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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
2021

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 10,654,954 1,013,127 9.51%
All Tests 11,628,466 1,165,396 10.02%

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 1,222,744 2,668,899 1,072,591 2,340,854
Non-Directed 1,786,996 3,096,431 1,618,067 2,824,067
Total 3,009,740 5,765,330 2,690,658 5,164,921

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 3,381 705 1,319 308
Non-Directed 1,547,897 235,129 1,437,981 217,174
Total 1,551,278 235,834 1,439,300 217,482

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 4,965 1,133 22.82% 15.77% 6.34% 9.81% 5.48% NA
1977 6,421 1,437 22.38% 15.59% 6.03% 10.09% 5.65% NA
1978 7,441 1,597 21.46% 14.86% 5.73% 9.84% 5.07% NA
1979 8,283 1,907 23.02% 16.41% 6.42% 10.36% 5.25% NA
1980 4,560 948 20.79% 14.19% 6.62% 10.11% 5.50% NA
1981 5,037 1,184 23.51% 17.89% 6.99% 9.49% 4.94% NA
1982 5,405 1,223 22.63% 16.69% 6.18% 9.79% 5.12% NA
1983 6,786 1,550 22.84% 16.58% 6.56% 9.86% 5.22% NA
1984 11,536 2,777 24.07% 18.40% 7.48% 9.79% 5.30% NA
1985 15,674 3,656 23.33% 17.37% 6.32% 9.68% 5.01% NA
1986 20,568 4,695 22.83% 16.67% 6.02% 9.89% 4.48% NA
1987 23,232 5,405 23.27% 17.30% 5.86% 9.59% 4.39% NA
1988 26,649 5,992 22.48% 16.29% 5.43% 9.67% 4.09% NA
1989 36,609 7,697 21.02% 14.41% 4.44% 9.51% 3.71% NA
1990 41,167 8,311 20.19% 13.53% 3.78% 9.23% 3.55% NA
1991 48,694 9,629 19.77% 13.44% 3.61% 8.70% 3.45% NA
1992 46,348 9,431 20.35% 13.94% 3.59% 8.63% 3.50% NA
1993 57,634 12,702 22.04% 15.47% 3.33% 9.33% 3.52% NA
1994 71,407 15,637 21.90% 14.82% 3.03% 9.47% 3.70% NA
1995 102,813 20,798 20.23% 13.92% 2.49% 8.21% 3.32% NA
1996 89,834 18,194 20.25% 9.71% 1.43% 11.53% 3.42% 11.51%
1997 161,445 30,880 19.13% 8.47% 1.22% 11.43% 2.98% 11.43%
1998 168,430 31,001 18.41% 7.39% 1.32% 11.65% 3.14% 11.65%
1999 267,721 40,781 15.23% 4.88% 0.86% 10.37% 2.64% 10.37%
2000 4,160 735 17.67% 8.34% 3.61% 9.86% 3.39% 9.86%
2001 3,982 692 17.38% 6.58% 2.21% 12.36% 3.34% 12.36%
2002 3,579 594 16.60% 6.45% 2.57% 11.43% 3.05% 11.43%
2003 4,818 683 14.18% 4.98% 1.81% 10.25% 2.51% 10.23%
2004 4,032 546 13.54% 5.41% 1.86% 9.60% 2.36% 9.60%
2005 4,936 603 12.22% 4.68% 1.76% 8.29% 1.90% 8.29%
2006 4,354 532 12.22% 4.57% 1.52% 7.95% 2.66% 7.95%
2007 4,519 565 12.50% 3.98% 1.39% 8.87% 2.04% 8.87%
2008 2,849 283 9.93% 2.53% 1.09% 7.58% 1.16% 7.58%
2009 1,541 170 11.03% 3.05% 1.36% 8.76% 1.43% 8.76%
2010 1,031 136 13.19% 1.84% 0.29% 12.42% 1.16% 12.42%
2011 2,744 149 5.43% 0.98% 0.29% 4.66% 0.44% 4.66%
2012 1,777 115 6.47% 0.96% 0.51% 5.68% 0.84% 5.68%
2013 3,809 178 4.67% 0.81% 0.26% 3.99% 0.39% 3.99%
2014 896 51 5.69% 1.12% 0.56% 5.25% 0.45% 5.25%
2015 781 44 5.63% 0.77% 0.13% 5.38% 0.26% 5.38%
2016 961 26 2.71% 0.31% 0.10% 2.50% 0.42% 2.50%
2017 964 12 1.24% 0.21% 0.21% 1.04% 0.31% 1.04%
2018 600 8 1.33% 0.33% 0.33% 1.17% 0.50% 1.17%
2019 730 3 0.41% 0.00% 0.00% 0.27% 0.14% 0.27%
2020 2,117 7 0.33% 0.19% 0.09% 0.14% 0.09% 0.14%
2021 550 6 1.09% 0.55% 0.00% 0.55% 0.18% 0.55%
2022 89 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 11 2 18.18% 18.18% 0.00% 0.00% 18.18% 0.00%
All Model Years 1,294,489 244,705 18.90% 10.21% 2.38% 10.12% 3.28% 6.22%

