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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 875,300 78,208 8.93%
All Tests 951,684 89,878 9.44%

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 98,017 218,513 86,583 192,986
Non-Directed 146,452 258,810 133,893 238,074
Total 244,469 477,323 220,476 431,060

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 227 47 65 15
Non-Directed 124,643 21,294 116,257 19,867
Total 124,870 21,341 116,322 19,882

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 395 82 20.76% 15.19% 5.57% 7.59% 4.30% NA
1977 488 99 20.29% 13.73% 5.53% 7.79% 3.69% NA
1978 635 151 23.78% 16.06% 5.83% 10.24% 4.72% NA
1979 642 158 24.61% 16.82% 5.92% 10.75% 4.67% NA
1980 388 74 19.07% 12.11% 5.15% 7.73% 6.44% NA
1981 388 93 23.97% 18.30% 7.47% 9.79% 4.38% NA
1982 418 88 21.05% 16.51% 6.46% 6.94% 5.74% NA
1983 538 119 22.12% 15.80% 5.20% 11.52% 5.58% NA
1984 877 222 25.31% 19.38% 6.96% 9.01% 5.36% NA
1985 1,215 254 20.91% 15.88% 5.76% 8.56% 3.79% NA
1986 1,584 369 23.30% 16.29% 5.56% 10.86% 5.62% NA
1987 1,765 392 22.21% 16.54% 5.38% 8.33% 4.14% NA
1988 2,154 437 20.29% 14.30% 4.18% 9.10% 3.71% NA
1989 2,832 554 19.56% 13.49% 4.52% 9.07% 3.81% NA
1990 3,211 648 20.18% 13.11% 3.52% 9.19% 3.77% NA
1991 3,667 665 18.13% 12.24% 3.16% 7.64% 2.59% NA
1992 3,580 703 19.64% 13.88% 3.74% 8.41% 3.16% NA
1993 4,233 928 21.92% 15.31% 2.98% 9.05% 3.47% NA
1994 5,648 1,146 20.29% 13.83% 2.80% 8.52% 2.76% NA
1995 6,043 1,224 20.25% 13.67% 2.48% 7.93% 3.61% NA
1996 8,393 1,536 18.30% 8.71% 1.16% 9.88% 3.07% 9.87%
1997 10,118 1,956 19.33% 9.31% 1.37% 10.98% 2.98% 10.97%
1998 14,973 2,533 16.92% 7.06% 1.18% 10.41% 2.73% 10.41%
1999 16,134 2,627 16.28% 5.89% 1.03% 10.76% 2.85% 10.76%
2000 376 78 20.74% 9.84% 2.93% 10.64% 5.32% 10.64%
2001 256 46 17.97% 7.03% 3.13% 12.50% 4.69% 12.50%
2002 339 59 17.40% 6.78% 2.95% 12.98% 6.49% 12.98%
2003 296 49 16.55% 6.42% 2.03% 11.15% 6.08% 11.15%
2004 498 59 11.85% 5.22% 2.01% 8.63% 1.81% 8.63%
2005 302 48 15.89% 8.28% 1.99% 10.93% 3.64% 10.60%
2006 495 51 10.30% 5.45% 1.82% 6.06% 2.42% 6.06%
2007 302 50 16.56% 2.65% 0.99% 13.58% 2.65% 13.58%
2008 361 29 8.03% 2.77% 1.11% 5.26% 1.66% 5.26%
2009 98 14 14.29% 5.10% 1.02% 11.22% 1.02% 11.22%
2010 115 17 14.78% 2.61% 0.87% 12.17% 0.00% 12.17%
2011 152 11 7.24% 2.63% 0.66% 6.58% 0.00% 6.58%
2012 242 10 4.13% 0.41% 0.41% 3.72% 1.24% 3.72%
2013 124 8 6.45% 0.81% 0.81% 6.45% 0.81% 6.45%
2014 335 15 4.48% 0.90% 0.60% 4.18% 0.60% 4.18%
2015 84 6 7.14% 2.38% 0.00% 5.95% 0.00% 5.95%
2016 66 1 1.52% 0.00% 0.00% 1.52% 0.00% 1.52%
2017 78 3 3.85% 0.00% 0.00% 2.56% 1.28% 2.56%
2018 45 2 4.44% 0.00% 0.00% 4.44% 0.00% 4.44%
2019 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 77 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 72 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 135 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 95,211 17,614 18.50% 10.22% 2.32% 9.62% 3.19% 5.91%

