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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
December 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 780,892 75,286 9.64%
All Tests 854,116 86,557 10.13%

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 92,411 197,397 80,646 172,296
Non-Directed 129,604 215,896 116,161 196,340
Total 222,015 413,293 196,807 368,636

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 342 78 154 31
Non-Directed 120,667 17,871 111,619 16,333
Total 121,009 17,949 111,773 16,364

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 404 92 22.77% 15.35% 5.69% 12.13% 4.95% NA
1977 482 120 24.90% 17.63% 6.85% 10.37% 6.22% NA
1978 550 140 25.45% 16.55% 7.64% 14.73% 6.73% NA
1979 702 171 24.36% 16.24% 5.98% 10.83% 4.70% NA
1980 349 67 19.20% 12.61% 7.45% 10.03% 4.87% NA
1981 413 85 20.58% 16.71% 5.57% 8.47% 5.33% NA
1982 445 104 23.37% 18.43% 7.42% 9.89% 4.94% NA
1983 440 102 23.18% 18.86% 9.09% 8.86% 6.59% NA
1984 858 205 23.89% 17.13% 6.18% 11.42% 5.94% NA
1985 1,135 274 24.14% 17.53% 6.17% 8.90% 5.55% NA
1986 1,548 312 20.16% 12.92% 4.97% 9.82% 4.33% NA
1987 1,941 468 24.11% 17.52% 5.67% 10.66% 3.92% NA
1988 1,856 411 22.14% 15.68% 5.01% 9.27% 3.88% NA
1989 2,778 619 22.28% 14.69% 4.18% 10.73% 3.85% NA
1990 3,082 686 22.26% 14.44% 3.70% 10.84% 4.22% NA
1991 3,619 785 21.69% 14.70% 4.20% 10.06% 3.81% NA
1992 3,364 710 21.11% 13.88% 4.13% 9.48% 4.16% NA
1993 4,181 984 23.54% 16.50% 3.32% 10.26% 3.76% NA
1994 5,579 1,195 21.42% 13.77% 2.94% 9.97% 3.87% NA
1995 7,144 1,580 22.12% 15.27% 3.00% 9.17% 3.58% NA
1996 7,532 1,501 19.93% 9.25% 1.42% 11.91% 3.33% 11.86%
1997 10,720 2,132 19.89% 9.20% 1.60% 11.92% 3.57% 11.91%
1998 14,340 2,563 17.87% 6.95% 1.21% 11.41% 3.05% 11.41%
1999 17,544 2,726 15.54% 5.10% 0.85% 10.57% 2.90% 10.57%
2000 360 50 13.89% 7.50% 3.89% 7.78% 3.33% 7.78%
2001 228 35 15.35% 5.70% 2.19% 10.09% 1.75% 10.09%
2002 289 46 15.92% 5.54% 1.38% 10.38% 3.81% 10.38%
2003 289 35 12.11% 3.46% 1.38% 9.69% 1.04% 9.69%
2004 328 47 14.33% 7.32% 1.22% 7.62% 1.52% 7.62%
2005 278 42 15.11% 5.04% 1.08% 12.23% 1.80% 12.23%
2006 341 35 10.26% 3.81% 1.76% 7.62% 2.35% 7.62%
2007 308 37 12.01% 3.57% 1.62% 9.09% 1.62% 9.09%
2008 222 18 8.11% 2.70% 1.80% 5.86% 0.45% 5.86%
2009 107 9 8.41% 0.93% 0.00% 7.48% 0.00% 7.48%
2010 92 11 11.96% 1.09% 0.00% 10.87% 0.00% 10.87%
2011 128 6 4.69% 0.00% 0.00% 3.91% 0.78% 3.91%
2012 221 9 4.07% 0.90% 0.45% 4.07% 0.00% 4.07%
2013 127 11 8.66% 1.57% 0.79% 7.87% 0.79% 7.87%
2014 36 1 2.78% 2.78% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2015 50 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 41 2 4.88% 0.00% 0.00% 4.88% 0.00% 4.88%
2017 47 2 4.26% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 2.13% 2.13%
2018 26 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 53 2 3.77% 1.89% 0.00% 1.89% 3.77% 1.89%
2020 379 2 0.53% 0.26% 0.00% 0.26% 0.00% 0.26%
All Model Years 94,956 18,432 19.41% 10.45% 2.48% 10.57% 3.50% 6.26%

