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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
February 2024

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 Tests 878,376 76,810 8.74%
All Tests 951,017 87,384 9.19%

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 89,533 210,961 78,592 185,889
Non-Directed 148,296 282,129 135,974 260,954
Total 237,829 493,090 214,566 446,843

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 137 0 2 0
Non-Directed 116,220 26,047 108,354 24,153
Total 116,357 26,047 108,356 24,153

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 263 46 17.49% 12.17% 3.80% 8.37% 4.56% NA
1977 374 69 18.45% 10.96% 4.01% 8.82% 3.74% NA
1978 419 73 17.42% 11.46% 3.82% 7.40% 5.73% NA
1979 511 97 18.98% 13.89% 5.87% 9.59% 4.89% NA
1980 264 42 15.91% 10.98% 5.30% 6.82% 2.65% NA
1981 290 64 22.07% 15.52% 5.52% 8.62% 3.79% NA
1982 325 67 20.62% 16.00% 4.92% 9.85% 3.38% NA
1983 400 96 24.00% 16.50% 4.50% 10.50% 6.50% NA
1984 696 150 21.55% 15.09% 5.32% 9.20% 4.60% NA
1985 842 203 24.11% 17.93% 7.36% 10.69% 6.29% NA
1986 1,153 238 20.64% 15.70% 5.55% 8.24% 2.95% NA
1987 1,316 277 21.05% 15.50% 4.26% 7.60% 3.95% NA
1988 1,510 343 22.72% 15.30% 5.03% 11.46% 4.24% NA
1989 2,094 385 18.39% 12.66% 3.63% 8.17% 3.63% NA
1990 2,370 474 20.00% 13.92% 4.47% 8.73% 3.12% NA
1991 2,565 493 19.22% 12.87% 3.59% 8.97% 3.08% NA
1992 2,668 485 18.18% 11.73% 2.74% 7.95% 3.19% NA
1993 3,228 696 21.56% 15.64% 3.66% 8.49% 3.10% NA
1994 3,919 870 22.20% 15.36% 3.37% 9.49% 3.55% NA
1995 4,717 993 21.05% 15.05% 3.05% 8.16% 3.24% NA
1996 5,904 1,147 19.43% 9.82% 1.13% 10.32% 2.90% 10.32%
1997 7,423 1,415 19.06% 8.95% 1.51% 11.17% 3.27% 11.15%
1998 10,719 1,892 17.65% 7.32% 1.26% 10.86% 2.83% 10.86%
1999 12,272 2,012 16.40% 5.78% 1.13% 10.91% 3.06% 10.91%
2000 232 20 8.62% 6.47% 3.45% 1.29% 1.29% 1.30%
2001 169 16 9.47% 6.51% 1.18% 2.96% 0.59% 2.96%
2002 238 13 5.46% 2.94% 0.84% 1.68% 1.68% 1.68%
2003 212 13 6.13% 5.19% 1.89% 0.47% 1.89% 0.47%
2004 296 20 6.76% 3.04% 1.35% 3.04% 2.70% 3.04%
2005 247 18 7.29% 4.05% 0.81% 1.62% 2.43% 1.63%
2006 367 20 5.45% 3.27% 1.63% 0.82% 1.36% 0.82%
2007 219 16 7.31% 5.02% 1.83% 0.91% 2.74% 0.92%
2008 252 14 5.56% 2.78% 0.79% 0.79% 1.98% 0.79%
2009 104 6 5.77% 4.81% 3.85% 1.92% 0.00% 1.92%
2010 53 1 1.89% 1.89% 1.89% 1.89% 0.00% 1.89%
2011 102 3 2.94% 0.98% 0.98% 0.98% 1.96% 0.98%
2012 199 4 2.01% 1.01% 0.50% 0.50% 0.50% 0.51%
2013 105 2 1.90% 0.95% 0.00% 0.95% 0.00% 0.96%
2014 266 1 0.38% 0.00% 0.00% 0.38% 0.38% 0.38%
2015 150 3 2.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.00% 0.00% 2.00%
2016 375 6 1.60% 0.27% 0.00% 1.07% 0.27% 1.07%
2017 59 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2018 49 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 41 1 2.44% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.44% 0.00%
2020 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 28 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 106 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 74 1 1.35% 0.00% 0.00% 1.35% 0.00% 1.35%
2025 8 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 70,294 12,805 18.22% 10.18% 2.37% 9.41% 3.15% 9.88%

