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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
August 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 899,507 83,702 9.31%
All Tests 980,770 96,541 9.84%

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 102,393 225,620 90,148 198,771
Non-Directed 153,079 268,251 139,299 245,517
Total 255,472 493,871 229,447 444,288

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 240 49 84 24
Non-Directed 124,705 18,563 115,852 17,186
Total 124,945 18,612 115,936 17,210

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 437 112 25.63% 17.62% 6.86% 10.76% 6.18% NA
1977 529 119 22.50% 16.26% 6.43% 7.94% 6.05% NA
1978 642 148 23.05% 14.80% 5.14% 9.81% 5.30% NA
1979 641 157 24.49% 17.00% 6.24% 10.92% 4.52% NA
1980 390 93 23.85% 17.69% 9.23% 10.77% 6.92% NA
1981 420 105 25.00% 20.95% 8.81% 9.76% 5.00% NA
1982 429 101 23.54% 18.41% 6.76% 11.66% 4.20% NA
1983 569 129 22.67% 15.29% 6.50% 10.54% 6.50% NA
1984 932 212 22.75% 17.60% 7.51% 8.80% 5.04% NA
1985 1,289 302 23.43% 17.15% 6.05% 10.16% 4.65% NA
1986 1,764 356 20.18% 14.80% 5.84% 8.73% 4.54% NA
1987 1,975 470 23.80% 18.33% 6.43% 9.16% 3.95% NA
1988 2,289 533 23.29% 16.64% 5.55% 9.83% 4.15% NA
1989 3,066 644 21.00% 14.81% 4.73% 9.33% 4.17% NA
1990 3,379 680 20.12% 12.19% 3.28% 10.12% 3.79% NA
1991 3,999 772 19.30% 12.90% 3.93% 8.45% 3.58% NA
1992 3,805 790 20.76% 14.56% 3.89% 8.52% 3.36% NA
1993 4,856 1,073 22.10% 15.53% 3.29% 8.75% 3.23% NA
1994 5,657 1,237 21.87% 15.18% 2.49% 9.23% 3.77% NA
1995 8,604 1,684 19.57% 13.48% 2.12% 7.66% 3.25% NA
1996 7,456 1,481 19.86% 9.32% 1.49% 11.40% 3.22% 11.37%
1997 13,594 2,520 18.54% 7.75% 1.12% 11.53% 2.74% 11.53%
1998 13,957 2,509 17.98% 7.69% 1.18% 10.93% 2.81% 10.92%
1999 22,325 3,385 15.16% 4.73% 0.80% 10.30% 2.75% 10.30%
2000 340 59 17.35% 7.35% 2.35% 10.00% 3.24% 10.00%
2001 319 60 18.81% 9.09% 2.51% 11.91% 2.82% 11.91%
2002 281 44 15.66% 7.12% 2.85% 11.39% 2.49% 11.39%
2003 405 47 11.60% 4.20% 0.99% 8.40% 2.72% 8.40%
2004 301 45 14.95% 5.98% 1.66% 9.30% 3.65% 9.30%
2005 402 47 11.69% 4.73% 2.49% 7.96% 1.49% 7.96%
2006 320 39 12.19% 4.06% 0.94% 8.13% 2.81% 8.13%
2007 363 47 12.95% 4.96% 2.20% 9.37% 2.75% 9.37%
2008 206 29 14.08% 2.91% 0.49% 12.62% 2.43% 12.62%
2009 130 13 10.00% 4.62% 2.31% 7.69% 0.00% 7.69%
2010 80 13 16.25% 0.00% 0.00% 16.25% 2.50% 16.25%
2011 269 10 3.72% 0.00% 0.00% 3.72% 0.00% 3.72%
2012 144 9 6.25% 1.39% 1.39% 5.56% 0.00% 5.56%
2013 330 14 4.24% 1.21% 0.30% 3.33% 0.91% 3.33%
2014 82 8 9.76% 2.44% 0.00% 9.76% 0.00% 9.76%
2015 78 3 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 3.85% 0.00% 3.85%
2016 94 5 5.32% 0.00% 0.00% 5.32% 1.06% 5.32%
2017 88 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 67 1 1.49% 0.00% 0.00% 1.49% 1.49% 1.49%
2019 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 148 2 1.35% 0.00% 0.00% 1.35% 0.00% 1.35%
2021 61 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 4 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 107,579 20,107 18.69% 10.08% 2.32% 9.93% 3.22% 6.13%

