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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
2022

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 10,457,558 936,077 8.95%
All Tests 11,367,902 1,076,452 9.47%

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 1,177,425 2,664,427 1,039,556 2,353,039
Non-Directed 1,728,231 3,077,602 1,576,344 2,831,159
Total 2,905,656 5,742,029 2,615,900 5,184,198

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 2,654 655 815 257
Non-Directed 1,451,632 246,984 1,351,512 229,869
Total 1,454,286 247,639 1,352,327 230,126

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 4,437 963 21.70% 16.11% 6.60% 9.06% 5.00% NA
1977 5,827 1,238 21.25% 14.60% 5.54% 9.44% 4.62% NA
1978 6,619 1,400 21.15% 14.49% 5.80% 9.68% 5.03% NA
1979 7,502 1,664 22.18% 15.94% 5.73% 9.33% 5.07% NA
1980 4,001 768 19.20% 13.00% 5.87% 8.62% 4.97% NA
1981 4,502 1,034 22.97% 17.95% 7.15% 9.26% 5.35% NA
1982 4,831 1,063 22.00% 16.17% 6.21% 9.17% 4.70% NA
1983 5,950 1,272 21.38% 15.82% 5.85% 9.21% 5.09% NA
1984 10,330 2,363 22.88% 17.84% 6.96% 8.63% 4.83% NA
1985 14,034 3,176 22.63% 17.09% 6.19% 9.08% 4.49% NA
1986 18,633 4,097 21.99% 16.16% 5.75% 9.50% 4.79% NA
1987 20,814 4,563 21.92% 16.24% 5.41% 8.82% 4.10% NA
1988 23,457 5,078 21.65% 15.54% 4.95% 9.20% 3.91% NA
1989 32,010 6,367 19.89% 13.65% 4.17% 9.01% 3.63% NA
1990 36,563 7,249 19.83% 13.25% 3.75% 8.87% 3.42% NA
1991 42,695 8,206 19.22% 13.18% 3.53% 8.16% 3.05% NA
1992 40,294 7,850 19.48% 13.50% 3.64% 8.13% 3.12% NA
1993 49,140 10,684 21.74% 15.53% 3.51% 8.77% 3.35% NA
1994 64,876 13,301 20.50% 14.13% 2.91% 8.67% 3.13% NA
1995 73,944 15,266 20.65% 14.19% 2.52% 8.23% 3.38% NA
1996 92,679 16,900 18.23% 8.94% 1.17% 9.83% 2.98% 9.82%
1997 115,937 22,676 19.56% 9.14% 1.41% 11.25% 3.12% 11.24%
1998 172,831 29,480 17.06% 6.97% 1.19% 10.48% 2.80% 10.47%
1999 184,930 29,522 15.96% 5.64% 0.99% 10.50% 2.88% 10.50%
2000 4,210 628 14.92% 8.55% 3.40% 6.67% 3.18% 6.67%
2001 2,786 448 16.08% 7.50% 2.58% 9.62% 3.84% 9.62%
2002 3,639 500 13.74% 6.18% 2.61% 8.68% 3.33% 8.68%
2003 3,356 439 13.08% 4.86% 1.58% 8.85% 3.75% 8.85%
2004 4,678 504 10.77% 4.87% 2.07% 6.76% 2.84% 6.76%
2005 3,302 441 13.36% 5.42% 2.09% 8.63% 3.00% 8.60%
2006 5,248 488 9.30% 4.08% 1.11% 5.18% 2.25% 5.18%
2007 3,150 439 13.94% 4.79% 1.68% 8.95% 3.17% 8.95%
2008 3,594 240 6.68% 2.48% 0.86% 4.01% 1.17% 4.01%
2009 1,065 131 12.30% 3.94% 1.88% 8.08% 1.97% 8.08%
2010 1,084 100 9.23% 1.66% 0.55% 8.21% 0.74% 8.21%
2011 1,584 95 6.00% 0.95% 0.32% 5.18% 0.51% 5.18%
2012 3,265 130 3.98% 0.74% 0.31% 3.34% 0.52% 3.34%
2013 1,550 92 5.94% 1.10% 0.39% 4.97% 0.84% 4.97%
2014 3,884 111 2.86% 0.36% 0.15% 2.47% 0.33% 2.47%
2015 893 39 4.37% 1.23% 0.67% 3.58% 0.45% 3.58%
2016 743 18 2.42% 0.40% 0.13% 2.02% 0.27% 2.02%
2017 876 18 2.05% 0.46% 0.11% 1.71% 0.34% 1.71%
2018 611 6 0.98% 0.16% 0.00% 0.49% 0.33% 0.49%
2019 538 3 0.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.37% 0.19% 0.37%
2020 911 6 0.66% 0.44% 0.11% 0.00% 0.44% 0.00%
2021 657 4 0.61% 0.00% 0.00% 0.61% 0.00% 0.61%
2022 1,103 3 0.27% 0.09% 0.00% 0.18% 0.00% 0.18%
2023 76 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 9 1 11.11% 0.00% 0.00% 11.11% 11.11% 0.00%
All Model Years 1,089,648 201,064 18.45% 10.27% 2.39% 9.51% 3.19% 5.75%