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 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 6 1 16.67% 0.00% 16.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 136 10 7.35% 7.35% 0.74% 6.62% 3.68% 1.35%
1999 569 54 9.49% 8.08% 1.93% 7.92% 6.34% 0.16%
2000 20,981 3,205 15.28% 13.76% 2.86% 13.56% 10.29% 0.43%
2001 18,379 3,065 16.68% 14.96% 3.18% 14.77% 10.59% 0.45%
2002 28,929 3,936 13.61% 12.02% 2.70% 11.78% 8.50% 0.41%
2003 24,044 3,441 14.31% 12.60% 2.97% 12.33% 8.39% 0.45%
2004 39,467 4,405 11.16% 9.72% 2.28% 9.54% 6.71% 0.30%
2005 30,000 3,643 12.14% 10.57% 2.65% 10.39% 7.07% 0.33%
2006 48,756 4,757 9.76% 8.43% 2.03% 8.29% 5.65% 0.25%
2007 36,290 3,449 9.50% 8.16% 1.96% 8.03% 5.34% 0.22%
2008 45,818 3,495 7.63% 6.78% 1.28% 6.65% 4.62% 0.20%
2009 19,954 1,670 8.37% 7.44% 1.47% 7.32% 5.22% 0.18%
2010 41,369 3,069 7.42% 6.82% 0.93% 6.77% 3.12% 0.09%
2011 28,741 2,507 8.72% 8.16% 0.93% 8.07% 3.68% 0.14%
2012 66,866 4,323 6.47% 5.87% 0.86% 5.82% 2.69% 0.08%
2013 34,331 2,827 8.23% 7.48% 1.10% 7.44% 3.33% 0.07%
2014 85,187 4,292 5.04% 4.49% 0.70% 4.47% 2.11% 0.04%
2015 37,430 2,712 7.25% 6.57% 0.89% 6.53% 2.92% 0.06%
2016 108,836 4,355 4.00% 3.61% 0.50% 3.58% 1.78% 0.04%
2017 15,321 881 5.75% 5.43% 0.45% 5.39% 3.24% 0.06%
2018 14,555 784 5.39% 5.12% 0.38% 5.10% 3.34% 0.03%
2019 15,277 854 5.59% 5.46% 0.23% 5.45% 4.07% 0.01%
2020 17,377 846 4.87% 4.75% 0.15% 4.74% 3.78% 0.02%
2021 13,028 565 4.34% 4.18% 0.23% 4.15% 3.11% 0.02%
2022 8,954 401 4.48% 4.36% 0.15% 4.36% 3.51% 0.01%
2023 6,010 305 5.07% 4.89% 0.18% 4.89% 4.09% 0.00%
2024 1,464 151 10.31% 10.18% 0.14% 10.18% 8.95% 0.00%
Other 5 2 40.00% 20.00% 40.00% 0.00% 0.00% 20.00%
All Model Years 808,082 64,005 7.92% 7.10% 1.27% 7.01% 4.30% 0.15%

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 7,153 10.18%
All Visual 10,292 1.27% 2,212 3.15%
All Functional 57,364 7.10% 6,614 9.41%
OBDII 56,645 7.01% 3,988 9.88%
Overall 64,005 7.92% 12,805 18.22%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 697,264 55,240 7.92% 58,425 10,854 18.58%
Partial 40,670 3,270 8.04% 3,670 756 20.60%
Basic 65,194 5,125 7.86% 7,736 1,084 14.01%
Change of Ownership 4,954 370 7.47% 463 111 23.97%
All Program Areas 808,082 64,005 7.92% 70,294 12,805 18.22%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 450,839 37,360 8.29% 42,251 7,580 17.94%
Non-STAR Test-Only 24,651 1,659 6.73% 1,449 194 13.39%
STAR Test-and-Repair 217,307 18,009 8.29% 20,522 4,190 20.42%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 110,995 6,629 5.97% 5,362 702 13.09%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,937 115 5.94% 26 4 15.38%
Business Fleet 207 2 0.97% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 9 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 225 133 59.11% 53 30 56.60%
Government Fleet 1,912 98 5.13% 631 105 16.64%
All Stations 808,082 64,005 7.92% 70,294 12,805 18.22%

