Skip to Main Content
BAR Headquarters and the Sacramento Field Office are temporarily closed until further notice for building maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience.
CA.govCA.gov Logo image
Home Facebook Twitter YouTube
 Contact Us  Translate  Accessibility
Bureau of Automotive Repair Logo
  • Consumers
    • Consumer Information
    • Consumer Assistance Program
    • Smog Check Program
    • Collision Repair Inspection Request
    • Auto Repair Basics
    • Auto Shop Locator
    • License Search
    • File a Complaint
  • Licensees
    • News and Updates
    • Automotive Repair Businesses
    • Inspectors/Technicians
    • Training
    • Convictions/Discipline/Denial
    • Smog Check Program
    • STAR Program
    • CAP Repairs
  • Industry
    • News and Updates
    • Certified Training Providers
    • Government Fleet Facilities
    • Cars for Schools Program
    • Careers
  • Information
    • About BAR
    • BAR Advisory Group
    • Educational Advisory Group
    • Public Workshops
    • Laws and Regulations
    • Regulatory Actions
    • Quarterly Licensing Data
    • Resources and Forms
    • Records Requests
    • News Releases
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Online Services
    • Locate an Auto Shop
    • Find a Smog Check Station
    • Check a License
    • File a Complaint
    • Check CAP Application Status
    • Submit CAP Documents
    • Search Enforcement Actions
    • Check STAR Report Card
    • Renew a License
    • View All
Custom Google Search
  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
June 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 1,005,175 101,333 10.08%
All Tests 1,099,584 115,484 10.50%

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 123,335 254,292 106,752 220,057
Non-Directed 169,546 276,336 153,727 252,320
Total 292,881 530,628 260,479 472,377

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 478 109 234 46
Non-Directed 146,862 24,355 136,334 22,242
Total 147,340 24,464 136,568 22,288

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 511 123 24.07% 16.24% 6.26% 10.76% 5.68% NA
1977 678 173 25.52% 16.67% 5.16% 11.21% 7.67% NA
1978 808 210 25.99% 16.34% 7.80% 12.75% 6.06% NA
1979 771 163 21.14% 16.21% 6.61% 8.17% 4.28% NA
1980 445 92 20.67% 15.51% 7.19% 8.31% 4.27% NA
1981 504 132 26.19% 19.05% 6.94% 10.91% 6.55% NA
1982 546 127 23.26% 17.22% 6.04% 8.42% 5.86% NA
1983 737 174 23.61% 18.05% 8.01% 9.23% 6.51% NA
1984 1,231 335 27.21% 19.82% 6.90% 11.29% 6.09% NA
1985 1,707 386 22.61% 16.46% 6.21% 9.72% 4.16% NA
1986 2,146 532 24.79% 17.52% 5.96% 10.21% 4.24% NA
1987 2,449 534 21.80% 16.05% 6.04% 9.51% 4.00% NA
1988 2,768 636 22.98% 16.04% 5.56% 10.44% 4.23% NA
1989 3,703 757 20.44% 14.64% 4.94% 8.86% 3.38% NA
1990 4,685 989 21.11% 14.83% 4.12% 9.22% 3.20% NA
1991 5,262 1,053 20.01% 13.21% 3.29% 9.60% 3.29% NA
1992 5,344 1,132 21.18% 14.76% 3.48% 9.23% 2.96% NA
1993 6,254 1,414 22.61% 15.72% 3.39% 9.56% 3.29% NA
1994 8,832 1,955 22.14% 15.14% 2.97% 9.59% 3.40% NA
1995 9,302 2,036 21.89% 15.06% 2.80% 8.98% 3.60% NA
1996 13,126 2,624 19.99% 9.52% 1.25% 11.31% 3.13% 11.29%
1997 15,073 3,142 20.85% 9.23% 1.48% 12.53% 3.30% 12.50%
1998 23,311 4,043 17.34% 6.77% 1.23% 11.15% 2.78% 11.14%
1999 24,069 4,098 17.03% 5.50% 1.06% 11.77% 2.85% 11.77%
2000 554 104 18.77% 8.12% 3.79% 12.64% 1.62% 12.64%
2001 333 68 20.42% 9.01% 3.00% 13.51% 2.40% 13.51%
2002 483 80 16.56% 6.83% 3.11% 12.01% 1.66% 12.01%
2003 438 67 15.30% 5.94% 1.60% 11.64% 2.28% 11.64%
2004 657 70 10.65% 3.20% 1.07% 8.83% 1.07% 8.83%
2005 396 60 15.15% 4.80% 1.26% 11.87% 1.01% 11.87%
2006 627 53 8.45% 3.35% 0.64% 6.06% 0.64% 6.06%
2007 328 55 16.77% 5.79% 1.52% 11.89% 0.91% 11.89%
2008 442 46 10.41% 3.39% 0.90% 6.79% 0.90% 6.79%
2009 96 17 17.71% 2.08% 1.04% 15.63% 1.04% 15.63%
2010 137 17 12.41% 0.73% 0.00% 12.41% 0.00% 12.41%
2011 120 7 5.83% 0.00% 0.00% 5.83% 0.00% 5.83%
2012 306 14 4.58% 0.98% 0.65% 3.27% 0.65% 3.27%
2013 49 3 6.12% 0.00% 0.00% 6.12% 0.00% 6.12%
2014 62 4 6.45% 1.61% 0.00% 4.84% 0.00% 4.84%
2015 61 2 3.28% 0.00% 0.00% 1.64% 1.64% 1.64%
2016 71 1 1.41% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.41% 0.00%
2017 61 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 89 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 144 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 226 1 0.44% 0.00% 0.00% 0.44% 0.00% 0.44%
Other 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 139,943 27,529 19.67% 10.58% 2.46% 10.64% 3.22% 6.64%

