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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
January 2020

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 919,192 90,863 9.89%
All Tests 1,004,117 104,565 10.41%

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 104,160 218,719 90,496 189,529
Non-Directed 159,040 264,981 144,592 241,289
Total 263,200 483,700 235,088 430,818

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 543 128 203 59
Non-Directed 139,824 21,544 129,849 19,661
Total 140,367 21,672 130,052 19,720

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 399 94 23.56% 16.29% 6.52% 9.27% 4.51% NA
1977 498 131 26.31% 17.07% 7.03% 15.26% 5.42% NA
1978 579 132 22.80% 13.13% 5.18% 11.05% 5.35% NA
1979 630 156 24.76% 15.87% 6.67% 12.70% 6.83% NA
1980 384 99 25.78% 16.41% 7.55% 14.84% 6.25% NA
1981 443 117 26.41% 20.54% 8.35% 10.61% 4.29% NA
1982 467 119 25.48% 17.13% 5.35% 11.35% 6.85% NA
1983 515 138 26.80% 18.45% 7.18% 12.23% 7.77% NA
1984 993 271 27.29% 19.94% 7.25% 12.19% 7.35% NA
1985 1,294 319 24.65% 18.32% 7.73% 11.05% 6.41% NA
1986 1,707 435 25.48% 16.87% 5.98% 12.42% 6.09% NA
1987 2,011 473 23.52% 16.51% 5.27% 10.44% 4.62% NA
1988 2,315 544 23.50% 16.11% 5.18% 10.89% 4.62% NA
1989 3,170 732 23.09% 14.79% 4.95% 10.82% 4.67% NA
1990 3,700 880 23.78% 15.11% 4.43% 11.76% 4.41% NA
1991 4,230 989 23.38% 15.15% 4.23% 11.23% 3.85% NA
1992 4,481 1,027 22.92% 15.53% 4.06% 9.84% 3.73% NA
1993 5,446 1,311 24.07% 16.47% 3.65% 10.48% 3.78% NA
1994 7,004 1,690 24.13% 16.08% 3.20% 11.08% 4.07% NA
1995 8,421 2,010 23.87% 15.96% 2.99% 10.59% 4.12% NA
1996 10,167 2,011 19.78% 9.16% 1.55% 11.52% 3.82% 11.48%
1997 13,199 2,937 22.25% 9.75% 1.57% 13.68% 4.06% 13.68%
1998 19,291 3,508 18.18% 6.80% 1.24% 12.04% 3.19% 12.02%
1999 21,477 3,637 16.93% 5.25% 1.05% 11.79% 3.32% 11.78%
2000 341 49 14.37% 7.62% 4.40% 6.74% 2.35% 6.74%
2001 262 32 12.21% 6.87% 1.91% 7.25% 1.91% 6.87%
2002 329 36 10.94% 6.69% 2.13% 6.08% 1.52% 6.08%
2003 279 30 10.75% 3.58% 1.43% 7.17% 1.43% 7.17%
2004 364 24 6.59% 1.92% 0.27% 3.57% 1.10% 3.57%
2005 291 23 7.90% 5.50% 2.41% 3.44% 1.03% 3.44%
2006 451 27 5.99% 3.99% 1.55% 1.77% 1.77% 1.77%
2007 295 20 6.78% 4.75% 1.36% 2.03% 0.68% 2.03%
2008 307 18 5.86% 3.91% 1.30% 2.28% 0.65% 2.28%
2009 70 5 7.14% 4.29% 4.29% 2.86% 0.00% 2.86%
2010 80 6 7.50% 1.25% 0.00% 5.00% 2.50% 5.00%
2011 129 2 1.55% 0.00% 0.00% 0.78% 0.78% 0.78%
2012 262 5 1.91% 0.76% 0.00% 0.76% 0.38% 0.76%
2013 47 3 6.38% 0.00% 0.00% 4.26% 2.13% 4.26%
2014 54 3 5.56% 1.85% 0.00% 3.70% 1.85% 3.70%
2015 40 2 5.00% 2.50% 0.00% 2.50% 0.00% 2.50%
2016 39 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 38 1 2.63% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.63% 0.00%
2018 64 1 1.56% 0.00% 0.00% 1.56% 0.00% 1.56%
2019 117 1 0.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.85% 0.00% 0.85%
2020 32 2 6.25% 0.00% 0.00% 3.13% 3.13% 3.13%
Other 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 116,715 24,051 20.61% 10.82% 2.58% 11.41% 3.83% 6.82%

