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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
March 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 776,867 79,984 10.30%
All Tests 854,625 92,453 10.82%

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 93,421 191,052 81,132 165,926
Non-Directed 134,146 213,183 120,953 193,085
Total 227,567 404,235 202,085 359,011

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 490 93 170 33
Non-Directed 117,181 17,585 108,079 15,958
Total 117,671 17,678 108,249 15,991

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 384 93 24.22% 17.45% 8.33% 9.90% 6.25% NA
1977 503 124 24.65% 15.11% 6.96% 15.11% 4.37% NA
1978 530 129 24.34% 16.42% 8.11% 12.26% 6.04% NA
1979 619 154 24.88% 17.61% 6.14% 11.95% 5.82% NA
1980 322 74 22.98% 14.91% 7.45% 11.80% 4.35% NA
1981 412 111 26.94% 20.87% 7.28% 12.14% 6.31% NA
1982 427 103 24.12% 16.16% 7.26% 9.84% 6.79% NA
1983 553 147 26.58% 19.35% 8.32% 11.21% 5.79% NA
1984 930 226 24.30% 18.92% 8.39% 9.25% 5.91% NA
1985 1,258 298 23.69% 16.77% 6.04% 10.25% 4.93% NA
1986 1,653 398 24.08% 17.24% 5.69% 11.62% 4.48% NA
1987 1,810 451 24.92% 17.57% 5.52% 11.93% 4.31% NA
1988 2,225 535 24.04% 17.53% 6.25% 10.38% 3.64% NA
1989 3,042 715 23.50% 15.25% 4.83% 11.44% 4.31% NA
1990 3,532 782 22.14% 14.72% 3.82% 9.80% 4.30% NA
1991 4,204 915 21.76% 14.53% 4.07% 9.92% 3.66% NA
1992 4,162 919 22.08% 14.97% 3.75% 10.12% 3.94% NA
1993 5,010 1,211 24.17% 16.37% 3.71% 11.04% 4.25% NA
1994 6,669 1,493 22.39% 15.50% 3.16% 9.63% 3.69% NA
1995 7,404 1,714 23.15% 15.49% 2.69% 10.06% 4.02% NA
1996 9,837 2,009 20.42% 9.61% 1.45% 11.69% 3.45% 11.66%
1997 12,216 2,620 21.45% 9.66% 1.80% 13.29% 3.77% 13.24%
1998 17,727 3,236 18.25% 7.18% 1.44% 11.74% 3.03% 11.73%
1999 19,130 3,260 17.04% 5.49% 0.95% 11.81% 3.08% 11.81%
2000 354 63 17.80% 10.73% 3.95% 8.47% 3.67% 8.47%
2001 217 40 18.43% 7.37% 2.76% 13.82% 3.23% 13.82%
2002 285 22 7.72% 3.16% 1.05% 5.26% 1.40% 5.26%
2003 259 35 13.51% 5.02% 1.16% 8.88% 3.86% 8.88%
2004 419 28 6.68% 2.86% 0.48% 3.82% 0.95% 3.82%
2005 253 22 8.70% 3.56% 1.19% 7.11% 0.40% 7.11%
2006 426 29 6.81% 3.05% 0.70% 3.76% 1.41% 3.76%
2007 202 11 5.45% 1.98% 0.50% 3.47% 0.99% 3.47%
2008 282 11 3.90% 2.13% 1.42% 2.13% 0.71% 2.13%
2009 77 10 12.99% 3.90% 0.00% 9.09% 2.60% 9.09%
2010 87 2 2.30% 1.15% 0.00% 2.30% 0.00% 2.30%
2011 87 3 3.45% 0.00% 0.00% 3.45% 0.00% 3.45%
2012 227 6 2.64% 0.44% 0.00% 1.32% 0.88% 1.32%
2013 39 2 5.13% 0.00% 0.00% 5.13% 5.13% 5.13%
2014 53 2 3.77% 1.89% 0.00% 0.00% 1.89% 0.00%
2015 56 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 32 1 3.13% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.13% 0.00%
2017 38 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 37 1 2.70% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.70% 0.00%
2019 132 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 60 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 108,181 22,005 20.34% 10.93% 2.60% 11.15% 3.61% 6.73%

