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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
April 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 595,637 61,239 10.28%
All Tests 653,900 70,243 10.74%

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 83,575 162,419 72,962 141,465
Non-Directed 99,666 149,519 90,052 135,797
Total 183,241 311,938 163,014 277,262

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 311 79 137 24
Non-Directed 81,098 12,491 74,450 11,283
Total 81,409 12,570 74,587 11,307

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 351 82 23.36% 16.81% 7.41% 10.26% 5.98% NA
1977 424 87 20.52% 13.44% 7.08% 9.91% 4.95% NA
1978 508 123 24.21% 16.34% 6.69% 10.43% 6.69% NA
1979 524 124 23.66% 17.37% 6.87% 10.50% 5.15% NA
1980 295 70 23.73% 13.56% 5.76% 12.20% 7.12% NA
1981 324 87 26.85% 18.21% 8.02% 11.11% 4.94% NA
1982 352 83 23.58% 19.32% 7.39% 10.23% 4.83% NA
1983 407 97 23.83% 16.46% 6.39% 11.06% 6.39% NA
1984 813 187 23.00% 17.84% 8.12% 8.61% 4.06% NA
1985 1,073 271 25.26% 18.92% 7.08% 10.53% 4.47% NA
1986 1,440 324 22.50% 16.32% 6.88% 9.44% 5.00% NA
1987 1,623 375 23.11% 16.39% 6.16% 9.80% 3.94% NA
1988 1,947 425 21.83% 16.02% 4.37% 8.42% 3.13% NA
1989 2,761 603 21.84% 15.57% 4.93% 8.87% 3.88% NA
1990 3,014 646 21.43% 13.90% 3.92% 10.15% 3.85% NA
1991 3,585 731 20.39% 13.84% 3.65% 9.15% 3.24% NA
1992 3,386 668 19.73% 13.59% 3.31% 7.77% 3.01% NA
1993 4,208 943 22.41% 15.80% 3.61% 9.48% 3.26% NA
1994 5,676 1,245 21.93% 14.78% 2.89% 9.81% 3.51% NA
1995 6,089 1,348 22.14% 15.21% 2.86% 9.21% 3.56% NA
1996 8,396 1,632 19.44% 9.42% 1.27% 10.67% 3.01% 10.67%
1997 9,712 1,955 20.13% 9.37% 1.48% 12.20% 3.06% 12.18%
1998 14,302 2,499 17.47% 7.03% 1.27% 11.29% 2.93% 11.29%
1999 15,660 2,588 16.53% 5.31% 0.83% 11.49% 2.93% 11.49%
2000 333 47 14.11% 10.21% 4.50% 4.80% 2.10% 4.80%
2001 227 37 16.30% 11.45% 4.41% 9.69% 1.76% 9.69%
2002 293 36 12.29% 6.48% 3.07% 6.83% 1.71% 6.83%
2003 191 24 12.57% 9.42% 5.24% 4.71% 0.52% 4.71%
2004 327 29 8.87% 4.59% 2.14% 5.81% 1.53% 5.81%
2005 173 20 11.56% 6.36% 3.47% 8.67% 0.58% 8.67%
2006 361 20 5.54% 2.49% 0.55% 3.05% 0.83% 3.05%
2007 132 12 9.09% 4.55% 0.76% 6.82% 0.00% 6.82%
2008 229 11 4.80% 2.18% 0.87% 3.06% 0.87% 3.06%
2009 75 6 8.00% 2.67% 0.00% 8.00% 0.00% 8.00%
2010 67 3 4.48% 1.49% 1.49% 4.48% 1.49% 4.48%
2011 69 5 7.25% 0.00% 0.00% 7.25% 0.00% 7.25%
2012 180 8 4.44% 0.56% 0.00% 4.44% 0.00% 4.44%
2013 25 5 20.00% 4.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 20.00%
2014 43 3 6.98% 0.00% 0.00% 6.98% 2.33% 6.98%
2015 27 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 22 1 4.55% 0.00% 0.00% 4.55% 0.00% 4.55%
2017 20 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 45 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 77 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 89,839 17,460 19.43% 10.69% 2.52% 10.35% 3.24% 6.29%

