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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
June 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 893,055 78,270 8.76%
All Tests 970,580 90,524 9.33%

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 99,843 221,127 88,142 195,906
Non-Directed 149,891 263,663 137,513 243,221
Total 249,734 484,790 225,655 439,127

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 243 53 67 26
Non-Directed 128,678 22,174 120,233 20,704
Total 128,921 22,227 120,300 20,730

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 96 21.97% 16.02% 6.18% 9.61% 3.89% NA
1977 521 105 20.15% 13.44% 4.99% 9.40% 4.61% NA
1978 610 109 17.87% 13.11% 5.74% 7.70% 4.43% NA
1979 633 133 21.01% 16.75% 6.16% 7.11% 4.90% NA
1980 357 70 19.61% 15.69% 6.16% 7.56% 4.48% NA
1981 381 91 23.88% 18.37% 6.82% 9.45% 4.72% NA
1982 432 95 21.99% 16.90% 7.41% 9.49% 5.32% NA
1983 569 127 22.32% 17.05% 5.45% 8.08% 5.45% NA
1984 916 202 22.05% 17.25% 8.30% 7.21% 4.59% NA
1985 1,257 276 21.96% 16.79% 6.92% 8.27% 3.66% NA
1986 1,585 333 21.01% 16.66% 6.25% 8.08% 4.54% NA
1987 1,810 422 23.31% 17.73% 5.69% 8.95% 3.48% NA
1988 2,092 462 22.08% 16.49% 5.78% 9.70% 4.11% NA
1989 2,679 538 20.08% 14.07% 4.11% 8.70% 3.92% NA
1990 3,367 620 18.41% 12.30% 3.24% 8.29% 2.76% NA
1991 3,679 685 18.62% 12.04% 2.91% 8.29% 3.37% NA
1992 3,668 697 19.00% 13.66% 3.90% 7.77% 3.22% NA
1993 4,199 917 21.84% 15.60% 3.81% 8.91% 3.22% NA
1994 5,817 1,170 20.11% 14.06% 2.84% 8.23% 3.06% NA
1995 6,267 1,259 20.09% 14.28% 2.65% 7.37% 3.21% NA
1996 8,586 1,522 17.73% 8.78% 1.05% 9.26% 2.71% 9.26%
1997 10,105 1,940 19.20% 8.80% 1.33% 11.08% 3.06% 11.06%
1998 15,094 2,601 17.23% 6.90% 0.99% 10.55% 2.78% 10.54%
1999 16,367 2,525 15.43% 5.65% 1.06% 10.06% 2.63% 10.04%
2000 344 52 15.12% 6.98% 1.45% 9.01% 3.49% 9.01%
2001 269 52 19.33% 7.06% 2.23% 12.27% 7.06% 12.27%
2002 340 62 18.24% 7.94% 3.82% 13.82% 2.94% 13.82%
2003 309 42 13.59% 5.18% 1.29% 9.39% 3.24% 9.39%
2004 424 38 8.96% 4.25% 2.59% 6.37% 2.83% 6.37%
2005 300 44 14.67% 6.33% 3.00% 9.67% 4.00% 9.67%
2006 451 51 11.31% 3.99% 0.89% 7.32% 3.33% 7.32%
2007 269 41 15.24% 4.09% 0.37% 12.64% 2.23% 12.64%
2008 360 25 6.94% 1.94% 1.11% 4.44% 1.39% 4.44%
2009 98 16 16.33% 4.08% 3.06% 8.16% 5.10% 8.16%
2010 93 12 12.90% 4.30% 3.23% 10.75% 1.08% 10.75%
2011 138 6 4.35% 0.72% 0.00% 4.35% 0.00% 4.35%
2012 322 25 7.76% 1.86% 0.93% 6.21% 0.62% 6.21%
2013 146 7 4.79% 1.37% 0.00% 3.42% 1.37% 3.42%
2014 368 11 2.99% 0.00% 0.00% 2.99% 0.00% 2.99%
2015 69 2 2.90% 0.00% 0.00% 2.90% 0.00% 2.90%
2016 62 3 4.84% 3.23% 1.61% 4.84% 0.00% 4.84%
2017 73 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 55 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 51 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 94 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 38 1 2.63% 0.00% 0.00% 2.63% 0.00% 2.63%
2022 126 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 96,228 17,485 18.17% 10.19% 2.39% 9.26% 3.07% 5.71%