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 7 2 28.57% 28.57% 0.00% 28.57% 28.57% 0.00%
1998 193 25 12.95% 10.88% 4.15% 9.33% 2.07% 1.55%
1999 704 98 13.92% 12.07% 3.13% 11.79% 6.68% 0.28%
2000 33,097 5,410 16.35% 14.58% 3.21% 14.32% 10.13% 0.26%
2001 26,381 4,573 17.33% 15.50% 3.21% 15.14% 10.42% 0.36%
2002 42,380 5,591 13.19% 11.52% 2.59% 11.26% 7.56% 0.25%
2003 32,028 4,491 14.02% 12.35% 2.68% 12.09% 8.17% 0.26%
2004 55,919 5,782 10.34% 9.03% 1.85% 8.84% 6.03% 0.20%
2005 37,987 4,261 11.22% 9.82% 2.02% 9.58% 6.73% 0.24%
2006 64,594 5,450 8.44% 7.31% 1.51% 7.19% 4.91% 0.12%
2007 41,545 3,287 7.91% 6.97% 1.27% 6.81% 4.44% 0.17%
2008 57,423 3,590 6.25% 5.47% 0.99% 5.37% 3.71% 0.09%
2009 20,608 1,436 6.97% 6.25% 0.94% 6.15% 4.42% 0.10%
2010 51,495 2,877 5.59% 5.20% 0.54% 5.14% 2.47% 0.06%
2011 24,537 1,983 8.08% 7.55% 0.70% 7.47% 3.13% 0.08%
2012 85,365 4,280 5.01% 4.65% 0.47% 4.61% 2.19% 0.04%
2013 12,894 904 7.01% 6.66% 0.54% 6.62% 3.06% 0.04%
2014 13,506 798 5.91% 5.55% 0.44% 5.52% 2.88% 0.02%
2015 14,706 874 5.94% 5.62% 0.37% 5.59% 2.86% 0.03%
2016 20,278 892 4.40% 4.21% 0.23% 4.20% 2.77% 0.01%
2017 12,423 539 4.34% 4.15% 0.19% 4.11% 3.12% 0.03%
2018 9,928 387 3.90% 3.74% 0.16% 3.70% 3.07% 0.04%
2019 9,183 344 3.75% 3.58% 0.15% 3.56% 3.13% 0.02%
2020 1,495 102 6.82% 6.76% 0.07% 6.76% 5.95% 0.00%
2021 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 8 3 37.50% 0.00% 12.50% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 668,686 57,979 8.67% 7.75% 1.36% 7.61% 4.89% 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 11,822 10.93%
All Visual 9,103 1.36% 3,908 3.61%
All Functional 51,793 7.75% 12,062 11.15%
OBDII 50,882 7.61% 7,281 6.73%
Overall 57,979 8.67% 22,005 20.34%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 572,108 50,018 8.74% 84,912 17,453 20.55%
Partial 35,130 3,049 8.68% 7,492 1,754 23.41%
Basic 56,059 4,460 7.96% 11,444 1,831 16.00%
Change of Ownership 5,389 452 8.39% 679 168 24.74%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 1 100.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,653 798 21.85%
All Program Areas 668,686 57,979 8.67% 108,181 22,005 20.34%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 340,734 31,671 9.29% 63,501 12,570 19.79%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,405 190 7.90% 205 40 19.51%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,569 1,250 8.03% 2,109 314 14.89%
STAR Test-and-Repair 195,034 17,211 8.82% 32,533 7,318 22.49%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 664 62 9.34% 78 18 23.08%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 109,502 7,103 6.49% 8,169 1,365 16.71%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,310 124 5.37% 3 1 33.33%
Business Fleet 275 33 12.00% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 20 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 285 239 83.86% 171 97 56.73%
Government Fleet 1,888 96 5.08% 1,412 282 19.97%
All Stations 668,686 57,979 8.67% 108,181 22,005 20.34%

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 690,886 88.93% 85,981 11.07%
All Tests 755,497 88.40% 99,128 11.60%

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 359,011 88.81% 45,224 11.19%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,991 90.46% 1,687 9.54%
STAR Test-and-Repair 202,085 88.80% 25,482 11.20%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 108,249 91.99% 9,422 8.01%
All Stations 685,336 89.34% 81,815 10.66%

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 32,483 $55.46 193,793 $50.99 226,276 $51.64
STAR Test-Only 63,298 $49.92 335,334 $51.27 398,632 $51.06
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 8,173 $54.89 106,024 $55.83 114,197 $55.77
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,106 $43.45 15,459 $43.43 17,565 $43.43
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 3 $64.92 2,276 $65.15 2,279 $65.15
Total 106,063 $51.87 652,886 $51.79 758,949 $51.80

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 7,371 $48.03 32,483 $55.46 186,422 $51.11
STAR Test-Only 6 $41.75 5,879 $45.37 63,292 $49.92 329,455 $51.38
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 64,385 $62.32 8,173 $54.89 41,639 $45.80
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 6,419 $42.89 2,106 $43.45 9,040 $43.82
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,214 $65.15 3 $64.92 62 $65.12
Total 6 $41.75 86,268 $58.57 106,057 $51.88 566,618 $50.76

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 1001 $51.46 4,466 $449.97
$101-250 997 $169.81
$251-500 1117 $362.54
$501-650 390 $573.01
Over $650 961 $1,207.42
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 306 $47.75 1,246 $437.45
$101-250 338 $170.17
$251-500 274 $364.13
$501-650 79 $569.86
Over $650 249 $1,317.85
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 $0.00 112 $779.10
$101-250 3 $227.90
$251-500 19 $396.88
$501-650 19 $585.48
Over $650 71 $956.49
Total Repairs $1-100 1307 $50.59 5,824 $453.62
$101-250 1338 $170.03
$251-500 1410 $363.31
$501-650 488 $572.98
Over $650 1281 $1,214.98

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 1,879 76 2,110
STAR Test-Only 16 1 1,702 36 1,755
STAR Sub-Total 123 49 3,581 112 3,865
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 496 45 2,157 244 2,942
Non-STAR Test-Only 27 7 383 32 449
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 52 2,540 276 3,391
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 5 300 13 359
Repair-Only 2 0 43 1 46
Unknown Type 1 0 27 0 28
Other Station Sub-Total 113 7 447 18 585
All Stations 759 108 6,568 406 7,841

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 170 1,876
STAR Test-Only 1 61 1,645
STAR Sub-Total 1 231 3,521
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,833 409
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 112 87
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,945 496
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 11 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 53 2
Unknown Type 0 3 19
Government Fleet 7 130 36
Referee 0 1 30
Other Station Sub-Total 7 201 87
All Stations 9 2,377 4,104

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 161 145
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 18 2
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 8
Exempted by Directive 3 0
Parts Exemption 4 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 186 156

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,241
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,140
All License Types 9,381

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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