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 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 8 2 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 12.50% 0.00%
1998 239 24 10.04% 9.62% 0.84% 8.79% 5.02% 0.84%
1999 962 129 13.41% 12.58% 1.46% 12.37% 8.32% 0.21%
2000 42,899 7,027 16.38% 14.84% 2.81% 14.59% 10.71% 0.25%
2001 32,771 5,383 16.43% 14.82% 2.88% 14.56% 10.32% 0.27%
2002 57,062 7,267 12.74% 11.35% 2.20% 11.12% 7.77% 0.22%
2003 39,884 5,327 13.36% 11.87% 2.48% 11.62% 7.92% 0.25%
2004 72,963 7,515 10.30% 9.18% 1.66% 9.01% 6.28% 0.17%
2005 48,723 5,191 10.65% 9.35% 1.79% 9.17% 6.44% 0.19%
2006 82,459 7,285 8.83% 7.81% 1.39% 7.69% 5.45% 0.12%
2007 51,336 4,064 7.92% 6.95% 1.31% 6.83% 4.74% 0.12%
2008 73,287 4,849 6.62% 5.95% 0.86% 5.86% 4.28% 0.10%
2009 26,820 1,702 6.35% 5.84% 0.72% 5.75% 4.22% 0.09%
2010 72,143 4,017 5.57% 5.23% 0.47% 5.18% 2.88% 0.05%
2011 29,117 2,144 7.36% 6.93% 0.59% 6.87% 3.29% 0.06%
2012 111,700 5,906 5.29% 4.97% 0.41% 4.93% 2.65% 0.04%
2013 17,186 1,081 6.29% 5.94% 0.51% 5.90% 2.87% 0.04%
2014 18,071 1,011 5.59% 5.30% 0.36% 5.26% 2.77% 0.03%
2015 19,573 985 5.03% 4.75% 0.32% 4.72% 2.77% 0.04%
2016 23,175 953 4.11% 3.89% 0.28% 3.86% 2.40% 0.03%
2017 16,620 756 4.55% 4.39% 0.17% 4.39% 3.32% 0.01%
2018 11,757 464 3.95% 3.74% 0.22% 3.72% 3.10% 0.03%
2019 13,572 534 3.93% 3.79% 0.13% 3.78% 3.15% 0.01%
2020 2,881 179 6.21% 6.11% 0.10% 6.11% 5.66% 0.00%
2021 18 8 44.44% 44.44% 0.00% 44.44% 5.56% 0.00%
Other 4 1 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 865,232 73,804 8.53% 7.72% 1.21% 7.60% 5.10% 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 14,805 10.58%
All Visual 10,454 1.21% 4,500 3.22%
All Functional 66,797 7.72% 14,886 10.64%
OBDII 65,771 7.60% 9,290 6.64%
Overall 73,804 8.53% 27,529 19.67%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 747,038 64,757 8.67% 109,372 22,167 20.27%
Partial 42,107 3,326 7.90% 8,598 1,918 22.31%
Basic 69,580 5,269 7.57% 16,812 2,353 14.00%
Change of Ownership 6,507 452 6.95% 1,168 261 22.35%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,992 830 20.79%
All Program Areas 865,232 73,804 8.53% 139,943 27,529 19.67%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 449,736 41,565 9.24% 80,892 15,676 19.38%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,048 140 6.84% 198 26 13.13%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,717 1,609 7.41% 2,747 409 14.89%
STAR Test-and-Repair 250,088 21,824 8.73% 42,793 9,400 21.97%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 1,159 115 9.92% 91 21 23.08%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 135,320 8,088 5.98% 12,020 1,694 14.09%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,783 147 5.28% 18 4 22.22%
Business Fleet 415 17 4.10% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 72 2 2.78% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 291 205 70.45% 181 123 67.96%
Government Fleet 1,603 92 5.74% 1,003 176 17.55%
All Stations 865,232 73,804 8.53% 139,943 27,529 19.67%

