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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
March 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 1,059,919 106,112 10.01%
All Tests 1,159,117 121,395 10.47%

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 119,460 257,645 103,750 223,786
Non-Directed 181,205 311,292 163,821 282,706
Total 300,665 568,937 267,571 506,492

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 425 93 202 46
Non-Directed 155,809 24,026 144,432 22,092
Total 156,234 24,119 144,634 22,138

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 511 107 20.94% 12.52% 3.91% 10.37% 4.50% NA
1977 608 136 22.37% 14.64% 4.93% 9.05% 5.59% NA
1978 731 151 20.66% 12.86% 4.79% 11.35% 5.34% NA
1979 831 194 23.35% 16.13% 6.02% 11.55% 5.05% NA
1980 486 93 19.14% 11.52% 4.94% 8.85% 5.35% NA
1981 491 115 23.42% 16.29% 4.89% 10.39% 5.30% NA
1982 577 153 26.52% 19.58% 7.45% 10.92% 6.07% NA
1983 665 162 24.36% 17.29% 6.77% 9.92% 4.66% NA
1984 1,184 279 23.56% 17.99% 7.35% 10.30% 5.49% NA
1985 1,597 377 23.61% 17.03% 5.82% 10.77% 5.57% NA
1986 1,954 468 23.95% 17.66% 5.99% 10.34% 4.30% NA
1987 2,350 566 24.09% 18.04% 6.13% 11.40% 4.72% NA
1988 2,715 617 22.73% 15.69% 4.79% 10.09% 4.53% NA
1989 3,627 780 21.51% 14.25% 4.00% 10.20% 4.03% NA
1990 4,424 937 21.18% 14.67% 4.16% 9.63% 3.71% NA
1991 4,966 1,028 20.70% 13.37% 3.44% 9.99% 3.85% NA
1992 4,815 995 20.66% 13.87% 3.55% 8.97% 3.76% NA
1993 5,801 1,400 24.13% 17.36% 3.90% 10.08% 3.72% NA
1994 7,336 1,699 23.16% 16.11% 3.56% 10.14% 3.71% NA
1995 10,414 2,157 20.71% 14.53% 2.65% 8.49% 3.32% NA
1996 9,453 2,011 21.27% 10.03% 1.46% 12.56% 3.69% 12.54%
1997 17,288 3,519 20.36% 9.36% 1.39% 12.00% 3.11% 11.99%
1998 17,308 3,357 19.40% 8.00% 1.60% 12.19% 3.38% 12.19%
1999 28,516 4,437 15.56% 4.94% 0.86% 10.69% 2.67% 10.69%
2000 445 76 17.08% 8.54% 3.15% 8.99% 3.37% 8.99%
2001 409 70 17.11% 4.40% 1.22% 13.69% 3.42% 13.69%
2002 344 68 19.77% 6.98% 2.62% 14.83% 4.36% 14.83%
2003 488 71 14.55% 4.71% 2.25% 11.68% 1.43% 11.48%
2004 405 60 14.81% 5.68% 1.48% 10.37% 1.98% 10.37%
2005 504 61 12.10% 4.76% 1.79% 8.53% 1.39% 8.53%
2006 450 58 12.89% 4.89% 1.78% 7.78% 2.67% 7.78%
2007 493 66 13.39% 2.64% 0.61% 10.34% 1.22% 10.34%
2008 311 42 13.50% 2.89% 0.32% 10.93% 0.64% 10.93%
2009 142 7 4.93% 2.11% 1.41% 2.82% 1.41% 2.82%
2010 103 13 12.62% 1.94% 0.00% 12.62% 0.97% 12.62%
2011 252 17 6.75% 1.59% 0.00% 5.56% 0.40% 5.56%
2012 200 12 6.00% 0.50% 0.50% 5.00% 0.50% 5.00%
2013 405 15 3.70% 0.25% 0.00% 3.21% 0.25% 3.21%
2014 80 6 7.50% 2.50% 1.25% 5.00% 0.00% 5.00%
2015 81 3 3.70% 0.00% 0.00% 2.47% 1.23% 2.47%
2016 87 1 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 1.15% 0.00% 1.15%
2017 93 2 2.15% 1.08% 1.08% 2.15% 0.00% 2.15%
2018 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 76 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 257 1 0.39% 0.39% 0.39% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 134,331 26,387 19.64% 10.57% 2.42% 10.70% 3.40% 6.61%

