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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
July 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 1,000,043 101,397 10.14%
All Tests 1,095,961 116,085 10.59%

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 118,336 247,251 102,128 213,528
Non-Directed 169,871 281,801 153,844 256,726
Total 288,207 529,052 255,972 470,254

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 455 110 225 51
Non-Directed 149,099 23,924 138,421 21,884
Total 149,554 24,034 138,646 21,935

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 532 150 28.20% 21.05% 7.71% 11.47% 5.64% NA
1977 666 144 21.62% 13.66% 5.56% 9.91% 5.26% NA
1978 788 195 24.75% 15.86% 6.22% 12.94% 4.95% NA
1979 803 215 26.77% 19.80% 7.10% 11.21% 6.35% NA
1980 464 109 23.49% 17.03% 8.41% 10.13% 4.96% NA
1981 532 134 25.19% 18.80% 6.95% 10.15% 6.20% NA
1982 555 142 25.59% 20.36% 7.03% 9.55% 6.13% NA
1983 718 192 26.74% 18.25% 7.24% 14.35% 6.41% NA
1984 1,197 308 25.73% 19.72% 8.94% 12.11% 5.43% NA
1985 1,689 404 23.92% 16.76% 6.87% 10.78% 4.68% NA
1986 2,175 501 23.03% 16.37% 5.89% 10.99% 5.15% NA
1987 2,377 572 24.06% 17.08% 5.51% 10.05% 4.25% NA
1988 2,825 684 24.21% 17.35% 6.19% 10.73% 3.89% NA
1989 3,808 830 21.80% 15.60% 4.83% 9.06% 3.60% NA
1990 4,492 981 21.84% 14.87% 4.32% 9.71% 3.98% NA
1991 5,227 1,115 21.33% 14.27% 3.71% 9.53% 3.33% NA
1992 5,110 1,131 22.13% 14.93% 4.15% 10.23% 3.97% NA
1993 6,377 1,446 22.68% 15.76% 3.87% 9.38% 3.70% NA
1994 8,608 1,860 21.61% 14.71% 3.10% 9.25% 3.30% NA
1995 9,345 2,099 22.46% 15.37% 2.93% 9.09% 3.38% NA
1996 12,507 2,469 19.74% 8.80% 1.14% 11.44% 3.36% 11.41%
1997 14,574 3,013 20.67% 9.34% 1.54% 12.57% 3.42% 12.56%
1998 22,861 4,053 17.73% 6.91% 1.21% 11.35% 2.92% 11.35%
1999 22,939 3,840 16.74% 5.30% 1.00% 11.72% 2.84% 11.71%
2000 546 102 18.68% 8.79% 4.03% 11.36% 3.30% 11.36%
2001 318 56 17.61% 5.97% 1.89% 14.47% 1.89% 14.47%
2002 417 49 11.75% 3.12% 0.72% 9.35% 1.92% 9.35%
2003 433 76 17.55% 7.62% 3.23% 12.47% 2.08% 12.47%
2004 568 60 10.56% 4.93% 1.58% 6.69% 1.23% 6.69%
2005 370 50 13.51% 4.59% 1.35% 10.00% 1.62% 10.00%
2006 587 52 8.86% 2.56% 0.85% 6.64% 1.36% 6.64%
2007 334 39 11.68% 3.59% 1.20% 8.08% 1.80% 8.08%
2008 433 26 6.00% 1.62% 0.69% 4.16% 0.46% 4.16%
2009 93 9 9.68% 1.08% 0.00% 8.60% 1.08% 8.60%
2010 116 10 8.62% 0.86% 0.00% 8.62% 0.86% 8.62%
2011 136 6 4.41% 0.74% 0.74% 3.68% 0.00% 3.68%
2012 357 22 6.16% 0.28% 0.28% 6.16% 0.00% 6.16%
2013 64 4 6.25% 3.13% 1.56% 4.69% 1.56% 4.69%
2014 68 6 8.82% 0.00% 0.00% 7.35% 1.47% 7.35%
2015 59 2 3.39% 1.69% 0.00% 3.39% 0.00% 3.39%
2016 65 2 3.08% 0.00% 0.00% 3.08% 0.00% 3.08%
2017 69 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 75 1 1.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.33% 0.00%
2019 126 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 311 1 0.32% 0.32% 0.32% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 3 2 66.67% 66.67% 0.00% 0.00% 33.33% 0.00%
All Model Years 136,717 27,162 19.87% 10.69% 2.58% 10.75% 3.37% 6.55%

