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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
November 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 761,060 67,764 8.90%
All Tests 826,247 77,718 9.41%

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 85,280 198,940 75,542 175,804
Non-Directed 122,875 221,250 111,259 202,898
Total 208,155 420,190 186,801 378,702

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 178 43 62 16
Non-Directed 103,206 17,116 95,452 15,897
Total 103,384 17,159 95,514 15,913

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 294 80 27.21% 18.71% 10.54% 13.27% 6.80% NA
1977 430 102 23.72% 16.51% 6.74% 10.93% 4.19% NA
1978 452 87 19.25% 13.27% 5.97% 8.19% 4.87% NA
1979 555 122 21.98% 14.23% 5.41% 9.73% 5.95% NA
1980 260 45 17.31% 10.38% 3.46% 7.69% 4.23% NA
1981 272 56 20.59% 15.81% 4.78% 6.99% 4.78% NA
1982 390 72 18.46% 12.56% 5.13% 8.46% 2.82% NA
1983 414 82 19.81% 15.46% 4.35% 7.25% 4.59% NA
1984 698 158 22.64% 16.76% 6.45% 9.03% 5.16% NA
1985 951 202 21.24% 15.14% 4.42% 8.62% 3.26% NA
1986 1,306 279 21.36% 15.16% 5.21% 9.80% 4.06% NA
1987 1,469 324 22.06% 16.75% 4.77% 8.51% 3.88% NA
1988 1,579 328 20.77% 14.76% 4.56% 8.74% 4.05% NA
1989 2,149 414 19.26% 12.94% 3.96% 8.38% 4.19% NA
1990 2,432 467 19.20% 12.62% 3.13% 8.96% 2.96% NA
1991 3,050 584 19.15% 12.89% 3.77% 8.52% 3.08% NA
1992 2,658 532 20.02% 13.54% 3.88% 8.50% 3.05% NA
1993 3,396 723 21.29% 15.14% 3.80% 8.42% 3.24% NA
1994 4,288 851 19.85% 13.32% 2.68% 9.00% 3.15% NA
1995 5,169 1,065 20.60% 14.10% 2.63% 8.57% 3.02% NA
1996 6,027 1,076 17.85% 8.33% 1.51% 10.29% 2.74% 10.27%
1997 7,833 1,538 19.63% 9.37% 1.52% 11.16% 3.29% 11.15%
1998 11,599 2,040 17.59% 6.78% 1.27% 11.10% 2.94% 11.08%
1999 12,730 1,980 15.55% 5.25% 0.93% 10.36% 2.62% 10.35%
2000 276 33 11.96% 7.97% 3.26% 2.90% 3.26% 2.90%
2001 170 8 4.71% 3.53% 1.76% 0.59% 1.76% 0.59%
2002 227 22 9.69% 4.85% 2.64% 4.41% 1.32% 4.41%
2003 212 12 5.66% 2.36% 0.94% 1.89% 1.89% 1.89%
2004 296 20 6.76% 4.39% 1.35% 2.03% 1.01% 2.03%
2005 220 9 4.09% 2.27% 0.91% 0.45% 1.82% 0.45%
2006 314 17 5.41% 3.50% 0.32% 0.32% 2.23% 0.32%
2007 222 11 4.95% 1.80% 0.00% 1.80% 1.80% 1.80%
2008 222 13 5.86% 2.70% 0.90% 1.80% 1.35% 1.80%
2009 72 8 11.11% 4.17% 1.39% 1.39% 5.56% 1.39%
2010 56 2 3.57% 1.79% 0.00% 1.79% 0.00% 1.79%
2011 132 1 0.76% 0.00% 0.00% 0.76% 0.00% 0.76%
2012 233 1 0.43% 0.43% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 117 2 1.71% 1.71% 0.85% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 265 3 1.13% 0.75% 0.38% 0.75% 0.00% 0.75%
2015 79 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 62 1 1.61% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 47 1 2.13% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 0.00% 2.13%
2018 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 47 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 54 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 34 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 73 1 1.37% 1.37% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 25 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 73,893 13,372 18.10% 9.91% 2.36% 9.42% 3.07% 5.60%