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 27 4 14.81% 14.81% 0.00% 14.81% 3.70% 0.00%
1997 59 1 1.69% 1.69% 0.00% 1.69% 1.69% 0.00%
1998 268 32 11.94% 8.96% 3.73% 7.84% 3.36% 1.12%
1999 942 127 13.48% 11.46% 2.55% 11.25% 8.49% 0.21%
2000 28,819 5,362 18.61% 16.58% 3.63% 16.24% 11.76% 0.35%
2001 46,006 7,288 15.84% 14.35% 2.58% 14.16% 10.36% 0.19%
2002 35,128 5,398 15.37% 13.64% 2.92% 13.37% 9.31% 0.27%
2003 59,315 7,231 12.19% 10.89% 2.13% 10.68% 7.42% 0.21%
2004 45,144 5,795 12.84% 11.28% 2.35% 11.03% 7.83% 0.25%
2005 72,685 7,506 10.33% 9.17% 1.79% 8.98% 6.18% 0.18%
2006 50,047 5,418 10.83% 9.48% 1.95% 9.29% 6.46% 0.19%
2007 83,906 6,353 7.57% 6.68% 1.21% 6.57% 4.58% 0.11%
2008 47,516 3,738 7.87% 7.05% 1.13% 6.92% 4.94% 0.13%
2009 53,090 3,251 6.12% 5.55% 0.76% 5.45% 3.97% 0.09%
2010 33,673 2,812 8.35% 7.75% 0.81% 7.67% 3.92% 0.08%
2011 77,043 4,522 5.87% 5.49% 0.48% 5.44% 2.77% 0.05%
2012 35,347 2,936 8.31% 7.85% 0.62% 7.79% 3.81% 0.06%
2013 125,569 6,019 4.79% 4.43% 0.46% 4.42% 2.29% 0.02%
2014 19,792 1,162 5.87% 5.59% 0.40% 5.55% 2.74% 0.04%
2015 23,009 1,209 5.25% 4.92% 0.40% 4.85% 2.56% 0.06%
2016 21,151 832 3.93% 3.65% 0.31% 3.63% 2.17% 0.02%
2017 28,716 1,136 3.96% 3.79% 0.19% 3.76% 2.72% 0.02%
2018 16,698 655 3.92% 3.73% 0.20% 3.71% 2.84% 0.02%
2019 11,730 469 4.00% 3.85% 0.20% 3.83% 2.91% 0.03%
2020 7,886 319 4.05% 3.79% 0.19% 3.77% 3.27% 0.03%
2021 2,012 145 7.21% 7.06% 0.15% 7.06% 6.36% 0.00%
2022 4 2 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.00%
Other 6 3 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 33.33% 0.00%
All Model Years 925,588 79,725 8.61% 7.78% 1.26% 7.66% 5.05% 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 14,195 10.57%
All Visual 11,650 1.26% 4,570 3.40%
All Functional 71,967 7.78% 14,375 10.70%
OBDII 70,854 7.66% 8,885 6.61%
Overall 79,725 8.61% 26,387 19.64%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 794,704 69,047 8.69% 102,823 20,576 20.01%
Partial 47,317 3,955 8.36% 8,645 2,028 23.46%
Basic 75,535 6,097 8.07% 16,841 2,475 14.70%
Change of Ownership 8,032 626 7.79% 1,317 306 23.23%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 2 1 50.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 4,703 1,001 21.28%
All Program Areas 925,588 79,725 8.61% 134,331 26,387 19.64%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 490,547 45,690 9.31% 78,390 15,129 19.30%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 2,051 179 8.73% 106 33 31.13%
Non-STAR Test-Only 21,698 1,555 7.17% 2,421 327 13.51%
STAR Test-and-Repair 260,479 22,798 8.75% 40,186 8,854 22.03%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 270 27 10.00% 44 8 18.18%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 144,290 8,794 6.09% 11,944 1,798 15.05%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,889 152 5.26% 18 3 16.67%
Business Fleet 482 28 5.81% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 19 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 595 327 54.96% 85 36 42.35%
Government Fleet 2,268 175 7.72% 1,137 199 17.50%
All Stations 925,588 79,725 8.61% 134,331 26,387 19.64%