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 5 2 40.00% 20.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 10 3 30.00% 20.00% 0.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00%
1998 207 27 13.04% 10.14% 3.38% 9.66% 5.80% 0.48%
1999 689 90 13.06% 10.45% 2.32% 9.87% 6.97% 0.58%
2000 23,043 3,736 16.21% 14.13% 3.25% 13.89% 10.00% 0.24%
2001 38,309 5,574 14.55% 12.99% 2.63% 12.73% 9.01% 0.26%
2002 28,695 4,069 14.18% 12.57% 2.77% 12.33% 8.37% 0.25%
2003 54,196 6,183 11.41% 9.85% 2.28% 9.65% 6.68% 0.20%
2004 35,931 4,269 11.88% 10.15% 2.42% 9.91% 6.86% 0.24%
2005 63,107 6,187 9.80% 8.42% 1.76% 8.25% 5.65% 0.17%
2006 41,548 4,208 10.13% 8.66% 1.84% 8.48% 5.70% 0.19%
2007 73,582 5,259 7.15% 6.02% 1.27% 5.93% 4.01% 0.09%
2008 35,335 2,826 8.00% 7.04% 1.30% 6.90% 4.87% 0.14%
2009 49,571 2,978 6.01% 5.46% 0.73% 5.39% 3.87% 0.07%
2010 27,938 2,001 7.16% 6.53% 0.78% 6.47% 3.33% 0.06%
2011 62,783 3,696 5.89% 5.50% 0.48% 5.44% 2.67% 0.06%
2012 25,472 1,972 7.74% 7.24% 0.62% 7.20% 3.44% 0.04%
2013 113,308 5,300 4.68% 4.28% 0.46% 4.24% 2.11% 0.04%
2014 17,921 954 5.32% 4.89% 0.49% 4.85% 2.27% 0.04%
2015 22,483 1,179 5.24% 4.85% 0.36% 4.81% 2.57% 0.04%
2016 19,809 857 4.33% 4.08% 0.29% 4.04% 2.45% 0.04%
2017 22,657 866 3.82% 3.64% 0.18% 3.62% 2.45% 0.02%
2018 13,900 551 3.96% 3.75% 0.24% 3.73% 2.68% 0.02%
2019 11,131 398 3.58% 3.42% 0.13% 3.42% 2.84% 0.00%
2020 6,095 207 3.40% 3.28% 0.15% 3.28% 2.77% 0.00%
2021 4,033 194 4.81% 4.69% 0.10% 4.66% 4.31% 0.02%
2022 161 6 3.73% 3.73% 0.00% 3.73% 3.73% 0.00%
Other 9 3 33.33% 11.11% 0.00% 11.11% 11.11% 0.00%
All Model Years 791,928 63,595 8.03% 7.11% 1.24% 7.00% 4.52% 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 10,844 10.08%
All Visual 9,839 1.24% 3,467 3.22%
All Functional 56,324 7.11% 10,682 9.93%
OBDII 55,428 7.00% 6,593 6.13%
Overall 63,595 8.03% 20,107 18.69%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 683,669 55,055 8.05% 82,917 15,760 19.01%
Partial 38,472 3,021 7.85% 6,473 1,325 20.47%
Basic 63,524 5,038 7.93% 13,634 1,977 14.50%
Change of Ownership 6,263 481 7.68% 1,090 289 26.51%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 1 1 100.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,464 755 21.80%
All Program Areas 791,928 63,595 8.03% 107,579 20,107 18.69%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 430,722 36,847 8.55% 63,149 11,632 18.42%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 858 49 5.71% 58 12 20.69%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,492 1,067 6.47% 2,120 240 11.32%
STAR Test-and-Repair 223,061 17,982 8.06% 32,411 6,724 20.75%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 453 34 7.51% 53 9 16.98%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 115,698 6,802 5.88% 9,247 1,359 14.70%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,320 115 4.96% 17 2 11.76%
Business Fleet 330 14 4.24% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 85 6 7.06% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 786 611 77.74% 70 32 45.71%
Government Fleet 1,123 68 6.06% 454 97 21.37%
All Stations 791,928 63,595 8.03% 107,579 20,107 18.69%