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 4 4 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 6 1 16.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 168 16 9.52% 7.74% 1.19% 5.95% 4.76% 1.79%
1999 732 97 13.25% 10.93% 1.64% 10.66% 7.79% 0.27%
2000 28,427 4,173 14.68% 12.92% 2.74% 12.72% 9.50% 0.20%
2001 22,737 3,494 15.37% 13.59% 3.03% 13.32% 9.57% 0.26%
2002 38,335 4,584 11.96% 10.40% 2.38% 10.17% 7.15% 0.22%
2003 29,313 3,813 13.01% 11.17% 2.70% 10.88% 7.34% 0.29%
2004 50,986 5,312 10.42% 8.91% 1.91% 8.73% 6.14% 0.17%
2005 37,051 3,977 10.73% 9.01% 2.26% 8.78% 6.09% 0.23%
2006 58,310 5,258 9.02% 7.56% 1.73% 7.43% 5.08% 0.12%
2007 40,659 3,527 8.67% 7.01% 1.71% 6.91% 4.57% 0.10%
2008 52,808 3,540 6.70% 5.92% 1.04% 5.80% 4.15% 0.11%
2009 23,167 1,667 7.20% 6.44% 1.00% 6.31% 4.48% 0.13%
2010 52,882 3,118 5.90% 5.46% 0.61% 5.41% 2.56% 0.05%
2011 26,983 2,091 7.75% 7.16% 0.81% 7.09% 3.15% 0.07%
2012 80,672 4,350 5.39% 4.90% 0.60% 4.85% 2.35% 0.05%
2013 27,503 1,924 7.00% 6.38% 0.76% 6.32% 2.88% 0.07%
2014 113,559 4,811 4.24% 3.80% 0.51% 3.77% 1.76% 0.03%
2015 18,911 1,067 5.64% 5.19% 0.48% 5.13% 2.51% 0.05%
2016 19,476 908 4.66% 4.23% 0.46% 4.18% 2.53% 0.05%
2017 18,741 778 4.15% 3.85% 0.33% 3.82% 2.41% 0.03%
2018 21,632 819 3.79% 3.62% 0.21% 3.59% 2.48% 0.03%
2019 13,963 599 4.29% 4.02% 0.27% 4.00% 2.91% 0.01%
2020 10,550 426 4.04% 3.84% 0.20% 3.81% 2.99% 0.03%
2021 5,515 204 3.70% 3.59% 0.13% 3.54% 2.45% 0.05%
2022 3,705 221 5.96% 5.88% 0.08% 5.83% 5.21% 0.05%
2023 30 5 16.67% 16.67% 0.00% 16.67% 10.00% 0.00%
Other 3 2 66.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 796,828 60,786 7.63% 6.70% 1.21% 6.60% 4.16% 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 9,810 10.19%
All Visual 9,659 1.21% 2,952 3.07%
All Functional 53,410 6.70% 8,911 9.26%
OBDII 52,556 6.60% 5,493 5.71%
Overall 60,786 7.63% 17,485 18.17%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 688,246 52,557 7.64% 73,462 13,695 18.64%
Partial 39,128 3,038 7.76% 5,877 1,217 20.71%
Basic 63,958 4,770 7.46% 12,332 1,640 13.30%
Change of Ownership 5,496 421 7.66% 889 199 22.38%
Unknown 0 0 0.00% 3,668 734 20.01%
All Program Areas 796,828 60,786 7.63% 96,228 17,485 18.17%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 428,714 34,531 8.05% 56,076 9,948 17.74%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 536 51 9.51% 38 9 23.68%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,319 1,207 5.94% 1,908 237 12.42%
STAR Test-and-Repair 220,798 17,065 7.73% 28,936 5,967 20.62%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 423 37 8.75% 47 9 19.15%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 120,850 6,849 5.67% 8,071 1,084 13.43%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,453 136 5.54% 62 6 9.68%
Business Fleet 286 20 6.99% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 60 2 3.33% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 943 812 86.11% 90 42 46.67%
Government Fleet 1,446 76 5.26% 1,000 183 18.30%
All Stations 796,828 60,786 7.63% 96,228 17,485 18.17%