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 946,563 89.31% 113,356 10.69%
All Tests 1,029,595 88.83% 129,522 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 506,492 89.02% 62,445 10.98%
Non-STAR Test-Only 22,138 91.79% 1,981 8.21%
STAR Test-and-Repair 267,571 88.99% 33,094 11.01%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 144,634 92.58% 11,600 7.42%
All Stations 940,835 89.61% 109,120 10.39%

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 40,179 $57.88 259,719 $50.37 299,898 $51.37
STAR Test-Only 78,284 $51.36 489,817 $49.41 568,101 $49.68
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 11,938 $56.49 143,695 $57.21 155,633 $57.15
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,364 $46.87 21,677 $43.42 24,041 $43.76
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 18 $71.83 2,874 $64.38 2,892 $64.43
Total 132,783 $53.72 917,782 $50.81 1,050,565 $51.17

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 0 $0.00 10,605 $55.25 40,179 $57.88 249,114 $50.16
STAR Test-Only 81 $42.28 12,051 $43.59 78,203 $51.37 477,766 $49.56
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 89,698 $63.32 11,938 $56.49 53,997 $47.04
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 $51.75 8,134 $43.53 2,363 $46.87 13,543 $43.36
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,651 $64.14 18 $71.83 223 $67.26
Total 82 $42.40 123,139 $59.41 132,701 $53.72 794,643 $49.47

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) $1-100 426 $55.00 2,591 $574.61
$101-250 526 $171.36
$251-500 585 $366.57
$501-650 256 $575.27
Over $650 798 $1,270.10
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 194 $55.05 958 $546.14
$101-250 231 $174.22
$251-500 220 $373.22
$501-650 84 $573.32
Over $650 229 $1,493.50
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 1 $61.75 274 $1,166.23
$101-250 20 $187.38
$251-500 24 $406.21
$501-650 24 $558.25
Over $650 205 $1,427.27
Total Repairs $1-100 621 $55.03 3,823 $609.88
$101-250 777 $172.62
$251-500 829 $369.48
$501-650 364 $573.70
Over $650 1232 $1,337.77

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 105 46 1,870 72 2,093
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,723 36 1,782
STAR Sub-Total 126 48 3,593 108 3,875
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 483 49 2,026 231 2,789
Non-STAR Test-Only 26 6 259 33 324
Non-STAR Sub-Total 509 55 2,285 264 3,113
Basic Area Dealer 56 0 0 0 56
Business Fleet 0 0 4 0 4
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 48 4 57
Referee 5 0 31 0 36
Government Fleet 41 5 303 13 362
Repair-Only 2 0 43 1 46
Unknown Type 0 1 17 0 18
Other Station Sub-Total 107 8 446 18 579
All Stations 742 111 6,324 390 7,567

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 173 1,839
STAR Test-Only 2 71 1,654
STAR Sub-Total 2 244 3,493
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,746 383
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 92 76
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,838 459
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 10 0
Business Fleet 0 3 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 49 5
Unknown Type 0 1 12
Government Fleet 7 137 34
Referee 0 1 24
Other Station Sub-Total 7 201 75
All Stations 10 2,283 4,027

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 456 84
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 27 8
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 5 23
Exempted by Directive 11 0
Parts Exemption 7 2
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 506 117

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,115
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,867
All License Types 8,982

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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