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 1 20.00% 20.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 10 3 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 256 39 15.23% 12.50% 3.52% 11.72% 5.86% 0.78%
1999 915 128 13.99% 13.22% 2.08% 12.46% 8.85% 0.77%
2000 37,499 6,007 16.02% 14.28% 3.04% 14.01% 9.99% 0.27%
2001 32,760 5,628 17.18% 15.36% 3.10% 15.09% 10.32% 0.27%
2002 48,598 6,167 12.69% 11.04% 2.49% 10.81% 7.13% 0.23%
2003 40,358 5,510 13.65% 11.97% 2.61% 11.69% 7.67% 0.28%
2004 62,754 6,452 10.28% 8.90% 1.90% 8.72% 5.87% 0.18%
2005 47,308 5,150 10.89% 9.41% 2.03% 9.22% 6.08% 0.18%
2006 76,908 6,149 8.00% 6.94% 1.42% 6.81% 4.53% 0.13%
2007 52,743 4,098 7.77% 6.82% 1.33% 6.72% 4.29% 0.10%
2008 68,137 4,052 5.95% 5.22% 0.95% 5.11% 3.46% 0.10%
2009 26,472 1,771 6.69% 6.04% 0.90% 5.93% 4.07% 0.10%
2010 57,634 2,957 5.13% 4.73% 0.48% 4.67% 2.17% 0.06%
2011 37,016 2,626 7.09% 6.63% 0.63% 6.58% 2.70% 0.05%
2012 88,236 4,099 4.65% 4.34% 0.39% 4.30% 2.21% 0.04%
2013 17,275 1,043 6.04% 5.69% 0.43% 5.67% 2.74% 0.02%
2014 17,148 955 5.57% 5.22% 0.42% 5.20% 2.68% 0.02%
2015 18,962 990 5.22% 4.95% 0.33% 4.90% 2.77% 0.05%
2016 32,724 1,486 4.54% 4.33% 0.22% 4.31% 3.13% 0.01%
2017 15,338 680 4.43% 4.22% 0.23% 4.21% 3.31% 0.02%
2018 12,151 387 3.18% 3.07% 0.12% 3.03% 2.54% 0.04%
2019 10,095 349 3.46% 3.32% 0.13% 3.29% 2.77% 0.03%
2020 1,167 80 6.86% 6.68% 0.26% 6.68% 6.43% 0.00%
Other 8 5 62.50% 12.50% 37.50% 12.50% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 802,477 66,812 8.33% 7.42% 1.31% 7.30% 4.66% 0.12%

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 12,624 10.82%
All Visual 10,484 1.31% 4,473 3.83%
All Functional 59,548 7.42% 13,323 11.41%
OBDII 58,552 7.30% 7,963 6.82%
Overall 66,812 8.33% 24,051 20.61%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 694,813 58,195 8.38% 97,022 20,058 20.67%
Partial 37,886 3,132 8.27% 7,511 1,661 22.11%
Basic 63,928 4,992 7.81% 7,881 1,308 16.60%
Change of Ownership 5,850 493 8.43% 589 162 27.50%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,711 862 23.23%
All Program Areas 802,477 66,812 8.33% 116,715 24,051 20.61%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 411,331 36,983 8.99% 72,369 14,576 20.14%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,602 102 6.37% 119 13 10.92%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,891 1,493 7.51% 1,781 311 17.46%
STAR Test-and-Repair 228,022 19,242 8.44% 35,178 7,754 22.04%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 802 70 8.73% 37 11 29.73%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 134,567 8,175 6.08% 5,800 1,029 17.74%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,905 152 5.23% 2 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 506 18 3.56% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 37 1 2.70% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 539 459 85.16% 167 98 58.68%
Government Fleet 2,275 117 5.14% 1,262 259 20.52%
All Stations 802,477 66,812 8.33% 116,715 24,051 20.61%

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 821,418 89.36% 97,774 10.64%
All Tests 891,894 88.82% 112,223 11.18%

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 430,818 89.07% 52,882 10.93%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,720 90.99% 1,952 9.01%
STAR Test-and-Repair 235,088 89.32% 28,112 10.68%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 130,052 92.65% 10,315 7.35%
All Stations 815,678 89.74% 93,261 10.26%

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 35,138 $55.59 227,251 $49.05 262,389 $49.93
STAR Test-Only 72,126 $50.49 409,843 $50.53 481,969 $50.53
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,791 $57.04 134,085 $59.29 139,876 $59.20
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,757 $43.88 19,783 $43.17 21,540 $43.23
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2 $70.75 2,905 $65.29 2,907 $65.30
Total 114,814 $52.28 793,867 $51.46 908,681 $51.56

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 15,761 $46.74 35,138 $55.59 211,490 $49.22
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,890 $44.14 72,126 $50.49 401,953 $50.66
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 $60.00 104,743 $61.18 5,790 $57.04 29,342 $52.57
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 9,605 $41.41 1,757 $43.88 10,178 $44.83
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,890 $65.29 2 $70.75 15 $65.75
Total 1 $60.00 140,889 $57.34 114,813 $52.28 652,978 $50.19

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 1120 $52.36 4,678 $417.75
$101-250 1066 $171.93
$251-500 1182 $362.45
$501-650 416 $572.60
Over $650 894 $1,169.67
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 353 $52.02 1,414 $443.70
$101-250 360 $168.77
$251-500 333 $354.48
$501-650 102 $577.03
Over $650 266 $1,396.16
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 $0.00 125 $720.91
$101-250 3 $209.15
$251-500 23 $405.89
$501-650 36 $591.37
Over $650 63 $934.32
Total Repairs $1-100 1473 $52.28 6,217 $429.75
$101-250 1429 $171.21
$251-500 1538 $361.37
$501-650 554 $574.64
Over $650 1223 $1,206.80

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 107 48 1,875 77 2,107
STAR Test-Only 18 1 1,726 35 1,780
STAR Sub-Total 125 49 3,601 112 3,887
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 500 46 2,184 246 2,976
Non-STAR Test-Only 23 8 373 31 435
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 54 2,557 277 3,411
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 5 299 13 358
Repair-Only 2 0 43 1 46
Unknown Type 0 0 23 2 25
Other Station Sub-Total 111 7 442 20 580
All Stations 759 110 6,600 409 7,878

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 235 1,813
STAR Test-Only 0 57 1,679
STAR Sub-Total 0 292 3,492
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 2,007 271
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 135 62
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 2,142 333
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 13 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 1
Unknown Type 0 0 18
Government Fleet 6 140 35
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 6 210 85
All Stations 7 2,644 3,910

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 249 150
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 30 7
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 1 15
Exempted by Directive 8 0
Parts Exemption 2 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 290 173

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,328
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,182
All License Types 9,510

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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