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 811,001 90.16% 88,506 9.84%
All Tests 878,732 89.60% 102,038 10.40%

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 444,288 89.96% 49,583 10.04%
Non-STAR Test-Only 17,210 92.47% 1,402 7.53%
STAR Test-and-Repair 229,447 89.81% 26,025 10.19%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 115,936 92.79% 9,009 7.21%
All Stations 806,881 90.37% 86,019 9.63%

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 32,443 $59.49 222,332 $51.59 254,775 $52.60
STAR Test-Only 62,997 $52.45 429,910 $51.60 492,907 $51.71
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 9,259 $57.97 114,945 $62.57 124,204 $62.22
Non-STAR Test-Only 2,108 $47.84 16,382 $44.49 18,490 $44.88
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 17 $71.81 2,320 $64.85 2,337 $64.90
Total 106,824 $54.98 785,889 $53.10 892,713 $53.32

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 10,145 $52.91 32,443 $59.49 212,187 $51.53
STAR Test-Only 244 $44.10 14,021 $45.31 62,753 $52.48 415,889 $51.82
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 71,501 $71.77 9,259 $57.97 43,444 $47.42
Non-STAR Test-Only 6 $41.75 6,393 $44.61 2,102 $47.86 9,989 $44.42
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 2,140 $64.68 17 $71.81 180 $66.86
Total 250 $44.04 104,200 $64.56 106,574 $55.01 681,689 $51.34

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) $1-100 325 $53.84 1,997 $626.09
$101-250 391 $170.97
$251-500 475 $366.88
$501-650 168 $576.55
Over $650 638 $1,402.53
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 115 $57.35 683 $627.34
$101-250 151 $180.03
$251-500 169 $362.12
$501-650 47 $575.15
Over $650 201 $1,524.70
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 $50.75 400 $1,096.05
$101-250 24 $188.36
$251-500 66 $379.23
$501-650 40 $586.82
Over $650 269 $1,432.51
Total Repairs $1-100 441 $54.75 3,080 $687.40
$101-250 566 $174.13
$251-500 710 $366.90
$501-650 255 $577.90
Over $650 1108 $1,431.97

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 45 1,869 77 2,096
STAR Test-Only 21 1 1,742 35 1,799
STAR Sub-Total 126 46 3,611 112 3,895
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 472 50 1,989 221 2,732
Non-STAR Test-Only 25 8 224 31 288
Non-STAR Sub-Total 497 58 2,213 252 3,020
Basic Area Dealer 56 0 0 0 56
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 48 4 57
Referee 5 0 31 0 36
Government Fleet 43 5 304 13 365
Repair Only 2 0 39 1 42
Unknown Type 0 1 8 0 9
Other Station Sub-Total 109 8 433 18 568
All Stations 732 112 6,257 382 7,483

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 207 1,796
STAR Test-Only 6 87 1,642
STAR Sub-Total 6 294 3,438
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,714 356
Non-STAR Test-Only 2 89 58
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 1,803 414
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 26 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 49 5
Unknown Type 0 0 8
Government Fleet 6 139 27
Referee 0 2 24
Other Station Sub-Total 6 218 64
All Stations 14 2,315 3,916

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 292 83
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Parts Cost 30 11
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Exempt Vehicle 2 5
Exempted by Directive 6 1
Parts Exemption 4 1
Unknown Outcome 0 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 334 101

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,187
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,723
All License Types 8,910

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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