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 8 4 50.00% 37.50% 0.00% 37.50% 12.50% 0.00%
1997 6 5 83.33% 83.33% 0.00% 83.33% 33.33% 0.00%
1998 167 19 11.38% 8.98% 3.59% 8.98% 4.19% 0.00%
1999 575 71 12.35% 11.30% 1.91% 10.61% 7.13% 0.70%
2000 24,834 4,174 16.81% 15.16% 2.99% 14.87% 10.96% 0.29%
2001 28,589 4,616 16.15% 14.42% 2.97% 14.22% 10.25% 0.20%
2002 33,947 4,776 14.07% 12.47% 2.51% 12.20% 8.58% 0.27%
2003 36,933 4,528 12.26% 10.91% 2.14% 10.69% 7.32% 0.22%
2004 43,197 4,919 11.39% 10.09% 2.00% 9.92% 6.83% 0.17%
2005 41,521 4,262 10.26% 9.17% 1.65% 8.98% 6.40% 0.19%
2006 52,822 4,911 9.30% 8.20% 1.61% 8.08% 5.53% 0.12%
2007 47,128 3,530 7.49% 6.52% 1.29% 6.42% 4.41% 0.10%
2008 50,422 3,530 7.00% 6.23% 1.00% 6.12% 4.31% 0.11%
2009 27,510 1,664 6.05% 5.47% 0.73% 5.39% 4.09% 0.08%
2010 40,831 2,657 6.51% 6.11% 0.57% 6.06% 3.07% 0.05%
2011 39,753 2,251 5.66% 5.28% 0.50% 5.23% 2.57% 0.05%
2012 55,025 3,819 6.94% 6.51% 0.58% 6.47% 3.26% 0.04%
2013 54,936 2,346 4.27% 3.99% 0.35% 3.95% 2.16% 0.04%
2014 15,111 809 5.35% 4.98% 0.42% 4.94% 2.40% 0.03%
2015 17,700 868 4.90% 4.62% 0.34% 4.59% 2.43% 0.03%
2016 17,917 684 3.82% 3.62% 0.25% 3.62% 2.31% 0.01%
2017 27,442 1,269 4.62% 4.50% 0.13% 4.49% 3.41% 0.01%
2018 12,469 474 3.80% 3.58% 0.23% 3.57% 2.82% 0.02%
2019 10,636 312 2.93% 2.86% 0.09% 2.84% 2.31% 0.02%
2020 5,590 266 4.76% 4.65% 0.09% 4.65% 4.03% 0.00%
2021 856 85 9.93% 9.81% 0.12% 9.81% 9.00% 0.00%
Other 11 5 45.45% 27.27% 9.09% 27.27% 18.18% 0.00%
All Model Years 685,936 56,854 8.29% 7.49% 1.19% 7.38% 4.89% 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 9,925 10.45%
All Visual 8,151 1.19% 3,322 3.50%
All Functional 51,373 7.49% 10,041 10.57%
OBDII 50,629 7.38% 5,942 6.26%
Overall 56,854 8.29% 18,432 19.41%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 589,942 49,417 8.38% 73,016 14,522 19.89%
Partial 33,068 2,545 7.70% 5,698 1,221 21.43%
Basic 57,073 4,384 7.68% 12,179 1,775 14.57%
Change of Ownership 5,853 508 8.68% 999 245 24.52%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 0 0.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,063 669 21.84%
All Program Areas 685,936 56,854 8.29% 94,956 18,432 19.41%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 357,845 32,122 8.98% 55,448 10,615 19.14%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 1,386 134 9.67% 102 25 24.51%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,199 1,174 7.25% 1,750 249 14.23%
STAR Test-and-Repair 193,224 16,472 8.52% 28,791 6,181 21.47%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 291 26 8.93% 43 3 6.98%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 112,554 6,527 5.80% 8,455 1,208 14.29%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,595 143 5.51% 17 4 23.53%
Business Fleet 414 13 3.14% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 32 1 3.12% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 264 163 61.74% 185 112 60.54%
Government Fleet 1,132 79 6.98% 165 35 21.21%
All Stations 685,936 56,854 8.29% 94,956 18,432 19.41%

