Skip to Main Content
Visit www.ca.gov/lafires for information and resources for Californians impacted by the Los Angeles Fires.
Renewal Fee Postponement for Los Angeles Fire Survivors Information
CA.govCA.gov Logo image
Home Facebook Twitter YouTube
 Contact Us  Translate  Accessibility
Bureau of Automotive Repair Logo
  • Consumers
    • Consumer Assistance Program
    • Maintenance and repairs
    • Smog Check inspections
    • Safety systems inspections
    • Check inspection history
    • Get a collision repair inspection
    • Find an auto shop
    • Check a license
    • File a complaint
  • Licensees
    • News
    • Business licenses
    • Inspector/technician licenses
    • Training
    • Repairs and services
    • Safety systems
    • Smog Check
    • STAR
    • Laws and regulations
    • ET Blasts
    • Newsletter
  • Industry
    • News and updates
    • Certified training providers
    • Government fleet facilities
    • Cars for Schools program
    • Careers
  • Information
    • About BAR
    • BAR Advisory Group
    • Educational Advisory Group
    • Public workshops
    • Laws and regulations
    • Regulatory actions
    • Enforcement actions
    • Publications, reports, forms
    • Records requests
    • Join our email list
  • Online Services
    • Find an auto shop
    • Check a license
    • File a complaint
    • Check CAP application status
    • Submit CAP documentation
    • Search enforcement actions
    • Check STAR score
    • Apply for a business license
    • Apply for an individual license
    • Renew a license
    • Print a license
    • View all
Custom Google Search
  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
March 2025

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 973,655 86,121 8.85%
All Tests 1,055,508 98,624 9.34%

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 91,660 228,940 80,130 200,931
Non-Directed 166,655 325,037 152,576 300,328
Total 258,315 553,977 232,706 501,259

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 0 0 0 0
Non-Directed 122,331 32,680 114,363 30,542
Total 122,331 32,680 114,363 30,542

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 296 56 18.92% 13.51% 5.74% 8.78% 4.05% NA
1977 369 71 19.24% 13.28% 2.98% 10.57% 5.15% NA
1978 411 70 17.03% 10.71% 4.14% 7.06% 4.87% NA
1979 457 87 19.04% 13.13% 4.16% 8.10% 3.94% NA
1980 268 51 19.03% 14.18% 5.60% 8.96% 3.36% NA
1981 311 79 25.40% 18.97% 6.75% 10.29% 3.86% NA
1982 314 66 21.02% 16.24% 6.05% 10.19% 5.10% NA
1983 364 74 20.33% 14.29% 4.40% 9.34% 4.40% NA
1984 648 133 20.52% 15.74% 6.17% 7.72% 4.01% NA
1985 886 188 21.22% 15.12% 6.32% 9.14% 4.63% NA
1986 1,107 228 20.60% 14.91% 5.42% 10.03% 5.15% NA
1987 1,342 271 20.19% 13.79% 4.02% 9.24% 4.10% NA
1988 1,484 328 22.10% 15.43% 4.04% 9.64% 3.98% NA
1989 2,003 415 20.72% 13.88% 3.99% 9.59% 4.09% NA
1990 2,246 445 19.81% 13.98% 4.01% 8.73% 3.56% NA
1991 2,610 521 19.96% 13.07% 3.07% 9.04% 2.95% NA
1992 2,588 514 19.86% 12.91% 3.40% 8.69% 3.36% NA
1993 2,943 631 21.44% 15.66% 3.43% 7.78% 3.30% NA
1994 3,656 788 21.55% 14.96% 3.25% 9.08% 3.64% NA
1995 5,108 1,072 20.99% 14.68% 2.53% 8.34% 3.62% NA
1996 4,704 980 20.83% 10.57% 1.36% 11.03% 3.38% 11.04%
1997 8,457 1,673 19.78% 9.51% 1.22% 11.35% 2.83% 11.35%
1998 8,537 1,743 20.42% 9.12% 1.37% 11.81% 3.27% 11.81%
1999 14,281 2,412 16.89% 6.33% 1.06% 10.85% 2.84% 10.85%
2000 252 26 10.32% 7.94% 2.38% 1.59% 1.19% 1.59%
2001 195 21 10.77% 7.18% 2.05% 3.59% 1.54% 3.59%
2002 195 12 6.15% 4.62% 2.05% 2.05% 1.54% 2.05%
2003 264 21 7.95% 5.68% 3.03% 0.76% 1.52% 0.76%
2004 250 8 3.20% 2.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.80% 0.40%
2005 266 12 4.51% 3.38% 2.26% 0.00% 1.50% 0.00%
2006 252 16 6.35% 5.95% 1.98% 0.40% 1.19% 0.40%
2007 267 13 4.87% 3.37% 1.12% 0.75% 1.50% 0.75%
2008 202 11 5.45% 3.96% 2.48% 0.50% 0.99% 0.50%
2009 93 4 4.30% 0.00% 0.00% 1.08% 3.23% 1.08%
2010 65 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 163 3 1.84% 0.00% 0.00% 1.23% 0.61% 1.23%
2012 155 5 3.23% 1.29% 0.65% 1.94% 0.65% 1.94%
2013 255 3 1.18% 0.78% 0.00% 0.39% 0.00% 0.39%
2014 146 4 2.74% 0.68% 0.68% 0.00% 2.05% 0.00%
2015 326 2 0.61% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.61% 0.00%
2016 203 3 1.48% 0.00% 0.00% 0.99% 0.49% 0.99%
2017 456 5 1.10% 0.22% 0.00% 0.66% 0.66% 0.66%
2018 64 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 61 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 49 3 6.12% 6.12% 2.04% 2.04% 2.04% 2.04%
2022 36 1 2.78% 2.78% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 47 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 112 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 46 1 2.17% 0.00% 0.00% 2.17% 0.00% 2.17%
All Model Years 69,859 13,071 18.71% 10.50% 2.25% 9.55% 3.19% 10.07%