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 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 2 1 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.00%
1998 139 18 12.95% 12.23% 2.16% 11.51% 6.47% 0.72%
1999 666 102 15.32% 13.36% 2.70% 12.76% 8.11% 0.60%
2000 27,365 4,379 16.00% 14.46% 2.64% 14.24% 10.28% 0.23%
2001 20,505 3,418 16.67% 15.03% 2.85% 14.82% 10.43% 0.20%
2002 35,147 4,449 12.66% 11.26% 2.27% 11.07% 7.89% 0.18%
2003 24,427 3,132 12.82% 11.20% 2.48% 10.99% 7.61% 0.21%
2004 45,945 4,615 10.04% 8.94% 1.61% 8.77% 6.19% 0.17%
2005 28,755 2,979 10.36% 9.15% 1.90% 8.99% 6.19% 0.17%
2006 52,464 4,274 8.15% 7.21% 1.31% 7.08% 4.99% 0.14%
2007 31,752 2,412 7.60% 6.67% 1.23% 6.58% 4.56% 0.09%
2008 45,146 2,873 6.36% 5.72% 0.91% 5.64% 4.00% 0.08%
2009 15,072 1,015 6.73% 6.08% 0.86% 5.96% 4.30% 0.12%
2010 41,109 2,369 5.76% 5.39% 0.49% 5.34% 2.64% 0.05%
2011 16,900 1,369 8.10% 7.66% 0.60% 7.58% 3.34% 0.08%
2012 71,171 3,655 5.14% 4.76% 0.45% 4.73% 2.51% 0.04%
2013 7,406 528 7.13% 6.83% 0.42% 6.81% 2.96% 0.03%
2014 8,041 568 7.06% 6.67% 0.53% 6.62% 3.32% 0.05%
2015 8,418 478 5.68% 5.41% 0.26% 5.37% 2.89% 0.04%
2016 10,344 456 4.41% 4.27% 0.17% 4.22% 2.56% 0.05%
2017 6,342 299 4.71% 4.51% 0.20% 4.51% 3.74% 0.00%
2018 4,806 204 4.24% 3.91% 0.29% 3.89% 3.18% 0.02%
2019 3,027 118 3.90% 3.83% 0.07% 3.80% 3.20% 0.03%
2020 840 66 7.86% 7.86% 0.00% 7.86% 6.67% 0.00%
2021 3 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 4 2 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 505,799 43,780 8.66% 7.80% 1.27% 7.69% 5.09% 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 9,605 10.69%
All Visual 6,401 1.27% 2,913 3.24%
All Functional 39,475 7.80% 9,295 10.35%
OBDII 38,893 7.69% 5,651 6.29%
Overall 43,780 8.66% 17,460 19.43%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 429,593 37,603 8.75% 69,020 13,812 20.01%
Partial 27,839 2,340 8.41% 5,984 1,284 21.46%
Basic 45,158 3,563 7.89% 11,216 1,568 13.98%
Change of Ownership 3,209 274 8.54% 625 150 24.00%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 1 100.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 2,993 645 21.55%
All Program Areas 505,799 43,780 8.66% 89,839 17,460 19.43%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 261,400 24,143 9.24% 50,538 9,802 19.40%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 959 66 6.88% 71 14 19.72%
Non-STAR Test-Only 11,124 915 8.23% 1,446 207 14.32%
STAR Test-and-Repair 155,526 13,571 8.73% 27,715 5,892 21.26%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 301 31 10.30% 22 5 22.73%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 72,871 4,831 6.63% 8,538 1,232 14.43%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,546 74 4.79% 19 2 10.53%
Business Fleet 64 7 10.94% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 29 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 56 28 50.00% 42 23 54.76%
Government Fleet 1,923 114 5.93% 1,448 283 19.54%
All Stations 505,799 43,780 8.66% 89,839 17,460 19.43%

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 528,998 88.81% 66,639 11.19%
All Tests 577,609 88.33% 76,291 11.67%

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 277,262 88.88% 34,676 11.12%
Non-STAR Test-Only 11,307 89.95% 1,263 10.05%
STAR Test-and-Repair 163,014 88.96% 20,227 11.04%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 74,587 91.62% 6,822 8.38%
All Stations 526,170 89.31% 62,988 10.69%

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 27,690 $55.91 155,167 $49.70 182,857 $50.64
STAR Test-Only 50,385 $49.97 259,889 $48.82 310,274 $49.01
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 8,535 $54.68 72,342 $57.52 80,877 $57.22
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,441 $42.46 11,064 $42.32 12,505 $42.33
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 19 $65.75 1,525 $61.70 1,544 $61.75
Total 88,070 $52.17 499,987 $50.25 588,057 $50.54

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 1 $90.00 6,016 $60.04 27,689 $55.90 149,151 $49.28
STAR Test-Only 41 $40.32 6,887 $44.00 50,344 $49.97 253,002 $48.96
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 38,170 $59.82 8,535 $54.68 34,172 $54.95
Non-STAR Test-Only 25 $31.75 5,220 $44.57 1,416 $42.64 5,844 $40.30
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,411 $61.48 19 $65.75 114 $64.47
Total 67 $37.87 57,704 $56.62 88,003 $52.18 442,283 $49.42

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) $1-100 723 $50.59 3,449 $440.41
$101-250 842 $173.57
$251-500 856 $365.75
$501-650 322 $580.82
Over $650 706 $1,184.35
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 229 $50.38 969 $474.82
$101-250 241 $168.89
$251-500 234 $369.73
$501-650 63 $573.67
Over $650 202 $1,411.91
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 $0.00 171 $713.49
$101-250 9 $218.14
$251-500 46 $397.46
$501-650 35 $587.51
Over $650 81 $1,002.44
Total Repairs $1-100 952 $50.54 4,589 $457.85
$101-250 1092 $172.90
$251-500 1136 $367.85
$501-650 420 $580.31
Over $650 989 $1,215.93

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 108 49 1,871 75 2,103
STAR Test-Only 15 1 1,709 36 1,761
STAR Sub-Total 123 50 3,580 111 3,864
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 496 45 2,141 244 2,926
Non-STAR Test-Only 27 7 370 32 436
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 52 2,511 276 3,362
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 41 1 44
Unknown Type 0 0 25 0 25
Other Station Sub-Total 112 7 443 18 580
All Stations 758 109 6,534 405 7,806

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 187 1,801
STAR Test-Only 4 92 1,547
STAR Sub-Total 5 279 3,348
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,730 390
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 109 65
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,839 455
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 17 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 48 5
Unknown Type 0 3 10
Government Fleet 8 132 35
Referee 0 1 9
Other Station Sub-Total 8 204 59
All Stations 14 2,322 3,862

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 69 44
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 5 3
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 2
Exempted by Directive 0 0
Parts Exemption 0 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 74 49

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 3,692
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,684
All License Types 8,376

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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