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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
October 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 825,872 74,459 9.02%
All Tests 899,748 85,860 9.54%

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 93,258 217,632 82,334 192,223
Non-Directed 132,487 239,342 120,572 219,611
Total 225,745 456,974 202,906 411,834

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 215 48 61 22
Non-Directed 109,614 20,118 101,860 18,565
Total 109,829 20,166 101,921 18,587

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 319 65 20.38% 16.93% 6.27% 8.46% 5.33% NA
1977 482 111 23.03% 17.43% 6.85% 9.34% 4.98% NA
1978 501 103 20.56% 14.97% 5.39% 8.98% 4.19% NA
1979 636 146 22.96% 15.41% 5.50% 10.69% 6.13% NA
1980 353 62 17.56% 11.90% 3.68% 6.80% 3.97% NA
1981 363 81 22.31% 16.25% 8.54% 11.02% 6.06% NA
1982 408 85 20.83% 16.67% 5.88% 7.11% 4.90% NA
1983 437 98 22.43% 15.56% 5.72% 9.38% 6.41% NA
1984 829 199 24.00% 19.18% 6.63% 8.08% 5.19% NA
1985 1,202 294 24.46% 19.72% 7.57% 8.90% 4.08% NA
1986 1,522 329 21.62% 15.51% 5.12% 9.26% 4.27% NA
1987 1,658 351 21.17% 14.84% 4.64% 8.81% 4.34% NA
1988 1,842 407 22.10% 15.20% 4.51% 9.17% 3.69% NA
1989 2,571 519 20.19% 13.81% 3.73% 9.72% 3.46% NA
1990 2,675 545 20.37% 13.46% 4.04% 9.35% 3.44% NA
1991 3,428 658 19.19% 12.78% 3.56% 8.34% 3.35% NA
1992 3,094 629 20.33% 13.51% 3.46% 8.37% 3.39% NA
1993 3,798 829 21.83% 15.75% 3.11% 8.77% 3.26% NA
1994 5,044 1,038 20.58% 13.94% 2.91% 8.96% 3.33% NA
1995 6,002 1,204 20.06% 13.53% 2.25% 8.51% 3.57% NA
1996 6,842 1,286 18.80% 9.25% 1.17% 9.75% 3.33% 9.75%
1997 8,738 1,761 20.15% 9.19% 1.54% 11.52% 3.41% 11.52%
1998 13,937 2,323 16.67% 6.55% 1.23% 10.55% 2.69% 10.54%
1999 13,492 2,147 15.91% 5.60% 1.02% 10.64% 3.12% 10.64%
2000 344 43 12.50% 8.72% 4.07% 2.03% 2.91% 2.03%
2001 200 19 9.50% 5.00% 0.50% 2.00% 2.50% 2.00%
2002 268 17 6.34% 4.10% 0.75% 2.24% 2.61% 2.24%
2003 219 13 5.94% 1.83% 0.46% 3.20% 2.28% 3.20%
2004 292 18 6.16% 3.77% 1.37% 2.05% 1.71% 2.05%
2005 228 12 5.26% 3.07% 0.44% 0.88% 1.32% 0.88%
2006 381 28 7.35% 4.20% 1.05% 2.36% 2.10% 2.36%
2007 208 14 6.73% 3.85% 0.96% 0.48% 2.40% 0.48%
2008 238 13 5.46% 4.20% 1.68% 1.68% 0.84% 1.68%
2009 69 7 10.14% 2.90% 1.45% 7.25% 0.00% 7.25%
2010 73 3 4.11% 2.74% 0.00% 1.37% 0.00% 1.37%
2011 110 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2012 278 6 2.16% 0.72% 0.72% 1.08% 0.36% 1.08%
2013 95 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 332 5 1.51% 0.00% 0.00% 1.51% 0.00% 1.51%
2015 45 1 2.22% 0.00% 0.00% 2.22% 0.00% 2.22%
2016 47 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 59 1 1.69% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.69% 0.00%
2018 51 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 61 1 1.64% 1.64% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 56 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 117 1 0.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.85% 0.00% 0.85%
2023 12 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 83,993 15,472 18.42% 10.25% 2.36% 9.44% 3.29% 5.53%

