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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
February 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 879,196 90,397 10.28%
All Tests 963,134 103,888 10.79%

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 100,971 211,606 87,436 182,889
Non-Directed 152,624 254,646 137,760 230,821
Total 253,595 466,252 225,196 413,710

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 568 78 224 39
Non-Directed 129,884 18,904 120,141 17,216
Total 130,452 18,982 120,365 17,255

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 410 100 24.39% 15.85% 6.10% 10.00% 4.88% NA
1977 542 107 19.74% 13.47% 3.87% 9.96% 4.61% NA
1978 608 147 24.18% 14.97% 6.25% 12.83% 5.26% NA
1979 698 169 24.21% 15.47% 5.59% 12.46% 5.73% NA
1980 390 89 22.82% 14.10% 7.69% 11.54% 6.92% NA
1981 425 121 28.47% 20.94% 9.65% 12.71% 8.00% NA
1982 461 115 24.95% 16.05% 8.24% 12.15% 6.72% NA
1983 558 136 24.37% 16.67% 6.63% 11.65% 5.20% NA
1984 1,029 275 26.72% 20.31% 7.87% 11.08% 5.44% NA
1985 1,351 354 26.20% 18.58% 6.59% 12.44% 6.29% NA
1986 1,755 426 24.27% 16.81% 5.58% 11.79% 6.27% NA
1987 2,022 521 25.77% 18.00% 6.08% 11.13% 5.00% NA
1988 2,367 565 23.87% 16.22% 5.28% 11.36% 4.31% NA
1989 3,369 798 23.69% 16.27% 4.60% 11.28% 4.81% NA
1990 3,994 909 22.76% 14.87% 4.46% 11.44% 3.63% NA
1991 4,414 997 22.59% 14.64% 4.01% 10.94% 4.12% NA
1992 4,404 970 22.03% 14.44% 3.59% 10.06% 3.75% NA
1993 5,420 1,273 23.49% 15.39% 3.21% 10.54% 4.23% NA
1994 7,050 1,713 24.30% 15.23% 2.88% 11.06% 3.99% NA
1995 8,279 1,902 22.97% 14.99% 2.51% 10.18% 3.94% NA
1996 10,824 2,246 20.75% 9.76% 1.15% 11.81% 3.93% 11.79%
1997 13,100 2,923 22.31% 9.84% 1.53% 13.87% 3.72% 13.85%
1998 19,409 3,688 19.00% 7.44% 1.24% 12.41% 3.32% 12.40%
1999 21,208 3,749 17.68% 5.70% 1.07% 12.44% 3.44% 12.44%
2000 366 50 13.66% 6.56% 3.28% 7.38% 3.01% 7.38%
2001 239 40 16.74% 8.79% 1.67% 10.04% 2.93% 10.04%
2002 321 45 14.02% 4.98% 1.25% 8.72% 2.80% 8.72%
2003 273 35 12.82% 6.96% 2.20% 8.06% 2.20% 8.06%
2004 409 36 8.80% 3.42% 0.98% 6.11% 2.20% 6.11%
2005 302 27 8.94% 3.31% 1.32% 5.96% 0.66% 5.96%
2006 504 32 6.35% 2.38% 0.40% 3.37% 1.98% 3.37%
2007 257 19 7.39% 2.72% 0.78% 5.84% 1.17% 5.84%
2008 306 14 4.58% 2.29% 1.31% 2.29% 0.65% 2.29%
2009 87 6 6.90% 3.45% 2.30% 3.45% 2.30% 3.45%
2010 75 5 6.67% 0.00% 0.00% 4.00% 2.67% 4.00%
2011 119 3 2.52% 0.84% 0.84% 2.52% 0.84% 2.52%
2012 259 7 2.70% 0.39% 0.00% 2.32% 0.77% 1.93%
2013 50 3 6.00% 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 6.00% 0.00%
2014 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 57 2 3.51% 0.00% 0.00% 1.75% 0.00% 1.75%
2016 45 3 6.67% 0.00% 0.00% 4.44% 6.67% 4.44%
2017 59 2 3.39% 1.69% 0.00% 1.69% 3.39% 1.69%
2018 84 1 1.19% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.19% 0.00%
2019 178 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 47 1 2.13% 2.13% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 0.00%
Other 3 2 66.67% 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 118,171 24,626 20.84% 10.88% 2.43% 11.65% 3.85% 7.06%

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 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 14 7 50.00% 35.71% 21.43% 28.57% 14.29% 7.14%
1998 189 39 20.63% 18.52% 4.23% 16.40% 8.99% 2.12%
1999 825 134 16.24% 13.45% 3.03% 13.09% 8.97% 0.36%
2000 36,538 6,174 16.90% 15.08% 3.15% 14.79% 10.45% 0.30%
2001 29,830 5,371 18.01% 16.00% 3.50% 15.72% 10.67% 0.29%
2002 47,123 6,270 13.31% 11.72% 2.56% 11.48% 7.80% 0.23%
2003 36,560 5,271 14.42% 12.72% 2.86% 12.43% 8.19% 0.30%
2004 61,517 6,514 10.59% 9.23% 1.95% 9.04% 6.21% 0.19%
2005 42,527 4,730 11.12% 9.87% 1.92% 9.62% 6.35% 0.25%
2006 73,989 6,225 8.41% 7.35% 1.44% 7.23% 4.83% 0.11%
2007 47,697 3,950 8.28% 7.14% 1.48% 6.99% 4.59% 0.15%
2008 66,350 4,098 6.18% 5.41% 0.97% 5.31% 3.64% 0.10%
2009 23,446 1,612 6.88% 6.21% 0.89% 6.09% 4.27% 0.12%
2010 57,820 3,200 5.53% 5.12% 0.53% 5.05% 2.52% 0.07%
2011 30,513 2,293 7.51% 7.03% 0.64% 6.94% 3.00% 0.09%
2012 94,036 4,397 4.68% 4.33% 0.43% 4.28% 2.09% 0.04%
2013 15,612 1,011 6.48% 6.10% 0.49% 6.07% 2.94% 0.03%
2014 15,991 944 5.90% 5.58% 0.41% 5.54% 3.00% 0.04%
2015 17,468 895 5.12% 4.90% 0.28% 4.88% 2.79% 0.02%
2016 24,821 1,099 4.43% 4.21% 0.25% 4.19% 2.87% 0.03%
2017 14,414 642 4.45% 4.31% 0.15% 4.28% 3.25% 0.03%
2018 11,796 430 3.65% 3.50% 0.18% 3.44% 2.72% 0.06%
2019 10,517 378 3.59% 3.42% 0.16% 3.42% 2.97% 0.00%
2020 1,426 83 5.82% 5.82% 0.00% 5.75% 5.19% 0.07%
Other 5 4 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 60.00% 60.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 761,025 65,771 8.64% 7.72% 1.36% 7.59% 4.88% 0.14%