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 10 1 10.00% 10.00% 0.00% 10.00% 10.00% 0.00%
1997 16 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 146 9 6.16% 2.74% 2.05% 2.74% 2.05% 0.00%
1999 561 78 13.90% 11.59% 2.14% 11.23% 6.60% 0.36%
2000 21,817 3,425 15.70% 14.05% 2.85% 13.76% 10.26% 0.29%
2001 20,785 3,266 15.71% 13.94% 3.01% 13.69% 10.17% 0.25%
2002 30,567 4,028 13.18% 11.70% 2.54% 11.41% 8.33% 0.29%
2003 26,747 3,436 12.85% 10.95% 2.70% 10.71% 7.35% 0.24%
2004 39,563 4,358 11.02% 9.50% 2.14% 9.26% 6.50% 0.24%
2005 30,689 3,409 11.11% 9.34% 2.30% 9.12% 6.34% 0.22%
2006 49,344 4,664 9.45% 8.04% 1.75% 7.90% 5.34% 0.14%
2007 35,718 3,076 8.61% 7.18% 1.62% 7.07% 4.74% 0.11%
2008 47,699 3,387 7.10% 6.25% 1.10% 6.16% 4.17% 0.09%
2009 21,252 1,513 7.12% 6.40% 1.01% 6.32% 4.39% 0.08%
2010 41,511 2,584 6.22% 5.69% 0.71% 5.62% 2.71% 0.07%
2011 28,548 1,908 6.68% 6.11% 0.68% 6.05% 2.74% 0.06%
2012 59,661 3,723 6.24% 5.59% 0.80% 5.55% 2.56% 0.05%
2013 36,018 2,070 5.75% 5.19% 0.64% 5.15% 2.50% 0.04%
2014 81,071 4,220 5.21% 4.71% 0.59% 4.68% 2.05% 0.03%
2015 33,800 1,488 4.40% 4.05% 0.42% 4.04% 2.08% 0.02%
2016 15,157 768 5.07% 4.78% 0.39% 4.75% 2.66% 0.03%
2017 14,394 688 4.78% 4.44% 0.35% 4.41% 2.77% 0.03%
2018 15,254 632 4.14% 3.87% 0.27% 3.82% 2.55% 0.05%
2019 13,825 678 4.90% 4.65% 0.22% 4.61% 3.35% 0.04%
2020 10,802 455 4.21% 4.03% 0.20% 4.01% 3.09% 0.02%
2021 7,466 239 3.20% 3.09% 0.13% 3.04% 2.12% 0.05%
2022 4,083 217 5.31% 5.22% 0.15% 5.22% 4.36% 0.00%
2023 687 75 10.92% 10.92% 0.00% 10.92% 10.33% 0.00%
Other 5 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 687,196 54,395 7.92% 7.00% 1.24% 6.89% 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 7,321 9.91%
All Visual 8,534 1.24% 2,267 3.07%
All Functional 48,089 7.00% 6,959 9.42%
OBDII 47,338 6.89% 4,140 5.60%
Overall 54,395 7.92% 13,372 18.10%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 592,732 47,173 7.96% 61,361 11,360 18.51%
Partial 34,060 2,649 7.78% 3,713 721 19.42%
Basic 55,946 4,227 7.56% 8,316 1,184 14.24%
Change of Ownership 4,458 346 7.76% 503 107 21.27%
All Program Areas 687,196 54,395 7.92% 73,893 13,372 18.10%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 376,249 31,576 8.39% 43,941 7,965 18.13%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 4,624 374 8.09% 936 73 7.80%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,899 914 5.75% 1,260 155 12.30%
STAR Test-and-Repair 186,938 14,922 7.98% 21,217 4,247 20.02%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 2,138 187 8.75% 169 30 17.75%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 97,317 5,786 5.95% 6,067 812 13.38%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,811 87 4.80% 27 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 239 14 5.86% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 61 4 6.56% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 550 449 81.64% 70 38 54.29%
Government Fleet 1,370 82 5.99% 206 52 25.24%
All Stations 687,196 54,395 7.92% 73,893 13,372 18.10%