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 1 1 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 5 4 80.00% 40.00% 0.00% 40.00% 40.00% 0.00%
1998 143 15 10.49% 5.59% 2.80% 5.59% 2.10% 0.00%
1999 608 77 12.66% 10.36% 2.63% 10.03% 6.25% 0.33%
2000 26,304 4,016 15.27% 13.52% 2.92% 13.29% 9.71% 0.23%
2001 21,697 3,378 15.57% 13.81% 2.91% 13.50% 9.61% 0.30%
2002 37,162 4,652 12.52% 10.94% 2.42% 10.73% 7.79% 0.22%
2003 27,435 3,710 13.52% 11.56% 2.85% 11.31% 7.61% 0.25%
2004 46,944 5,114 10.89% 9.36% 2.11% 9.13% 6.37% 0.23%
2005 30,467 3,571 11.72% 9.72% 2.56% 9.52% 6.56% 0.21%
2006 57,466 5,256 9.15% 7.81% 1.71% 7.63% 5.30% 0.18%
2007 36,318 3,250 8.95% 7.36% 1.78% 7.20% 4.70% 0.16%
2008 54,909 3,716 6.77% 5.97% 1.06% 5.85% 4.06% 0.13%
2009 20,742 1,485 7.16% 6.29% 1.16% 6.16% 4.33% 0.13%
2010 50,243 3,057 6.08% 5.59% 0.66% 5.53% 2.69% 0.07%
2011 24,868 1,938 7.79% 7.17% 0.80% 7.09% 3.15% 0.08%
2012 74,527 4,495 6.03% 5.47% 0.68% 5.41% 2.52% 0.06%
2013 26,522 1,769 6.67% 6.06% 0.72% 6.02% 2.85% 0.04%
2014 99,510 4,706 4.73% 4.25% 0.58% 4.22% 1.91% 0.04%
2015 18,854 1,045 5.54% 5.03% 0.49% 4.99% 2.34% 0.04%
2016 16,928 783 4.63% 4.26% 0.37% 4.21% 2.22% 0.05%
2017 15,993 734 4.59% 4.26% 0.31% 4.22% 2.66% 0.04%
2018 17,282 685 3.96% 3.76% 0.21% 3.73% 2.51% 0.03%
2019 12,493 543 4.35% 4.05% 0.30% 4.03% 2.94% 0.02%
2020 12,011 441 3.67% 3.50% 0.16% 3.48% 2.74% 0.02%
2021 7,553 257 3.40% 3.31% 0.05% 3.31% 2.42% 0.00%
2022 4,393 223 5.08% 4.96% 0.14% 4.96% 4.39% 0.00%
2023 522 65 12.45% 12.45% 0.00% 12.45% 11.69% 0.00%
Other 6 4 66.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 741,906 58,990 7.95% 7.00% 1.27% 6.88% 4.31% 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 8,609 10.25%
All Visual 9,441 1.27% 2,763 3.29%
All Functional 51,931 7.00% 7,932 9.44%
OBDII 51,049 6.88% 4,641 5.53%
Overall 58,990 7.95% 15,472 18.42%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 641,741 51,227 7.98% 69,925 13,172 18.84%
Partial 35,808 2,837 7.92% 4,203 839 19.96%
Basic 59,421 4,568 7.69% 9,333 1,360 14.57%
Change of Ownership 4,936 358 7.25% 532 101 18.98%
All Program Areas 741,906 58,990 7.95% 83,993 15,472 18.42%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 406,761 34,250 8.42% 50,213 9,281 18.48%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 5,071 439 8.66% 883 76 8.61%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,544 1,260 6.79% 1,622 175 10.79%
STAR Test-and-Repair 202,077 16,220 8.03% 23,668 4,828 20.40%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 2,430 186 7.65% 172 21 12.21%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 102,785 5,875 5.72% 7,044 987 14.01%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,966 95 4.83% 39 1 2.56%
Business Fleet 254 24 9.45% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 46 4 8.70% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 663 552 83.26% 73 39 53.42%
Government Fleet 1,309 85 6.49% 279 64 22.94%
All Stations 741,906 58,990 7.95% 83,993 15,472 18.42%