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 12,862 10.88%
All Visual 10,341 1.36% 4,544 3.85%
All Functional 58,774 7.72% 13,766 11.65%
OBDII 57,744 7.59% 8,337 7.06%
Overall 65,771 8.64% 24,626 20.84%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 658,718 57,372 8.71% 94,917 20,078 21.15%
Partial 36,547 3,170 8.67% 7,596 1,712 22.54%
Basic 60,195 4,766 7.92% 10,980 1,796 16.36%
Change of Ownership 5,565 463 8.32% 640 182 28.44%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,038 858 21.25%
All Program Areas 761,025 65,771 8.64% 118,171 24,626 20.84%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 394,812 36,715 9.30% 71,440 14,551 20.37%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,105 149 7.08% 167 37 22.16%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,979 1,264 7.44% 2,003 358 17.87%
STAR Test-and-Repair 218,124 19,157 8.78% 35,471 8,030 22.64%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 608 45 7.40% 50 13 26.00%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 123,036 7,789 6.33% 7,416 1,263 17.03%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,478 130 5.25% 2 1 50.00%
Business Fleet 390 22 5.64% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 19 1 5.26% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 443 368 83.07% 244 136 55.74%
Government Fleet 2,031 131 6.45% 1,378 237 17.20%
All Stations 761,025 65,771 8.64% 118,171 24,626 20.84%

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 782,076 88.95% 97,120 11.05%
All Tests 851,834 88.44% 111,300 11.56%

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 413,710 88.73% 52,542 11.27%
Non-STAR Test-Only 17,255 90.90% 1,727 9.10%
STAR Test-and-Repair 225,196 88.80% 28,399 11.20%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 120,365 92.27% 10,087 7.73%
All Stations 776,526 89.33% 92,755 10.67%

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 35,393 $55.18 216,483 $48.75 251,876 $49.65
STAR Test-Only 71,243 $50.22 391,856 $49.34 463,099 $49.47
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 7,400 $54.94 121,047 $57.76 128,447 $57.59
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,970 $42.97 16,745 $42.45 18,715 $42.50
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2 $70.25 2,344 $65.65 2,346 $65.66
Total 116,008 $51.91 748,475 $50.42 864,483 $50.62

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 11,771 $49.93 35,393 $55.18 204,712 $48.68
STAR Test-Only 319 $50.33 5,962 $49.01 70,924 $50.22 385,894 $49.34
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 3 $57.25 87,804 $61.00 7,397 $54.94 33,243 $49.20
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 $51.75 7,717 $42.59 1,969 $42.97 9,028 $42.33
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,344 $65.65 2 $70.25 0 $0.00
Total 323 $50.40 115,598 $58.12 115,685 $51.92 632,877 $49.02

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 1028 $50.94 4,580 $433.02
$101-250 1046 $173.23
$251-500 1221 $363.89
$501-650 407 $569.24
Over $650 878 $1,222.89
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 339 $45.02 1,323 $431.67
$101-250 360 $172.53
$251-500 296 $362.64
$501-650 90 $580.03
Over $650 238 $1,404.14
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 $0.00 145 $698.75
$101-250 4 $198.34
$251-500 35 $390.59
$501-650 32 $596.40
Over $650 74 $915.80
Total Repairs $1-100 1367 $49.47 6,048 $439.10
$101-250 1410 $173.12
$251-500 1552 $364.25
$501-650 529 $572.72
Over $650 1190 $1,240.04

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 111 48 1,876 77 2,112
STAR Test-Only 17 1 1,723 36 1,777
STAR Sub-Total 128 49 3,599 113 3,889
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 496 46 2,153 243 2,938
Non-STAR Test-Only 25 7 375 30 437
Non-STAR Sub-Total 521 53 2,528 273 3,375
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 42 1 45
Unknown Type 0 0 26 1 27
Other Station Sub-Total 111 7 444 19 581
All Stations 760 109 6,571 405 7,845

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 231 1,823
STAR Test-Only 3 60 1,667
STAR Sub-Total 4 291 3,490
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 3 1,982 277
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 108 76
Non-STAR Sub-Total 4 2,090 353
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 12 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 55 1
Unknown Type 0 2 17
Government Fleet 10 128 31
Referee 0 0 31
Other Station Sub-Total 10 200 80
All Stations 18 2,581 3,923

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 285 195
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 37 6
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 26
Exempted by Directive 4 2
Parts Exemption 4 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 330 229

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,287
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,153
All License Types 9,440

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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