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 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 2 1 50.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00%
1998 141 14 9.93% 9.93% 2.13% 7.80% 2.13% 2.63%
1999 572 72 12.59% 11.54% 2.10% 11.05% 8.07% 0.63%
2000 15,843 2,806 17.71% 15.71% 3.76% 15.49% 11.47% 0.50%
2001 24,634 3,842 15.60% 13.91% 3.04% 13.68% 10.13% 0.35%
2002 20,349 3,092 15.19% 13.40% 3.11% 13.13% 9.32% 0.49%
2003 33,608 4,348 12.94% 11.24% 2.89% 11.01% 7.71% 0.43%
2004 28,048 3,731 13.30% 11.63% 2.76% 11.41% 7.90% 0.37%
2005 42,489 4,936 11.62% 10.18% 2.29% 10.03% 6.99% 0.30%
2006 32,721 3,926 12.00% 10.46% 2.49% 10.29% 7.12% 0.34%
2007 52,043 4,888 9.39% 8.01% 2.02% 7.88% 5.39% 0.20%
2008 32,948 3,309 10.04% 8.71% 2.01% 8.56% 5.87% 0.24%
2009 34,109 2,586 7.58% 6.71% 1.26% 6.61% 4.68% 0.19%
2010 26,815 2,623 9.78% 8.87% 1.31% 8.79% 4.17% 0.15%
2011 50,874 4,078 8.02% 7.28% 1.09% 7.22% 3.41% 0.11%
2012 33,341 3,177 9.53% 8.62% 1.35% 8.53% 3.58% 0.14%
2013 82,277 5,280 6.42% 5.69% 0.94% 5.64% 2.74% 0.08%
2014 36,374 2,826 7.77% 7.01% 1.08% 6.94% 3.11% 0.09%
2015 107,925 5,382 4.99% 4.41% 0.72% 4.38% 2.11% 0.05%
2016 36,193 2,431 6.72% 6.14% 0.83% 6.09% 2.77% 0.07%
2017 117,275 4,838 4.13% 3.68% 0.56% 3.66% 1.91% 0.03%
2018 15,966 865 5.42% 5.09% 0.51% 5.07% 3.09% 0.02%
2019 15,742 898 5.70% 5.43% 0.34% 5.42% 3.77% 0.01%
2020 12,758 658 5.16% 4.94% 0.29% 4.91% 3.31% 0.03%
2021 18,545 895 4.83% 4.63% 0.25% 4.62% 3.51% 0.02%
2022 12,469 590 4.73% 4.68% 0.06% 4.68% 3.67% 0.01%
2023 10,954 510 4.66% 4.51% 0.16% 4.50% 3.51% 0.01%
2024 6,916 302 4.37% 4.21% 0.17% 4.21% 3.28% 0.00%
2025 1,857 142 7.65% 7.65% 0.00% 7.69% 6.50% 0.00%
2026 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 6 3 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 903,796 73,049 8.08% 7.19% 1.35% 7.10% 4.32% 0.16%

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 7,332 10.50%
All Visual 12,176 1.35% 2,226 3.19%
All Functional 64,998 7.19% 6,671 9.55%
OBDII 64,197 7.10% 4,073 10.07%
Overall 73,049 8.08% 13,071 18.71%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 780,963 63,492 8.13% 58,034 11,055 19.05%
Partial Enhanced 45,796 3,607 7.88% 3,437 719 20.92%
Basic 71,568 5,488 7.67% 7,985 1,216 15.23%
Change of Ownership 5,469 462 8.45% 403 81 20.10%
All Program Areas 903,796 73,049 8.08% 69,859 13,071 18.71%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 511,901 43,699 8.54% 42,076 7,659 18.20%
Non-STAR Test-Only 31,113 1,900 6.11% 1,596 169 10.59%
STAR Test-and-Repair 238,154 20,184 8.48% 20,161 4,325 21.45%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 117,446 6,725 5.73% 5,015 720 14.36%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,905 106 5.56% 23 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 318 9 2.83% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 8 2 25.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 396 299 75.51% 141 90 63.83%
Government Fleet 2,555 125 4.89% 847 108 12.75%
All Stations 903,796 73,049 8.08% 69,859 13,071 18.71%