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 745,213 90.23% 80,659 9.77%
All Tests 807,176 89.71% 92,572 10.29%

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 411,834 90.12% 45,140 9.88%
Non-STAR Test-Only 18,587 92.17% 1,579 7.83%
STAR Test-and-Repair 202,906 89.88% 22,839 10.12%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 101,921 92.80% 7,908 7.20%
All Stations 735,248 90.47% 77,466 9.53%

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 23,652 $64.50 200,704 $53.77 224,356 $54.90
STAR Test-Only 50,087 $55.39 405,297 $54.63 455,384 $54.71
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 7,026 $62.85 101,370 $60.45 108,396 $60.61
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,600 $47.95 17,975 $46.18 19,575 $46.32
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 39 $63.47 1,886 $65.41 1,925 $65.37
Total 82,404 $58.50 727,232 $55.02 809,636 $55.38

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 11,518 $54.48 23,652 $64.50 189,186 $53.72
STAR Test-Only 287 $46.15 13,220 $49.29 49,800 $55.44 392,077 $54.81
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5 $46.75 64,259 $66.32 7,021 $62.86 37,111 $50.28
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 6,913 $46.27 1,600 $47.95 11,062 $46.12
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,691 $65.77 39 $63.47 195 $62.28
Total 292 $46.16 97,601 $61.19 82,112 $58.54 629,631 $54.07

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) $1-100 536 $52.92 3,376 $610.81
$101-250 705 $173.23
$251-500 743 $365.39
$501-650 314 $577.30
Over $650 1078 $1,350.80
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 151 $51.37 851 $584.13
$101-250 240 $170.91
$251-500 183 $357.32
$501-650 60 $568.03
Over $650 217 $1,607.61
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 $0.00 332 $1,186.61
$101-250 27 $202.74
$251-500 43 $406.74
$501-650 44 $580.60
Over $650 218 $1,584.61
Total Repairs $1-100 687 $52.58 4,559 $647.77
$101-250 972 $173.48
$251-500 969 $365.70
$501-650 418 $576.32
Over $650 1513 $1,423.10

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 103 40 1,753 76 1,972
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,671 34 1,728
STAR Sub-Total 124 42 3,424 110 3,700
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 465 55 1,981 207 2,708
Non-STAR Test-Only 26 10 254 32 322
Non-STAR Sub-Total 491 65 2,235 239 3,030
Basic Area Dealer 55 0 0 0 55
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 2 49 4 58
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 296 12 357
Repair Only 1 0 39 1 41
Unknown Type 2 1 85 3 91
Other Station Sub-Total 110 8 502 20 640
All Stations 725 115 6,161 369 7,370

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 237 1,636
STAR Test-Only 3 84 1,580
STAR Sub-Total 3 321 3,216
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,630 320
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 102 61
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,732 381
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 11 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 43 4
Unknown Type 0 24 57
Government Fleet 7 139 22
Referee 0 5 25
Other Station Sub-Total 7 224 108
All Stations 11 2,277 3,705

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 663
Law Enforcement Citations 518
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 470
BAR Referrals 211
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 134
Engine Change/Replacement 100
Clean Gas 80
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 33
Grey Market 14
OBD Monitor Issues 2
All Inspections 2,225

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 194 82
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 30 5
Limited Parts Exemption 5 0
Exempt Vehicle 3 16
Exempted by Directive 11 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 243 103

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,295
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,270
All License Types 8,565

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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