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 898,101 89.35% 107,074 10.65%
All Tests 977,531 88.90% 122,053 11.10%

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 472,377 89.02% 58,251 10.98%
Non-STAR Test-Only 22,288 91.11% 2,176 8.89%
STAR Test-and-Repair 260,479 88.94% 32,402 11.06%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 136,568 92.69% 10,772 7.31%
All Stations 891,712 89.59% 103,601 10.41%

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 42,720 $56.61 249,627 $54.35 292,347 $54.68
STAR Test-Only 80,570 $50.74 448,789 $49.79 529,359 $49.93
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,016 $54.19 134,900 $56.35 146,916 $56.17
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,716 $44.24 21,661 $43.05 24,377 $43.18
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 18 $65.17 2,783 $64.58 2,801 $64.59
Total 138,040 $52.73 857,760 $52.03 995,800 $52.12

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 2 $56.75 8,770 $51.42 42,718 $56.61 240,857 $54.45
STAR Test-Only 283 $41.94 9,495 $45.02 80,287 $50.77 439,294 $49.89
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 83,833 $61.99 12,016 $54.19 51,067 $47.09
Non-STAR Test-Only 108 $41.75 8,233 $44.40 2,608 $44.34 13,428 $42.22
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,545 $63.52 18 $65.17 238 $75.96
Total 393 $41.96 112,876 $58.49 137,647 $52.76 744,884 $51.05

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 1093 $51.03 5,253 $461.81
$101-250 1208 $171.23
$251-500 1251 $368.62
$501-650 464 $575.57
Over $650 1237 $1,160.13
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 270 $52.65 1,204 $434.69
$101-250 355 $170.83
$251-500 274 $368.55
$501-650 98 $572.73
Over $650 207 $1,407.73
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 89 $820.40
$101-250 2 $230.87
$251-500 12 $366.13
$501-650 16 $587.09
Over $650 59 $996.05
Total Repairs $1-100 1363 $51.35 6,546 $461.70
$101-250 1565 $171.21
$251-500 1537 $368.59
$501-650 578 $575.41
Over $650 1503 $1,187.79

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 1,865 73 2,093
STAR Test-Only 14 1 1,696 36 1,747
STAR Sub-Total 121 49 3,561 109 3,840
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 488 46 2,097 244 2,875
Non-STAR Test-Only 28 7 347 31 413
Non-STAR Sub-Total 516 53 2,444 275 3,288
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 42 1 45
Unknown Type 1 0 31 0 32
Other Station Sub-Total 113 7 451 18 589
All Stations 750 109 6,456 402 7,717

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 155 1,862
STAR Test-Only 3 76 1,612
STAR Sub-Total 4 231 3,474
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,769 412
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 113 84
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,882 496
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 49 5
Unknown Type 0 2 20
Government Fleet 7 135 39
Referee 0 0 18
Other Station Sub-Total 7 211 82
All Stations 12 2,324 4,052

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 227 127
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 20 3
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 8
Exempted by Directive 2 0
Parts Exemption 2 2
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 251 140

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,037
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,954
All License Types 8,991

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).

  • Back to Top
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Web Accessibility Certification
  • Careers
  • Register to Vote
Copyright © State of California