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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 877,327 89,490 10.20%
All Tests 958,679 101,617 10.60%

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 116,906 238,894 101,678 207,585
Non-Directed 144,945 232,953 131,290 212,278
Total 261,851 471,847 232,968 419,863

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 503 92 199 43
Non-Directed 116,086 17,625 107,287 16,052
Total 116,589 17,717 107,486 16,095

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 446 109 24.44% 17.04% 7.40% 10.99% 5.83% NA
1977 611 124 20.29% 13.42% 6.55% 11.78% 3.76% NA
1978 653 154 23.58% 15.01% 5.51% 12.25% 6.43% NA
1979 734 174 23.71% 15.80% 6.13% 11.44% 6.54% NA
1980 426 91 21.36% 16.20% 8.69% 8.69% 4.46% NA
1981 472 121 25.64% 20.34% 9.75% 10.17% 4.03% NA
1982 544 127 23.35% 16.18% 6.25% 9.93% 4.78% NA
1983 676 167 24.70% 19.38% 6.21% 9.62% 5.33% NA
1984 1,074 273 25.42% 18.99% 7.36% 11.27% 5.31% NA
1985 1,506 336 22.31% 17.00% 6.04% 9.03% 3.92% NA
1986 2,000 485 24.25% 18.05% 7.25% 10.95% 4.45% NA
1987 2,249 498 22.14% 16.41% 5.82% 9.60% 3.65% NA
1988 2,627 578 22.00% 15.91% 4.76% 8.68% 3.96% NA
1989 3,571 751 21.03% 14.59% 4.87% 9.19% 3.78% NA
1990 4,161 858 20.62% 13.67% 3.82% 9.73% 3.15% NA
1991 4,851 961 19.81% 13.52% 3.81% 8.82% 2.95% NA
1992 4,951 1,030 20.80% 14.14% 3.78% 9.19% 3.74% NA
1993 5,821 1,307 22.45% 15.98% 3.54% 9.67% 3.18% NA
1994 8,125 1,720 21.17% 14.50% 3.25% 9.14% 3.38% NA
1995 8,609 1,920 22.30% 15.16% 3.03% 9.40% 3.90% NA
1996 12,026 2,328 19.36% 9.35% 1.27% 10.93% 3.14% 10.92%
1997 14,030 2,784 19.84% 9.38% 1.27% 11.87% 3.01% 11.85%
1998 21,420 3,722 17.38% 6.67% 1.27% 11.24% 2.83% 11.24%
1999 21,906 3,602 16.44% 5.42% 0.97% 11.62% 2.43% 11.62%
2000 515 108 20.97% 10.87% 4.47% 13.20% 2.72% 13.20%
2001 290 65 22.41% 10.00% 3.45% 19.66% 2.76% 19.66%
2002 404 72 17.82% 7.92% 4.21% 12.38% 1.49% 12.38%
2003 334 64 19.16% 7.78% 2.69% 16.17% 2.40% 16.17%
2004 532 56 10.53% 3.95% 1.88% 8.46% 0.56% 8.46%
2005 335 60 17.91% 5.67% 2.09% 14.93% 1.49% 14.93%
2006 510 44 8.63% 2.75% 1.18% 7.25% 0.59% 7.25%
2007 260 32 12.31% 3.08% 1.15% 10.77% 1.15% 10.77%
2008 441 29 6.58% 1.81% 0.91% 5.22% 0.00% 5.22%
2009 115 16 13.91% 4.35% 2.61% 13.04% 0.00% 13.04%
2010 111 14 12.61% 1.80% 0.90% 11.71% 0.00% 11.71%
2011 128 16 12.50% 4.69% 2.34% 11.72% 0.00% 11.72%
2012 282 9 3.19% 0.71% 0.00% 3.19% 0.00% 3.19%
2013 42 2 4.76% 0.00% 0.00% 4.76% 0.00% 4.76%
2014 61 9 14.75% 6.56% 6.56% 14.75% 0.00% 14.75%
2015 36 2 5.56% 2.78% 0.00% 5.56% 0.00% 5.56%
2016 35 1 2.86% 0.00% 0.00% 2.86% 0.00% 2.86%
2017 34 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 47 2 4.26% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 2.13% 2.13%
2019 77 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 115 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 128,193 24,821 19.36% 10.54% 2.52% 10.57% 3.13% 6.56%

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 6 1 16.67% 16.67% 0.00% 16.67% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 233 45 19.31% 18.03% 3.00% 16.74% 8.15% 1.29%
1999 829 135 16.28% 14.72% 2.65% 14.23% 9.65% 0.48%
2000 39,047 6,299 16.13% 14.67% 2.62% 14.43% 10.41% 0.24%
2001 29,585 5,002 16.91% 15.34% 2.84% 15.12% 10.72% 0.22%
2002 50,858 6,541 12.86% 11.41% 2.21% 11.20% 7.90% 0.21%
2003 35,334 4,507 12.76% 11.21% 2.46% 10.99% 7.40% 0.23%
2004 67,589 7,033 10.41% 9.31% 1.60% 9.17% 6.50% 0.14%
2005 42,199 4,583 10.86% 9.65% 1.80% 9.48% 6.57% 0.18%
2006 75,024 6,418 8.55% 7.60% 1.29% 7.48% 5.24% 0.12%
2007 45,630 3,525 7.73% 6.89% 1.19% 6.81% 4.73% 0.08%
2008 65,329 4,252 6.51% 5.89% 0.81% 5.79% 4.18% 0.11%
2009 22,363 1,421 6.35% 5.78% 0.75% 5.69% 4.23% 0.09%
2010 62,003 3,440 5.55% 5.23% 0.43% 5.19% 2.68% 0.05%
2011 24,661 1,824 7.40% 7.05% 0.47% 7.02% 3.35% 0.04%
2012 103,031 5,398 5.24% 4.96% 0.37% 4.92% 2.67% 0.04%
2013 12,325 761 6.17% 5.85% 0.37% 5.80% 2.88% 0.05%
2014 13,395 796 5.94% 5.62% 0.40% 5.60% 3.01% 0.02%
2015 14,200 739 5.20% 5.01% 0.25% 4.98% 2.70% 0.04%
2016 17,176 725 4.22% 4.01% 0.25% 3.99% 2.63% 0.02%
2017 11,541 528 4.57% 4.38% 0.21% 4.36% 3.28% 0.02%
2018 8,174 307 3.76% 3.63% 0.12% 3.61% 3.14% 0.02%
2019 7,038 269 3.82% 3.67% 0.17% 3.65% 3.18% 0.01%
2020 1,549 116 7.49% 7.49% 0.00% 7.42% 6.52% 0.06%
2021 13 3 23.08% 23.08% 0.00% 23.08% 15.38% 0.00%
Other 1 1 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 749,134 64,669 8.63% 7.84% 1.19% 7.72% 5.17% 0.11%