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 75 13 17.33% 5.33% 0.00% 5.33% 4.00% 0.00%
1997 131 25 19.08% 6.87% 3.05% 6.87% 2.29% 0.00%
1998 2,071 211 10.19% 6.95% 2.46% 6.13% 3.19% 0.82%
1999 8,149 1,073 13.17% 11.00% 2.17% 10.48% 7.07% 0.52%
2000 326,958 49,436 15.12% 13.42% 2.84% 13.19% 9.88% 0.23%
2001 277,042 43,555 15.72% 13.95% 2.99% 13.69% 9.90% 0.25%
2002 442,177 55,581 12.57% 10.99% 2.47% 10.76% 7.67% 0.23%
2003 355,553 46,667 13.13% 11.20% 2.76% 10.94% 7.52% 0.26%
2004 587,194 63,064 10.74% 9.22% 2.05% 9.02% 6.35% 0.20%
2005 423,005 47,539 11.24% 9.49% 2.25% 9.30% 6.42% 0.20%
2006 697,430 63,479 9.10% 7.73% 1.68% 7.58% 5.24% 0.15%
2007 485,284 42,840 8.83% 7.28% 1.69% 7.15% 4.81% 0.14%
2008 647,856 44,519 6.87% 6.04% 1.09% 5.92% 4.16% 0.12%
2009 276,105 20,150 7.30% 6.50% 1.06% 6.39% 4.55% 0.12%
2010 598,901 36,612 6.11% 5.65% 0.64% 5.59% 2.74% 0.06%
2011 345,434 26,519 7.68% 7.09% 0.77% 7.02% 3.13% 0.07%
2012 914,560 51,650 5.65% 5.15% 0.62% 5.10% 2.45% 0.05%
2013 387,839 25,995 6.70% 6.15% 0.68% 6.10% 2.87% 0.05%
2014 1,229,662 54,922 4.47% 4.02% 0.52% 3.99% 1.86% 0.03%
2015 279,748 14,305 5.11% 4.69% 0.46% 4.66% 2.32% 0.03%
2016 217,185 10,242 4.72% 4.38% 0.35% 4.35% 2.47% 0.03%
2017 209,632 9,039 4.31% 4.00% 0.33% 3.98% 2.56% 0.03%
2018 244,337 9,653 3.95% 3.75% 0.22% 3.72% 2.69% 0.03%
2019 170,247 7,546 4.43% 4.20% 0.24% 4.17% 3.20% 0.02%
2020 125,961 4,952 3.93% 3.75% 0.19% 3.72% 2.90% 0.02%
2021 72,672 2,648 3.64% 3.51% 0.15% 3.48% 2.57% 0.02%
2022 40,173 2,478 6.17% 6.08% 0.10% 6.06% 5.23% 0.01%
2023 2,689 290 10.78% 10.78% 0.00% 10.75% 9.97% 0.04%
Other 62 32 51.61% 12.90% 0.00% 11.29% 8.06% 1.61%
All Model Years 9,368,132 735,035 7.85% 6.92% 1.23% 6.81% 4.33% 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 111,950 10.27%
All Visual 115,365 1.23% 34,729 3.19%
All Functional 648,637 6.92% 103,633 9.51%
OBDII 638,335 6.81% 62,704 5.75%
Overall 735,035 7.85% 201,064 18.45%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 8,093,545 637,189 7.87% 906,457 170,960 18.86%
Partial 457,767 35,599 7.78% 54,994 11,524 20.96%
Basic 752,920 57,206 7.60% 120,730 16,866 13.97%
Change of Ownership 63,900 5,041 7.89% 7,467 1,714 22.95%
All Program Areas 9,368,132 735,035 7.85% 1,089,648 201,064 18.45%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 5,098,804 424,050 8.32% 643,225 116,718 18.15%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 22,555 1,889 8.38% 3,828 375 9.80%
Non-STAR Test-Only 227,521 13,929 6.12% 20,118 2,481 12.33%
STAR Test-and-Repair 2,584,280 204,795 7.92% 321,376 66,865 20.81%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 13,066 1,079 8.26% 1,079 165 15.29%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,364,316 78,878 5.78% 89,970 12,342 13.72%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 25,963 1,295 4.99% 412 33 8.01%
Business Fleet 3,405 265 7.78% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 538 23 4.28% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 9,259 7,853 84.81% 957 450 47.02%
Government Fleet 18,425 979 5.31% 8,683 1,635 18.83%
All Stations 9,368,132 735,035 7.85% 1,089,648 201,064 18.45%