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 144 20 13.89% 9.72% 2.08% 9.72% 4.17% 0.00%
1997 347 37 10.66% 7.20% 0.86% 6.92% 3.75% 0.29%
1998 2,515 282 11.21% 8.67% 2.94% 7.59% 3.70% 1.07%
1999 9,305 1,173 12.61% 10.71% 2.27% 10.27% 7.07% 0.44%
2000 280,401 48,368 17.25% 15.38% 3.31% 15.10% 10.98% 0.28%
2001 447,025 67,445 15.09% 13.53% 2.65% 13.31% 9.64% 0.23%
2002 352,342 50,883 14.44% 12.73% 2.82% 12.48% 8.66% 0.25%
2003 595,091 70,362 11.82% 10.33% 2.25% 10.11% 7.00% 0.22%
2004 444,924 53,517 12.03% 10.46% 2.27% 10.23% 7.14% 0.22%
2005 729,806 72,420 9.92% 8.65% 1.76% 8.49% 5.89% 0.16%
2006 510,626 51,853 10.15% 8.79% 1.82% 8.62% 5.96% 0.17%
2007 836,690 61,967 7.41% 6.37% 1.27% 6.27% 4.29% 0.11%
2008 460,691 35,928 7.80% 6.93% 1.18% 6.80% 4.81% 0.13%
2009 519,919 31,248 6.01% 5.44% 0.75% 5.35% 3.88% 0.09%
2010 348,721 26,327 7.55% 7.02% 0.72% 6.94% 3.47% 0.07%
2011 739,668 43,475 5.88% 5.49% 0.50% 5.44% 2.72% 0.05%
2012 362,257 27,321 7.54% 7.08% 0.62% 7.03% 3.45% 0.05%
2013 1,258,260 60,848 4.84% 4.44% 0.49% 4.40% 2.21% 0.04%
2014 256,758 13,177 5.13% 4.79% 0.42% 4.75% 2.39% 0.03%
2015 248,754 12,674 5.09% 4.77% 0.36% 4.73% 2.50% 0.03%
2016 231,046 9,676 4.19% 3.92% 0.30% 3.90% 2.39% 0.02%
2017 285,570 11,605 4.06% 3.84% 0.24% 3.82% 2.71% 0.02%
2018 187,056 7,266 3.88% 3.70% 0.19% 3.68% 2.84% 0.02%
2019 133,288 5,218 3.91% 3.73% 0.19% 3.71% 2.98% 0.02%
2020 77,929 2,909 3.73% 3.57% 0.16% 3.55% 2.98% 0.02%
2021 38,388 2,153 5.61% 5.47% 0.14% 5.46% 4.81% 0.01%
2022 2,869 236 8.23% 8.12% 0.14% 8.12% 7.46% 0.00%
Other 75 34 45.33% 17.33% 0.00% 17.33% 12.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 9,360,465 768,422 8.21% 7.34% 1.24% 7.23% 4.72% 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 132,188 10.21%
All Visual 115,762 1.24% 42,483 3.28%
All Functional 687,064 7.34% 130,994 10.12%
OBDII 676,324 7.23% 80,501 6.22%
Overall 768,422 8.21% 244,705 18.90%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 8,075,587 668,136 8.27% 995,012 191,862 19.28%
Partial 458,155 36,124 7.88% 79,806 17,168 21.51%
Basic 752,142 58,382 7.76% 161,586 22,996 14.23%
Change of Ownership 74,581 5,780 7.75% 12,772 2,935 22.98%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 10 5 50.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 45,303 9,739 21.50%
All Program Areas 9,360,465 768,422 8.21% 1,294,489 244,705 18.90%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 5,005,383 441,723 8.82% 759,947 141,441 18.61%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 13,668 998 7.30% 710 140 19.72%
Non-STAR Test-Only 211,704 14,071 6.65% 24,130 3,082 12.77%
STAR Test-and-Repair 2,621,905 218,541 8.34% 387,835 81,929 21.12%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 7,056 380 5.39% 889 128 14.40%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,440,199 84,168 5.84% 111,079 16,033 14.43%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 29,505 1,409 4.78% 203 17 8.37%
Business Fleet 4,525 335 7.40% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 649 24 3.70% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 7,926 5,644 71.21% 895 401 44.80%
Government Fleet 17,945 1,129 6.29% 8,801 1,534 17.43%
All Stations 9,360,465 768,422 8.21% 1,294,489 244,705 18.90%

