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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
December 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 773,576 67,544 8.73%
All Tests 838,807 77,284 9.21%

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 83,461 199,621 73,841 176,523
Non-Directed 123,194 230,627 111,665 211,963
Total 206,655 430,248 185,506 388,486

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 180 55 46 27
Non-Directed 105,510 18,068 97,526 16,679
Total 105,690 18,123 97,572 16,706

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 282 45 15.96% 13.48% 6.74% 5.32% 3.19% NA
1977 366 71 19.40% 12.02% 4.92% 8.20% 4.10% NA
1978 407 80 19.66% 12.78% 6.14% 9.58% 4.42% NA
1979 501 97 19.36% 13.37% 5.59% 10.38% 5.19% NA
1980 240 41 17.08% 10.83% 5.00% 7.92% 4.58% NA
1981 310 69 22.26% 18.39% 7.74% 8.71% 4.19% NA
1982 302 79 26.16% 17.88% 7.28% 10.93% 5.63% NA
1983 353 73 20.68% 15.58% 8.22% 7.65% 4.53% NA
1984 696 166 23.85% 19.11% 7.18% 9.48% 5.75% NA
1985 920 196 21.30% 14.67% 4.89% 9.35% 5.22% NA
1986 1,219 250 20.51% 15.01% 5.99% 9.19% 4.35% NA
1987 1,496 311 20.79% 15.71% 4.34% 8.02% 3.48% NA
1988 1,468 313 21.32% 16.08% 4.97% 9.13% 4.16% NA
1989 2,077 433 20.85% 13.91% 4.24% 9.73% 3.37% NA
1990 2,266 447 19.73% 13.77% 3.71% 8.38% 3.53% NA
1991 2,729 509 18.65% 12.83% 3.30% 7.95% 2.20% NA
1992 2,483 490 19.73% 13.98% 3.34% 7.85% 3.66% NA
1993 2,947 632 21.45% 15.58% 3.94% 8.92% 2.92% NA
1994 4,024 821 20.40% 14.07% 3.26% 8.92% 2.88% NA
1995 5,232 1,020 19.50% 13.19% 2.22% 7.47% 3.04% NA
1996 5,530 1,032 18.66% 8.82% 1.07% 10.29% 3.24% 10.29%
1997 7,875 1,509 19.16% 8.86% 1.42% 11.39% 2.57% 11.39%
1998 10,341 1,809 17.49% 7.51% 1.26% 10.60% 2.89% 10.60%
1999 13,171 1,971 14.96% 5.13% 1.02% 10.16% 2.60% 10.16%
2000 265 24 9.06% 6.79% 4.15% 1.51% 1.89% 1.51%
2001 178 19 10.67% 6.18% 2.25% 4.49% 2.81% 4.49%
2002 205 22 10.73% 5.85% 2.93% 2.93% 3.90% 2.93%
2003 208 17 8.17% 3.85% 0.96% 3.37% 3.85% 3.37%
2004 227 13 5.73% 3.96% 1.32% 1.76% 0.00% 1.76%
2005 207 16 7.73% 4.83% 1.45% 1.93% 1.45% 1.93%
2006 277 18 6.50% 4.69% 2.53% 1.44% 1.44% 1.44%
2007 197 9 4.57% 2.54% 1.02% 0.51% 1.52% 0.51%
2008 213 8 3.76% 1.88% 0.00% 0.94% 0.94% 0.94%
2009 80 3 3.75% 3.75% 3.75% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 61 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 139 3 2.16% 0.00% 0.00% 2.16% 0.00% 2.16%
2012 217 4 1.84% 0.00% 0.00% 1.84% 0.00% 1.84%
2013 140 1 0.71% 0.71% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 227 1 0.44% 0.00% 0.00% 0.44% 0.00% 0.44%
2015 143 2 1.40% 0.70% 0.70% 1.40% 0.00% 1.40%
2016 42 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2017 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 36 2 5.56% 2.78% 0.00% 2.78% 0.00% 2.78%
2019 20 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 49 1 2.04% 2.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 40 1 2.50% 0.00% 0.00% 2.50% 0.00% 2.50%
2022 120 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 23 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 2 1 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 70,614 12,629 17.88% 10.00% 2.36% 9.25% 2.98% 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 43 2 4.65% 2.33% 0.00% 2.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 58 2 3.45% 0.00% 1.72% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 198 15 7.58% 4.55% 1.52% 4.55% 3.03% 0.00%
1999 572 69 12.06% 9.97% 2.27% 9.62% 5.42% 0.35%
2000 18,928 3,023 15.97% 14.08% 3.12% 13.85% 10.11% 0.23%
2001 21,860 3,334 15.25% 13.53% 2.79% 13.34% 9.65% 0.19%
2002 25,945 3,622 13.96% 12.16% 2.80% 11.94% 8.54% 0.22%
2003 29,369 3,679 12.53% 10.64% 2.73% 10.45% 7.14% 0.20%
2004 34,703 4,108 11.84% 10.30% 2.20% 10.10% 7.06% 0.20%
2005 34,467 3,634 10.54% 9.05% 2.10% 8.88% 6.15% 0.16%
2006 43,969 4,263 9.70% 8.37% 1.76% 8.23% 5.57% 0.14%
2007 40,570 3,297 8.13% 6.80% 1.58% 6.70% 4.45% 0.10%
2008 43,292 3,216 7.43% 6.58% 1.14% 6.47% 4.46% 0.11%
2009 23,787 1,581 6.65% 5.87% 0.96% 5.79% 4.19% 0.08%
2010 35,586 2,530 7.11% 6.67% 0.66% 6.60% 3.14% 0.07%
2011 35,878 2,304 6.42% 5.93% 0.63% 5.89% 2.71% 0.04%
2012 47,794 3,389 7.09% 6.40% 0.87% 6.37% 2.83% 0.03%
2013 52,877 2,626 4.97% 4.54% 0.54% 4.50% 2.18% 0.04%
2014 62,527 3,683 5.89% 5.38% 0.60% 5.35% 2.27% 0.03%
2015 58,977 2,290 3.88% 3.48% 0.44% 3.47% 1.81% 0.01%
2016 14,649 716 4.89% 4.53% 0.40% 4.50% 2.51% 0.03%
2017 14,802 695 4.70% 4.32% 0.36% 4.30% 2.71% 0.03%
2018 15,136 616 4.07% 3.81% 0.27% 3.81% 2.63% 0.01%
2019 20,806 1,125 5.41% 5.19% 0.23% 5.17% 3.99% 0.02%
2020 12,351 528 4.27% 4.11% 0.19% 4.10% 3.08% 0.02%
2021 8,778 283 3.22% 3.05% 0.19% 3.04% 2.40% 0.01%
2022 4,068 188 4.62% 4.47% 0.17% 4.47% 3.96% 0.00%
2023 1,007 96 9.53% 9.53% 0.00% 9.53% 8.64% 0.00%
Other 6 4 66.67% 50.00% 0.00% 33.33% 16.67% 16.67%
All Model Years 703,003 54,918 7.81% 6.93% 1.20% 6.85% 4.27% 0.09%