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 9,449,191 90.36% 1,008,367 9.64%
All Tests 10,211,708 89.83% 1,156,194 10.17%

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 5,184,198 90.29% 557,831 9.71%
Non-STAR Test-Only 230,126 92.93% 17,513 7.07%
STAR Test-and-Repair 2,615,900 90.03% 289,756 9.97%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1,352,327 92.99% 101,959 7.01%
All Stations 9,382,551 90.66% 967,059 9.34%

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 321,354 $62.57 2,584,181 $71.19 2,905,535 $70.23
STAR Test-Only 641,677 $54.95 5,098,657 $67.05 5,740,334 $65.70
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 89,496 $61.64 1,364,144 $71.76 1,453,640 $71.14
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,867 $47.56 227,510 $51.82 247,377 $51.48
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 412 $65.27 25,949 $73.10 26,361 $72.97
Total 1,072,806 $57.66 9,300,441 $68.53 10,373,247 $67.41

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 3 $57.83 62,744 $102.80 321,351 $62.57 2,521,437 $70.40
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 65,806 $50.18 641,677 $54.95 5,032,851 $67.27
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 861,235 $80.76 89,496 $61.64 502,909 $56.35
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 77,148 $51.78 19,867 $47.56 150,362 $51.84
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 21,842 $73.46 412 $65.27 4,107 $71.15
Total 3 $57.83 1,088,775 $77.98 1,072,803 $57.66 8,211,666 $67.28

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 4062 $55.28 26,916 $651.51
$101-250 5522 $172.60
$251-500 5854 $368.65
$501-650 2344 $575.94
Over $650 9134 $1,406.57
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 1309 $56.50 8,103 $660.55
$101-250 2081 $172.75
$251-500 1754 $361.46
$501-650 608 $576.27
Over $650 2351 $1,673.58
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 $79.99 3,665 $1,206.24
$101-250 250 $195.07
$251-500 418 $388.86
$501-650 342 $572.80
Over $650 2654 $1,512.27
Total Repairs $1-100 5372 $55.59 38,684 $705.96
$101-250 7853 $173.36
$251-500 8026 $368.13
$501-650 3294 $575.67
Over $650 14139 $1,471.00

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 42 1,821 81 2,049
STAR Test-Only 22 2 1,785 35 1,844
STAR Sub-Total 127 44 3,606 116 3,893
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 516 63 2,222 229 3,030
Non-STAR Test-Only 28 11 323 43 405
Non-STAR Sub-Total 544 74 2,545 272 3,435
Basic Area Dealer 59 0 0 0 59
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 31 0 36
Government Fleet 44 5 308 14 371
Repair Only 2 0 43 1 46
Unknown Type 3 2 94 4 103
Other Station Sub-Total 116 9 528 23 676
All Stations 787 127 6,679 411 8,004

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 130 1,888
STAR Test-Only 0 39 1,750
STAR Sub-Total 2 169 3,638
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,877 397
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 126 107
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 2,003 504
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 36 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 45 9
Unknown Type 0 8 79
Government Fleet 2 185 48
Referee 0 1 33
Other Station Sub-Total 2 277 169
All Stations 4 2,449 4,311

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 8,969
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 6,595
Law Enforcement Citations 6,146
BAR Referrals 2,932
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 1,607
Engine Change/Replacement 1,252
Clean Gas 687
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 448
Grey Market 220
OBD Monitor Issues 39
All Inspections 28,895

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 2,703 884
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 351 80
Limited Parts Exemption 63 5
Exempt Vehicle 40 203
Exempted by Directive 130 1
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Inspections 3,287 1,173

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 5,219
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,934
All License Types 10,153

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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