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 3 1 33.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 163 14 8.59% 6.75% 1.23% 6.13% 1.23% 0.61%
1999 737 123 16.69% 14.25% 3.12% 13.70% 8.68% 0.54%
2000 28,038 4,087 14.58% 12.81% 2.99% 12.55% 9.37% 0.26%
2001 22,734 3,576 15.73% 13.97% 3.08% 13.75% 9.84% 0.22%
2002 37,447 4,680 12.50% 10.95% 2.53% 10.70% 7.53% 0.25%
2003 28,476 3,638 12.78% 10.91% 2.80% 10.64% 7.38% 0.28%
2004 50,581 5,363 10.60% 9.09% 1.97% 8.88% 6.27% 0.21%
2005 35,320 3,923 11.11% 9.49% 2.17% 9.27% 6.35% 0.22%
2006 57,305 5,243 9.15% 7.82% 1.61% 7.66% 5.39% 0.16%
2007 40,642 3,442 8.47% 6.87% 1.70% 6.71% 4.46% 0.16%
2008 51,967 3,631 6.99% 6.14% 1.15% 6.02% 4.22% 0.12%
2009 21,779 1,621 7.44% 6.68% 1.05% 6.53% 4.70% 0.14%
2010 49,526 3,028 6.11% 5.63% 0.66% 5.57% 2.77% 0.06%
2011 26,331 2,091 7.94% 7.35% 0.74% 7.30% 3.32% 0.05%
2012 80,240 4,332 5.40% 4.96% 0.53% 4.91% 2.40% 0.05%
2013 27,817 2,006 7.21% 6.65% 0.69% 6.57% 3.03% 0.08%
2014 112,673 4,839 4.29% 3.80% 0.58% 3.77% 1.76% 0.03%
2015 18,433 1,013 5.50% 5.08% 0.48% 5.03% 2.40% 0.05%
2016 18,842 883 4.69% 4.36% 0.39% 4.32% 2.32% 0.04%
2017 18,037 766 4.25% 4.00% 0.31% 3.97% 2.55% 0.03%
2018 21,391 875 4.09% 3.88% 0.24% 3.83% 2.83% 0.05%
2019 13,795 570 4.13% 3.93% 0.20% 3.90% 2.96% 0.03%
2020 9,712 404 4.16% 3.96% 0.25% 3.96% 3.10% 0.00%
2021 5,001 186 3.72% 3.58% 0.12% 3.56% 2.32% 0.02%
2022 3,083 253 8.21% 8.14% 0.06% 8.14% 7.01% 0.00%
2023 7 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 6 5 83.33% 16.67% 0.00% 16.67% 16.67% 0.00%
All Model Years 780,089 60,594 7.77% 6.85% 1.23% 6.74% 4.28% 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 9,726 10.22%
All Visual 9,633 1.23% 3,039 3.19%
All Functional 53,465 6.85% 9,161 9.62%
OBDII 52,552 6.74% 5,623 5.91%
Overall 60,594 7.77% 17,614 18.50%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 673,912 52,519 7.79% 72,453 13,623 18.80%
Partial 38,262 2,933 7.67% 5,834 1,273 21.82%
Basic 62,515 4,708 7.53% 12,039 1,698 14.10%
Change of Ownership 5,400 434 8.04% 906 214 23.62%
No Program 0 0 0.00% 4 2 50.00%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,975 804 20.23%
All Program Areas 780,089 60,594 7.77% 95,211 17,614 18.50%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 421,703 34,930 8.28% 55,620 10,003 17.98%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 274 37 13.50% 39 4 10.26%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,621 1,172 5.97% 1,720 228 13.26%
STAR Test-and-Repair 215,966 16,789 7.77% 28,503 6,023 21.13%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 394 41 10.41% 44 6 13.64%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 117,026 6,727 5.75% 7,844 1,063 13.55%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,271 129 5.68% 71 10 14.08%
Business Fleet 321 20 6.23% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 66 5 7.58% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 780 672 86.15% 94 45 47.87%
Government Fleet 1,667 72 4.32% 1,276 232 18.18%
All Stations 780,089 60,594 7.77% 95,211 17,614 18.50%

