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 10,351 10.44%
All Visual 8,390 1.28% 3,633 3.66%
All Functional 47,903 7.30% 11,219 11.31%
OBDII 47,070 7.18% 6,908 6.96%
Overall 53,675 8.18% 20,153 20.32%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 567,205 46,805 8.25% 81,006 16,538 20.42%
Partial 30,925 2,460 7.95% 6,196 1,400 22.60%
Basic 52,762 4,007 7.59% 7,988 1,280 16.02%
Change of Ownership 4,935 403 8.17% 613 142 23.16%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 2 1 50.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,390 792 23.36%
All Program Areas 655,827 53,675 8.18% 99,195 20,153 20.32%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 337,243 29,738 8.82% 61,126 12,177 19.92%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 958 49 5.11% 90 17 18.89%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,969 1,136 6.69% 1,571 264 16.80%
STAR Test-and-Repair 185,111 15,419 8.33% 29,289 6,419 21.92%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 230 12 5.22% 17 6 35.29%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 110,479 6,711 6.07% 6,063 1,000 16.49%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,494 141 5.65% 12 1 8.33%
Business Fleet 484 9 1.86% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 46 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 412 346 83.98% 174 90 51.72%
Government Fleet 1,401 114 8.14% 853 179 20.98%
All Stations 655,827 53,675 8.18% 99,195 20,153 20.32%

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 672,748 89.10% 82,274 10.90%
All Tests 731,016 88.53% 94,719 11.47%

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 354,336 88.95% 44,033 11.05%
Non-STAR Test-Only 17,004 91.72% 1,536 8.28%
STAR Test-and-Repair 190,087 88.66% 24,313 11.34%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 107,154 91.94% 9,388 8.06%
All Stations 668,581 89.40% 79,270 10.60%

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 29,215 $55.27 183,933 $49.28 213,148 $50.10
STAR Test-Only 60,933 $50.57 335,343 $50.44 396,276 $50.46
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 6,056 $55.36 109,105 $57.63 115,161 $57.51
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,569 $43.11 16,899 $45.23 18,468 $45.05
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 12 $77.74 2,494 $62.77 2,506 $62.85
Total 97,785 $52.15 647,774 $51.23 745,559 $51.36

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 11,080 $47.81 29,215 $55.27 172,853 $49.37
STAR Test-Only 2 $60.00 6,235 $44.88 60,931 $50.57 329,108 $50.55
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 $79.95 78,647 $61.25 6,055 $55.36 30,458 $48.28
Non-STAR Test-Only 6 $41.75 8,227 $42.72 1,563 $43.11 8,672 $47.62
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,419 $61.91 12 $77.74 75 $90.73
Total 9 $50.05 106,608 $57.48 97,776 $52.15 541,166 $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.

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) $1-100 987 $49.59 3,884 $420.71
$101-250 864 $171.21
$251-500 967 $364.33
$501-650 336 $575.33
Over $650 730 $1,221.29
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 277 $51.12 1,129 $427.32
$101-250 313 $168.31
$251-500 257 $360.80
$501-650 86 $569.06
Over $650 196 $1,397.66
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 $0.00 141 $750.00
$101-250 1 $249.82
$251-500 30 $382.09
$501-650 26 $580.26
Over $650 84 $939.89
Total Repairs $1-100 1264 $49.93 5,154 $431.17
$101-250 1178 $170.51
$251-500 1254 $364.03
$501-650 448 $574.41
Over $650 1010 $1,232.11

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 47 1,889 78 2,123
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,704 36 1,759
STAR Sub-Total 127 48 3,593 114 3,882
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 500 46 2,183 247 2,976
Non-STAR Test-Only 22 8 414 30 474
Non-STAR Sub-Total 522 54 2,597 277 3,450
Basic Area Dealer 60 0 0 0 60
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 44 1 47
Unknown Type 0 0 15 0 15
Other Station Sub-Total 111 7 434 18 570
All Stations 760 109 6,624 409 7,902

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 221 1,833
STAR Test-Only 1 59 1,654
STAR Sub-Total 3 280 3,487
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,943 333
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 124 98
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 2,067 431
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 18 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 2
Unknown Type 0 1 13
Government Fleet 7 125 26
Referee 0 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 7 202 71
All Stations 12 2,549 3,989

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 241 137
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 37 10
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 22
Exempted by Directive 9 0
Parts Exemption 1 2
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 288 171

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,282
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,162
All License Types 9,444

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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