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 809,617 90.66% 83,438 9.34%
All Tests 874,215 90.07% 96,365 9.93%

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 439,127 90.58% 45,663 9.42%
Non-STAR Test-Only 20,730 93.26% 1,497 6.74%
STAR Test-and-Repair 225,655 90.36% 24,079 9.64%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 120,300 93.31% 8,621 6.69%
All Stations 805,812 90.98% 79,860 9.02%

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 28,960 $62.77 218,693 $53.41 247,653 $54.50
STAR Test-Only 55,908 $55.00 427,188 $51.72 483,096 $52.10
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 8,069 $61.29 118,902 $61.87 126,971 $61.83
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,881 $48.97 20,278 $46.80 22,159 $46.99
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 62 $62.94 2,415 $63.40 2,477 $63.39
Total 94,880 $57.79 787,476 $53.63 882,356 $54.08

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 $31.75 10,134 $54.62 28,959 $62.77 208,559 $53.35
STAR Test-Only 435 $45.98 15,308 $45.63 55,473 $55.07 411,880 $51.95
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 78,210 $68.32 8,069 $61.29 40,692 $49.47
Non-STAR Test-Only 50 $41.75 7,636 $48.83 1,831 $49.17 12,642 $45.58
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,963 $64.17 62 $62.94 452 $60.06
Total 486 $45.52 113,251 $62.64 94,394 $57.86 674,225 $52.12

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) $1-100 312 $55.49 1,954 $645.35
$101-250 433 $169.66
$251-500 387 $366.56
$501-650 168 $580.24
Over $650 654 $1,423.39
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 108 $59.09 658 $654.30
$101-250 175 $172.53
$251-500 151 $367.15
$501-650 54 $575.83
Over $650 170 $1,808.35
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 $0.00 295 $1,190.91
$101-250 18 $196.96
$251-500 44 $372.56
$501-650 24 $566.74
Over $650 209 $1,520.47
Total Repairs $1-100 420 $56.41 2,907 $702.74
$101-250 626 $171.25
$251-500 582 $367.17
$501-650 246 $577.95
Over $650 1033 $1,506.38

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 106 43 1,792 77 2,018
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,724 33 1,780
STAR Sub-Total 127 45 3,516 110 3,798
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 465 49 1,935 212 2,661
Non-STAR Test-Only 28 10 243 31 312
Non-STAR Sub-Total 493 59 2,178 243 2,973
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 36 1 39
Unknown Type 0 1 14 2 17
Other Station Sub-Total 112 8 430 20 570
All Stations 732 112 6,124 373 7,341

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 214 1,717
STAR Test-Only 6 93 1,619
STAR Sub-Total 7 307 3,336
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,675 333
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 84 68
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,759 401
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 22 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 40 8
Unknown Type 0 5 11
Government Fleet 6 142 31
Referee 0 4 26
Other Station Sub-Total 6 215 76
All Stations 14 2,281 3,813

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 926
Law Enforcement Citations 585
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 547
BAR Referrals 315
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 131
Engine Change/Replacement 111
Clean Gas 61
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 54
Grey Market 9
OBD Monitor Issues 2
All Inspections 2,741

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 238 66
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 28 6
Limited Parts Exemption 6 0
Exempt Vehicle 1 27
Exempted by Directive 6 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 279 99

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,327
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,340
All License Types 8,667

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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