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 13,511 10.54%
All Visual 8,911 1.19% 4,010 3.13%
All Functional 58,703 7.84% 13,553 10.57%
OBDII 57,868 7.72% 8,408 6.56%
Overall 64,669 8.63% 24,821 19.36%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 647,169 56,622 8.75% 100,754 19,920 19.77%
Partial 37,356 3,022 8.09% 7,890 1,776 22.51%
Basic 60,056 4,689 7.81% 15,075 2,114 14.02%
Change of Ownership 4,553 336 7.38% 922 248 26.90%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,551 763 21.49%
All Program Areas 749,134 64,669 8.63% 128,193 24,821 19.36%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 397,228 36,803 9.26% 74,619 14,179 19.00%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,497 164 6.57% 207 42 20.29%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,785 1,219 7.72% 1,932 297 15.37%
STAR Test-and-Repair 222,746 19,310 8.67% 39,105 8,458 21.63%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 672 65 9.67% 61 13 21.31%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 105,691 6,737 6.37% 10,898 1,543 14.16%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,287 111 4.85% 18 2 11.11%
Business Fleet 171 11 6.43% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 66 1 1.52% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 194 137 70.62% 105 70 66.67%
Government Fleet 1,797 111 6.18% 1,248 217 17.39%
All Stations 749,134 64,669 8.63% 128,193 24,821 19.36%

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 782,030 89.14% 95,297 10.86%
All Tests 850,455 88.71% 108,224 11.29%

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 419,863 88.98% 51,984 11.02%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,095 90.84% 1,622 9.16%
STAR Test-and-Repair 232,968 88.97% 28,883 11.03%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 107,486 92.19% 9,103 7.81%
All Stations 776,412 89.45% 91,592 10.55%

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 38,965 $56.55 222,510 $56.09 261,475 $56.16
STAR Test-Only 74,376 $49.89 396,065 $48.97 470,441 $49.11
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 10,869 $53.17 104,863 $55.10 115,732 $54.92
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,934 $44.38 15,732 $42.50 17,666 $42.71
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 18 $66.89 2,287 $63.01 2,305 $63.04
Total 126,162 $52.15 741,457 $51.88 867,619 $51.92

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 $61.75 8,078 $60.79 38,964 $56.55 214,432 $55.92
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 8,195 $74.17 74,376 $49.89 387,870 $48.43
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 $1.00 60,614 $61.35 10,868 $53.17 44,249 $46.54
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,043 $42.48 1,934 $44.38 8,689 $42.52
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,108 $61.99 18 $66.89 179 $75.03
Total 2 $31.38 86,038 $60.99 126,160 $52.15 655,419 $50.68

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) $1-100 957 $51.38 4,771 $450.48
$101-250 1096 $172.52
$251-500 1186 $363.30
$501-650 468 $576.19
Over $650 1064 $1,137.65
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 318 $50.36 1,239 $427.55
$101-250 339 $171.13
$251-500 259 $361.81
$501-650 86 $576.47
Over $650 237 $1,318.23
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 $0.00 111 $742.91
$101-250 1 $245.33
$251-500 25 $397.49
$501-650 25 $582.88
Over $650 60 $961.80
Total Repairs $1-100 1275 $51.12 6,121 $451.14
$101-250 1436 $172.24
$251-500 1470 $363.62
$501-650 579 $576.52
Over $650 1361 $1,161.35

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 49 1,871 73 2,100
STAR Test-Only 15 1 1,705 37 1,758
STAR Sub-Total 122 50 3,576 110 3,858
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 497 45 2,123 246 2,911
Non-STAR Test-Only 26 7 350 31 414
Non-STAR Sub-Total 523 52 2,473 277 3,325
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 5 301 13 360
Repair-Only 2 0 40 1 43
Unknown Type 0 0 24 1 25
Other Station Sub-Total 112 7 442 19 580
All Stations 757 109 6,491 406 7,763

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 156 1,855
STAR Test-Only 0 70 1,617
STAR Sub-Total 1 226 3,472
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,748 410
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 105 70
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,853 480
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 49 5
Unknown Type 0 1 19
Government Fleet 7 135 35
Referee 0 0 14
Other Station Sub-Total 7 210 73
All Stations 9 2,289 4,025

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 134 73
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 8 3
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 6
Exempted by Directive 6 0
Parts Exemption 2 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 150 82

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 3,902
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,849
All License Types 8,751

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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