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 686,109 90.15% 74,951 9.85%
All Tests 740,809 89.66% 85,438 10.34%

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 378,702 90.13% 41,488 9.87%
Non-STAR Test-Only 15,913 92.74% 1,246 7.26%
STAR Test-and-Repair 186,801 89.74% 21,354 10.26%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 95,514 92.39% 7,870 7.61%
All Stations 676,930 90.39% 71,958 9.61%

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 21,184 $64.21 185,055 $55.57 206,239 $56.46
STAR Test-Only 43,833 $55.79 374,331 $53.16 418,164 $53.44
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 6,070 $63.37 95,534 $61.91 101,604 $61.99
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,259 $47.61 15,622 $46.48 16,881 $46.56
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 27 $64.50 1,793 $68.49 1,820 $68.43
Total 72,373 $58.75 672,335 $54.95 744,708 $55.32

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 11,715 $75.38 21,184 $64.21 173,340 $54.23
STAR Test-Only 324 $27.67 14,249 $45.71 43,509 $56.00 360,082 $53.46
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 60,749 $68.56 6,070 $63.37 34,785 $50.28
Non-STAR Test-Only 3 $51.75 6,712 $47.99 1,256 $47.60 8,910 $45.35
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,593 $67.69 27 $64.50 200 $74.81
Total 327 $27.89 95,018 $64.51 72,046 $58.89 577,317 $53.38

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.

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) $1-100 429 $51.06 2,969 $635.29
$101-250 631 $177.32
$251-500 623 $366.17
$501-650 270 $575.52
Over $650 1016 $1,347.32
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 117 $48.25 737 $688.57
$101-250 167 $168.81
$251-500 162 $359.25
$501-650 55 $580.84
Over $650 236 $1,624.98
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 $0.00 330 $1,209.76
$101-250 20 $212.05
$251-500 39 $385.04
$501-650 22 $564.85
Over $650 249 $1,476.05
Total Repairs $1-100 546 $50.45 4,036 $691.99
$101-250 818 $176.43
$251-500 824 $365.70
$501-650 347 $575.69
Over $650 1501 $1,412.33

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 102 38 1,744 76 1,960
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,662 34 1,719
STAR Sub-Total 123 40 3,406 110 3,679
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 470 59 1,982 207 2,718
Non-STAR Test-Only 23 10 262 35 330
Non-STAR Sub-Total 493 69 2,244 242 3,048
Basic Area Dealer 53 0 0 0 53
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 12 359
Repair Only 1 0 39 1 41
Unknown Type 2 1 92 3 98
Other Station Sub-Total 108 8 511 20 647
All Stations 724 117 6,161 372 7,374

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 258 1,600
STAR Test-Only 3 100 1,555
STAR Sub-Total 4 358 3,155
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,616 318
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 110 56
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,726 374
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 16 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 43 4
Unknown Type 0 23 58
Government Fleet 4 133 21
Referee 0 9 25
Other Station Sub-Total 4 226 108
All Stations 9 2,310 3,637

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 563
Law Enforcement Citations 540
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 487
BAR Referrals 202
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 125
Engine Change/Replacement 80
Clean Gas 54
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 22
Grey Market 18
All Inspections 2,091

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 205 60
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 35 6
Limited Parts Exemption 4 0
Exempt Vehicle 3 15
Exempted by Directive 4 1
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 251 82

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,251
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,230
All License Types 8,481

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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