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 791,106 90.38% 84,194 9.62%
All Tests 855,111 89.85% 96,573 10.15%

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 431,060 90.31% 46,263 9.69%
Non-STAR Test-Only 19,882 93.16% 1,459 6.84%
STAR Test-and-Repair 220,476 90.19% 23,993 9.81%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 116,322 93.15% 8,548 6.85%
All Stations 787,740 90.75% 80,263 9.25%

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 28,474 $62.17 215,160 $53.02 243,634 $54.09
STAR Test-Only 55,458 $54.78 418,237 $53.32 473,695 $53.49
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 7,829 $61.29 115,015 $61.38 122,844 $61.38
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,694 $47.38 19,371 $46.37 21,065 $46.45
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 71 $63.38 2,250 $63.27 2,321 $63.28
Total 93,526 $57.45 770,033 $54.29 863,559 $54.64

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 9,577 $54.37 28,474 $62.17 205,583 $52.96
STAR Test-Only 321 $39.60 14,967 $44.92 55,137 $54.87 403,270 $53.63
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 74,472 $67.82 7,829 $61.29 40,543 $49.56
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,531 $47.54 1,694 $47.38 11,840 $45.62
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,766 $64.09 71 $63.38 484 $60.28
Total 321 $39.60 108,313 $61.99 93,205 $57.51 661,720 $53.03

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) $1-100 304 $57.98 1,984 $683.14
$101-250 414 $171.71
$251-500 424 $366.52
$501-650 169 $573.11
Over $650 673 $1,507.26
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 104 $58.25 659 $657.78
$101-250 170 $177.96
$251-500 145 $354.94
$501-650 56 $569.38
Over $650 184 $1,705.53
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 $0.00 367 $1,211.56
$101-250 31 $187.90
$251-500 36 $395.36
$501-650 24 $558.26
Over $650 276 $1,489.81
Total Repairs $1-100 408 $58.05 3,010 $742.02
$101-250 615 $174.25
$251-500 605 $365.46
$501-650 249 $570.84
Over $650 1133 $1,535.21

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 44 1,801 78 2,028
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,739 32 1,794
STAR Sub-Total 126 46 3,540 110 3,822
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 463 47 1,936 212 2,658
Non-STAR Test-Only 27 8 220 33 288
Non-STAR Sub-Total 490 55 2,156 245 2,946
Basic Area Dealer 58 0 0 0 58
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 298 13 360
Repair Only 2 0 37 1 40
Unknown Type 0 1 10 2 13
Other Station Sub-Total 112 8 427 20 567
All Stations 728 109 6,123 375 7,335

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 214 1,728
STAR Test-Only 7 111 1,613
STAR Sub-Total 7 325 3,341
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,675 332
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 95 60
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,770 392
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 26 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 39 8
Unknown Type 0 4 8
Government Fleet 7 146 30
Referee 0 3 27
Other Station Sub-Total 7 220 73
All Stations 14 2,315 3,806

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 712
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 499
Law Enforcement Citations 496
BAR Referrals 251
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 121
Clean Gas 92
Engine Change/Replacement 91
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 28
Grey Market 12
OBD Monitor Issues 3
All Inspections 2,305

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 222 90
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 18 8
Limited Parts Exemption 10 1
Exempt Vehicle 0 16
Exempted by Directive 13 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 263 115

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,366
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,337
All License Types 8,703

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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