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 7 2 28.57% 14.29% 14.29% 14.29% 14.29% 0.00%
1997 8 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 221 27 12.22% 11.31% 1.36% 9.95% 4.07% 1.36%
1999 881 101 11.46% 10.10% 2.16% 9.76% 6.92% 0.34%
2000 42,001 6,923 16.48% 14.83% 2.87% 14.60% 10.59% 0.23%
2001 32,107 5,428 16.91% 15.30% 3.02% 15.03% 10.55% 0.27%
2002 56,401 7,358 13.05% 11.48% 2.41% 11.26% 7.90% 0.22%
2003 40,201 5,265 13.10% 11.56% 2.48% 11.32% 7.68% 0.24%
2004 72,352 7,623 10.54% 9.29% 1.82% 9.11% 6.33% 0.18%
2005 47,954 5,186 10.81% 9.47% 1.99% 9.30% 6.36% 0.17%
2006 80,551 7,198 8.94% 7.90% 1.41% 7.76% 5.45% 0.14%
2007 49,090 4,074 8.30% 7.32% 1.31% 7.19% 4.83% 0.13%
2008 72,884 4,731 6.49% 5.86% 0.84% 5.77% 4.19% 0.09%
2009 28,221 1,889 6.69% 6.07% 0.84% 5.97% 4.34% 0.10%
2010 71,937 3,976 5.53% 5.13% 0.50% 5.08% 2.74% 0.05%
2011 29,230 2,168 7.42% 6.98% 0.62% 6.92% 3.32% 0.05%
2012 106,083 5,930 5.59% 5.25% 0.47% 5.21% 2.77% 0.04%
2013 18,096 1,113 6.15% 5.77% 0.45% 5.74% 2.80% 0.03%
2014 19,108 1,064 5.57% 5.23% 0.44% 5.19% 2.62% 0.05%
2015 20,350 995 4.89% 4.59% 0.35% 4.57% 2.46% 0.03%
2016 24,397 1,040 4.26% 4.00% 0.27% 3.97% 2.49% 0.03%
2017 19,529 845 4.33% 4.17% 0.17% 4.14% 3.14% 0.03%
2018 12,971 472 3.64% 3.45% 0.20% 3.42% 2.77% 0.04%
2019 14,903 587 3.94% 3.85% 0.09% 3.84% 3.27% 0.01%
2020 3,814 233 6.11% 6.08% 0.08% 6.06% 5.24% 0.03%
2021 19 3 15.79% 15.79% 0.00% 15.79% 5.26% 0.00%
Other 10 4 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 30.00% 10.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 863,326 74,235 8.60% 7.75% 1.26% 7.63% 5.07% 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 14,617 10.69%
All Visual 10,871 1.26% 4,601 3.37%
All Functional 66,917 7.75% 14,692 10.75%
OBDII 65,892 7.63% 8,956 6.55%
Overall 74,235 8.60% 27,162 19.87%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 745,292 65,046 8.73% 106,054 21,592 20.36%
Partial 41,500 3,395 8.18% 8,385 1,896 22.61%
Basic 69,240 5,236 7.56% 16,664 2,403 14.42%
Change of Ownership 7,294 558 7.65% 1,290 308 23.88%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 3 2 66.67%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,321 961 22.24%
All Program Areas 863,326 74,235 8.60% 136,717 27,162 19.87%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 449,489 42,003 9.34% 79,563 15,568 19.57%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,941 157 8.09% 225 33 14.67%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,362 1,591 7.45% 2,672 423 15.83%
STAR Test-and-Repair 247,006 21,741 8.80% 41,201 9,116 22.13%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 969 76 7.84% 60 11 18.33%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 137,503 8,238 5.99% 12,051 1,752 14.54%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,818 135 4.79% 18 4 22.22%
Business Fleet 506 29 5.73% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 90 5 5.56% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 293 179 61.09% 173 107 61.85%
Government Fleet 1,349 81 6.00% 754 148 19.63%
All Stations 863,326 74,235 8.60% 136,717 27,162 19.87%