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 7,064 10.00%
All Visual 8,413 1.20% 2,103 2.98%
All Functional 48,749 6.93% 6,530 9.25%
OBDII 48,132 6.85% 3,952 5.60%
Overall 54,918 7.81% 12,629 17.88%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 610,235 47,735 7.82% 59,341 10,915 18.39%
Partial 33,157 2,673 8.06% 3,341 613 18.35%
Basic 55,151 4,145 7.52% 7,517 1,022 13.60%
Change of Ownership 4,460 365 8.18% 415 79 19.04%
All Program Areas 703,003 54,918 7.81% 70,614 12,629 17.88%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 387,964 31,994 8.25% 42,284 7,589 17.95%
STAR Test-Only (Suspended) 4,750 364 7.66% 986 77 7.81%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,751 1,090 6.51% 1,372 157 11.44%
STAR Test-and-Repair 186,808 14,716 7.88% 19,847 3,933 19.82%
STAR Test-and-Repair (Suspended) 2,504 206 8.23% 165 30 18.18%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 100,093 5,970 5.96% 5,597 752 13.44%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,998 107 5.36% 14 1 7.14%
Business Fleet 328 29 8.84% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 50 1 2.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 445 364 81.80% 63 26 41.27%
Government Fleet 1,312 77 5.87% 286 64 22.38%
All Stations 703,003 54,918 7.81% 70,614 12,629 17.88%