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 698,208 89.41% 82,684 10.59%
All Tests 759,279 88.90% 94,837 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 368,636 89.19% 44,657 10.81%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,364 91.17% 1,585 8.83%
STAR Test-and-Repair 196,807 88.65% 25,208 11.35%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 111,773 92.37% 9,236 7.63%
All Stations 693,580 89.58% 80,686 10.42%

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 28,811 $57.33 190,578 $51.96 219,389 $52.67
STAR Test-Only 55,380 $50.92 354,935 $49.15 410,315 $49.39
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 8,470 $55.89 110,167 $58.70 118,637 $58.50
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,715 $46.54 16,023 $43.70 17,738 $43.97
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 17 $70.23 2,574 $64.09 2,591 $64.13
Total 94,393 $53.25 674,277 $51.43 768,670 $51.65

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 $39.95 8,956 $53.42 28,810 $57.33 181,622 $51.89
STAR Test-Only 1 $71.75 10,584 $45.55 55,379 $50.92 344,351 $49.26
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 71,663 $64.86 8,470 $55.89 38,504 $47.24
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 6,128 $44.91 1,715 $46.54 9,895 $42.95
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,370 $63.08 17 $70.23 204 $75.78
Total 2 $55.85 99,701 $60.51 94,391 $53.25 574,576 $49.86

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) $1-100 735 $51.99 3,684 $490.94
$101-250 812 $171.39
$251-500 874 $365.82
$501-650 365 $577.13
Over $650 898 $1,225.90
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 234 $52.07 1,028 $464.05
$101-250 292 $168.44
$251-500 217 $365.71
$501-650 74 $570.57
Over $650 211 $1,393.80
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 $0.00 308 $962.47
$101-250 17 $182.55
$251-500 49 $382.01
$501-650 30 $567.03
Over $650 212 $1,215.13
Total Repairs $1-100 969 $52.01 5,020 $514.36
$101-250 1121 $170.79
$251-500 1140 $366.49
$501-650 469 $575.45
Over $650 1321 $1,250.99

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 104 47 1,889 74 2,114
STAR Test-Only 17 2 1,723 35 1,777
STAR Sub-Total 121 49 3,612 109 3,891
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 486 44 2,026 233 2,789
Non-STAR Test-Only 29 5 286 31 351
Non-STAR Sub-Total 515 49 2,312 264 3,140
Basic Area Dealer 58 0 0 0 58
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 48 4 57
Referee 5 0 31 0 36
Government Fleet 41 5 302 13 361
Repair-Only 2 0 43 1 46
Unknown Type 1 1 12 1 15
Other Station Sub-Total 110 8 440 19 577
All Stations 746 106 6,364 392 7,608

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 199 1,834
STAR Test-Only 1 97 1,620
STAR Sub-Total 2 296 3,454
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,748 371
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 104 79
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,852 450
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 14 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 49 5
Unknown Type 0 2 8
Government Fleet 2 124 20
Referee 0 0 25
Other Station Sub-Total 2 192 58
All Stations 4 2,340 3,962

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 198 134
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 20 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 1 11
Exempted by Directive 1 0
Parts Exemption 6 0
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 226 145

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,040
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,849
All License Types 8,889

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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