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 893,102 89.31% 106,941 10.69%
All Tests 973,557 88.83% 122,404 11.17%

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 470,254 88.89% 58,798 11.11%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,935 91.27% 2,099 8.73%
STAR Test-and-Repair 255,972 88.82% 32,235 11.18%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 138,646 92.71% 10,908 7.29%
All Stations 886,807 89.50% 104,040 10.50%

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 41,052 $57.08 246,205 $49.73 287,257 $50.78
STAR Test-Only 79,332 $50.70 448,608 $49.09 527,940 $49.33
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 12,040 $53.87 137,019 $57.00 149,059 $56.74
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,667 $43.53 21,346 $55.62 24,013 $54.28
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 18 $69.00 2,785 $63.75 2,803 $63.79
Total 135,109 $52.78 855,963 $50.75 991,072 $51.03

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 29 $49.08 8,901 $53.51 41,023 $57.09 237,304 $49.58
STAR Test-Only 658 $55.50 9,807 $45.31 78,674 $50.66 438,801 $49.17
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 87,260 $62.97 12,040 $53.87 49,759 $46.52
Non-STAR Test-Only 110 $41.72 8,042 $44.53 2,557 $43.61 13,304 $62.33
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,562 $63.22 18 $69.00 223 $69.82
Total 797 $53.36 116,572 $59.50 134,312 $52.78 739,391 $49.37

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 1104 $50.41 5,078 $479.59
$101-250 1079 $172.04
$251-500 1170 $368.43
$501-650 459 $578.34
Over $650 1266 $1,182.91
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 320 $52.26 1,234 $446.28
$101-250 324 $174.63
$251-500 256 $366.42
$501-650 99 $563.34
Over $650 235 $1,395.02
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 2 $67.41 163 $717.06
$101-250 3 $233.16
$251-500 56 $400.60
$501-650 32 $583.92
Over $650 70 $1,070.39
Total Repairs $1-100 1426 $50.85 6,475 $479.22
$101-250 1406 $172.77
$251-500 1482 $369.30
$501-650 590 $576.13
Over $650 1571 $1,209.63

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 106 49 1,872 72 2,099
STAR Test-Only 17 2 1,729 36 1,784
STAR Sub-Total 123 51 3,601 108 3,883
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 485 46 2,065 241 2,837
Non-STAR Test-Only 26 6 311 32 375
Non-STAR Sub-Total 511 52 2,376 273 3,212
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 28 0 33
Government Fleet 41 5 301 13 360
Repair-Only 2 0 42 1 45
Unknown Type 0 0 16 0 16
Other Station Sub-Total 111 7 437 18 573
All Stations 745 110 6,414 399 7,668

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 164 1,862
STAR Test-Only 5 69 1,648
STAR Sub-Total 7 233 3,510
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,779 411
Non-STAR Test-Only 2 108 64
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 1,887 475
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 20 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 50 5
Unknown Type 0 2 8
Government Fleet 9 136 36
Referee 0 1 18
Other Station Sub-Total 9 211 67
All Stations 18 2,331 4,052

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 278 163
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 26 4
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 8
Exempted by Directive 4 0
Parts Exemption 2 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 310 175

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,052
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,964
All License Types 9,016

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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