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 698,111 90.24% 75,465 9.76%
All Tests 752,953 89.76% 85,854 10.24%

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 388,486 90.29% 41,762 9.71%
Non-STAR Test-Only 16,706 92.18% 1,417 7.82%
STAR Test-and-Repair 185,506 89.77% 21,149 10.23%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 97,572 92.32% 8,118 7.68%
All Stations 688,270 90.48% 72,446 9.52%

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 19,838 $64.39 184,152 $56.76 203,990 $57.50
STAR Test-Only 42,234 $55.45 385,912 $53.46 428,146 $53.66
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,516 $63.43 96,356 $64.32 101,872 $64.27
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,341 $45.84 16,605 $47.70 17,946 $47.56
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 14 $77.17 1,982 $67.96 1,996 $68.03
Total 68,943 $58.48 685,007 $55.78 753,950 $56.02

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 $71.75 12,056 $67.38 19,835 $64.39 172,096 $56.02
STAR Test-Only 247 $30.28 16,151 $48.61 41,987 $55.60 369,761 $53.67
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 62,490 $71.30 5,516 $63.43 33,866 $51.44
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 6,970 $49.52 1,341 $45.84 9,635 $46.38
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 $0.00 1,757 $67.64 14 $77.17 225 $70.50
Total 250 $30.78 99,424 $65.55 68,693 $58.58 585,583 $54.12

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) $1-100 408 $53.26 2,739 $640.88
$101-250 573 $175.19
$251-500 607 $365.93
$501-650 245 $578.09
Over $650 906 $1,401.22
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 129 $54.84 710 $573.69
$101-250 203 $174.05
$251-500 152 $370.36
$501-650 53 $577.92
Over $650 173 $1,606.89
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 $0.00 349 $1,245.30
$101-250 20 $200.97
$251-500 35 $381.09
$501-650 25 $576.25
Over $650 269 $1,497.57
Total Repairs $1-100 537 $53.64 3,798 $683.86
$101-250 796 $175.55
$251-500 794 $367.44
$501-650 323 $577.92
Over $650 1348 $1,446.84

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 100 37 1,727 75 1,939
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,650 33 1,706
STAR Sub-Total 121 39 3,377 108 3,645
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 470 61 1,974 208 2,713
Non-STAR Test-Only 24 10 272 37 343
Non-STAR Sub-Total 494 71 2,246 245 3,056
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 36 1 38
Unknown Type 3 1 96 4 104
Other Station Sub-Total 109 8 512 21 650
All Stations 724 118 6,135 374 7,351

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 270 1,566
STAR Test-Only 2 99 1,537
STAR Sub-Total 4 369 3,103
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,619 317
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 113 71
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,732 388
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 19 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Basic Area Dealer 0 42 5
Unknown Type 1 22 65
Government Fleet 9 128 16
Referee 0 3 30
Other Station Sub-Total 10 216 116
All Stations 14 2,317 3,607

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
CAT BAR Label 460
Law Enforcement Citations 443
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 413
BAR Referrals 155
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 142
Engine Change/Replacement 89
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 46
Clean Gas 45
Grey Market 21
OBD Monitor Issues 4
All Inspections 1,818

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 155 51
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 34 5
Limited Parts Exemption 7 0
Exempt Vehicle 4 17
Exempted by Directive 7 0
Permanently Exempt Vehicle 0 0
Temporarily Exempt Vehicle 0 0
All Certificates Issued 207 73

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,212
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,217
All License Types 8,429

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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