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 Tests 796,082 90.63% 82,294 9.37%
All Tests 857,688 90.19% 93,329 9.81%

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-and-Repair 214,566 90.22% 23,263 9.78%
STAR Test-Only 446,843 90.62% 46,247 9.38%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 108,356 93.12% 8,001 6.88%
Non-STAR Test-Only 24,153 92.54% 1,947 7.46%
Total 793,918 90.90% 79,458 9.10%

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 20,522 $71.70 217,307 $59.78 237,829 $65.74
STAR Test-Only 42,251 $61.64 450,839 $54.95 493,090 $58.30
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,362 $67.04 110,995 $71.10 116,357 $69.07
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,449 $58.60 24,651 $48.95 26,100 $53.77
Total 69,584 $66.52 803,792 $61.56 873,376 $64.04

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 $0.00 517 $57.79 20,522 $71.70 216,790 $59.79
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 955 $56.12 42,251 $61.64 449,884 $54.95
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 41,300 $74.58 5,362 $67.03 69,695 $68.55
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 7,855 $49.68 1,449 $58.45 16,796 $48.35
Total 0 $0.00 50,627 $71.43 69,584 $66.52 753,165 $59.70

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) $1-100 439 $54.98 3,084 $675.37
$101-250 655 $169.82
$251-500 621 $366.89
$501-650 266 $573.29
Over $650 1103 $1,420.80
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 114 $48.91 664 $619.05
$101-250 174 $175.57
$251-500 130 $366.64
$501-650 54 $577.59
Over $650 192 $1,542.05
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 $0.00 411 $1,323.18
$101-250 18 $198.72
$251-500 53 $378.52
$501-650 25 $577.87
Over $650 315 $1,605.52
Total Repairs $1-100 553 $53.73 4,159 $730.40
$101-250 847 $171.61
$251-500 804 $367.61
$501-650 345 $574.29
Over $650 1610 $1,471.40

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 108 37 1,691 79 1,915
STAR Test-Only 21 2 1,696 35 1,754
STAR Sub-Total 129 39 3,387 114 3,669
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 447 51 1,777 193 2,468
Non-STAR Test-Only 34 7 306 33 380
Non-STAR Sub-Total 481 58 2,083 226 2,848
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 49 0 0 0 49
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 0 12 1 13
Referee 5 0 30 0 35
Government Fleet 44 5 298 13 360
Repair Only 1 0 34 1 36
Other Station Sub-Total 99 5 377 15 496
All Stations 709 102 5,847 355 7,013

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 0 273 1,556
STAR Test-Only 0 155 1,534
STAR Sub-Total 0 428 3,090
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,573 278
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 154 81
Non-STAR Sub-Total 0 1,727 359
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 6 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 41 4
Government Fleet 6 121 27
Referee 0 7 27
Other Station Sub-Total 6 177 58
All Stations 6 2,332 3,507

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 488
Law Enforcement Citations 441
BAR Referrals 183
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 153
CAT BAR Label 148
Engine Change/Replacement 91
Clean Gas 67
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 23
OBD Monitor Issues 14
Grey Market 12
All Inspections 1,620

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 202 73
Certificate of Non Compliance 0 0
Repair Cost Waiver 31 8
Limited Parts Exemption 12 1
Exempt Vehicle 5 12
Exempted by Directive 23 0
All Certificates Issued 273 94

Technicians

License Type Licenses
EO (Inspect Only) 4,561
EO + EI (Inspect and Repair) 4,019
GU (Government) 221
All License Types 8,801

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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