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 9,568,482 89.80% 1,086,472 10.20%
All Tests 10,380,913 89.27% 1,247,553 10.73%

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 5,164,921 89.59% 600,409 10.41%
Non-STAR Test-Only 217,482 92.22% 18,352 7.78%
STAR Test-and-Repair 2,690,658 89.40% 319,082 10.60%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,439,300 92.78% 111,978 7.22%
All Stations 9,512,361 90.06% 1,049,821 9.94%

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 386,680 $58.73 2,621,868 $59.36 3,008,548 $59.28
STAR Test-Only 755,912 $52.20 5,005,021 $60.51 5,760,933 $59.42
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 110,680 $57.50 1,440,100 $86.98 1,550,780 $84.88
Non-STAR Test-Only 23,806 $46.63 211,476 $55.85 235,282 $54.92
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 202 $73.30 29,505 $70.22 29,707 $70.24
Total 1,277,280 $54.54 9,307,970 $64.21 10,585,250 $63.04

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 70,886 $60.10 386,679 $58.73 2,550,982 $59.34
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 66,068 $69.11 755,912 $52.20 4,938,953 $60.40
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 900,766 $86.58 110,680 $57.50 539,334 $87.65
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 72,158 $65.05 23,806 $46.63 139,318 $51.09
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 26,703 $69.63 202 $73.30 2,802 $75.77
Total 1 $61.75 1,136,581 $82.15 1,277,279 $54.54 8,171,389 $61.71

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 4942 $54.46 29,052 $587.81
$101-250 6084 $170.93
$251-500 6627 $365.37
$501-650 2575 $574.60
Over $650 8824 $1,344.87
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 1780 $56.59 9,594 $565.73
$101-250 2471 $171.52
$251-500 2189 $367.44
$501-650 745 $571.60
Over $650 2409 $1,524.64
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 4 $54.80 3,969 $1,108.11
$101-250 242 $188.44
$251-500 547 $384.52
$501-650 378 $572.68
Over $650 2798 $1,402.95
Total Repairs $1-100 6726 $55.02 42,615 $631.30
$101-250 8797 $171.58
$251-500 9363 $366.97
$501-650 3698 $573.80
Over $650 14031 $1,387.32

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 110 48 1,910 77 2,145
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,831 34 1,888
STAR Sub-Total 131 50 3,741 111 4,033
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 509 53 2,193 241 2,996
Non-STAR Test-Only 27 8 320 36 391
Non-STAR Sub-Total 536 61 2,513 277 3,387
Basic Area Dealer 57 0 0 0 57
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 31 0 36
Government Fleet 43 5 304 13 365
Repair Only 2 0 44 1 47
Unknown Type 0 1 12 2 15
Other Station Sub-Total 110 8 444 20 582
All Stations 777 119 6,698 408 8,002

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 124 1,990
STAR Test-Only 0 40 1,810
STAR Sub-Total 1 164 3,800
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,890 421
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 117 105
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 2,007 526
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 36 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 48 6
Unknown Type 0 2 9
Government Fleet 1 183 51
Referee 0 0 28
Other Station Sub-Total 1 272 94
All Stations 2 2,443 4,420

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 3,941 904
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 345 81
Limited Parts Exemption 85 8
Exempt Vehicle 39 177
Exempted by Directive 90 7
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 4,500 1,177

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 5,065
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,310
All License Types 10,375

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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