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 881,141 90.50% 92,514 9.50%
All Tests 949,941 90.00% 105,567 10.00%

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 232,706 90.09% 25,609 9.91%
STAR Test-Only 501,259 90.48% 52,718 9.52%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 114,363 93.39% 8,098 6.61%
Non-STAR Test-Only 30,542 93.37% 2,167 6.63%
Total 878,870 90.84% 88,592 9.16%

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 20,161 $75.58 238,154 $62.24 258,315 $68.91
STAR Test-Only 42,076 $64.28 511,901 $56.62 553,977 $60.45
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,015 $69.59 117,446 $73.17 122,461 $71.38
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,596 $58.99 31,113 $51.88 32,709 $55.43
Total 68,848 $69.51 898,614 $63.57 967,462 $66.54

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 $0.00 512 $54.71 20,161 $75.58 237,642 $62.29
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 1,909 $47.97 42,076 $64.29 509,992 $56.67
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 46,347 $75.98 5,015 $69.46 71,099 $70.78
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 11,616 $54.24 1,596 $58.70 19,497 $49.29
Total 0 $0.00 60,384 $72.53 68,848 $69.51 838,230 $61.67

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) $1-100 416 $53.53 3,220 $672.88
$101-250 708 $173.37
$251-500 670 $366.39
$501-650 304 $575.55
Over $650 1122 $1,427.11
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 128 $48.70 703 $592.42
$101-250 209 $179.44
$251-500 132 $370.17
$501-650 46 $568.96
Over $650 188 $1,583.52
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 1 $81.75 425 $1,379.84
$101-250 28 $215.71
$251-500 47 $375.26
$501-650 22 $589.01
Over $650 327 $1,681.08
Total Repairs $1-100 545 $52.45 4,348 $728.97
$101-250 945 $175.96
$251-500 849 $367.47
$501-650 372 $575.53
Over $650 1637 $1,495.81

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 113 32 1,627 79 1,851
STAR Test-Only 18 4 1,679 39 1,740
STAR Sub-Total 131 36 3,306 118 3,591
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 427 52 1,734 186 2,399
Non-STAR Test-Only 39 9 327 38 413
Non-STAR Sub-Total 466 61 2,061 224 2,812
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 50 0 0 0 50
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 0 12 1 13
Referee 5 0 29 1 35
Government Fleet 44 5 303 13 365
Repair Only 1 0 25 1 27
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 372 16 493
All Stations 697 102 5,739 358 6,896

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 1 294 1,479
STAR Test-Only 0 158 1,512
STAR Sub-Total 1 452 2,991
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 1,572 247
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 175 82
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 1,747 329
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 4 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 44 2
Government Fleet 3 154 33
Referee 0 4 29
Other Station Sub-Total 3 208 64
All Stations 6 2,407 3,384

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 520
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 481
Law Enforcement Citations 439
Clean Gas 218
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 120
Engine Change/Replacement 94
CAT BAR Label 86
OBD Monitor Issues 23
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 19
Grey Market 17
All Inspections 2,017

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 213 124
Repair Cost Waiver 45 3
Limited Parts Exemption 14 1
Exempt Vehicle 4 11
Exempted by Directive 7 1
Hardship Extensions 1 0
All Certificates Issued 284 140

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,657 7,386
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,902 5,093
All License Types 8,559 12,479

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 247 1,105 3,621 1,430 6,403
Inspectors 299 1,629 5,444 5,107 12,479

Station FPR Score Distribution

Inspector FPR Score Distribution

Smog Check Requirements by Vehicle Type

Fuel Type Model-Year GVWR1 OBD II Equipped? Smog Check Required
All2 (except Diesel) Four model-years and newer3 All ‐ None
Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth model-years4 All ‐ None
1975 and earlier All ‐ None
Gasoline and Flex Fuel
(Methanol or Ethanol)
1976-1999 All ‐ BAR-97
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes5 BAR-OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ BAR-97
Hybrid 2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
Dedicated Propane and Natural Gas
(CNG, LNG, or LPG)
1976-1999 14,000 and less ‐ BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ None
2000 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
No BAR-97
Over 14,000 ‐ None
Diesel 1976-1997 All ‐ None
1998 and newer 14,000 and less Yes BAR-OIS
Over 14,000 ‐ None6
Full Electric Powered All All ‐ None
Motorcycle All All ‐ None
Other Vehicles: Two Cylinder Engine,
Two-stroke Engine,
Off-highway Registered
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 2020 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a change-of-ownership Smog Check in 2024 (2020+4=2024).
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 2020 model-year vehicle will be first subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2028 (2020+8=2028).
5 BAR has identified 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 CARB’s Clean Truck Check Program replaces the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) effective October 1, 2024. Vehicles with 2012 and older model year engines are required to undergo an opacity test and a vehicle emissions control equipment inspection. Vehicles with 2013 and newer model year engines are required to undergo OBD testing. See CARB’s Clean Truck Check webpage for details.

  • Back to Top
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Web Accessibility Certification
  • Careers
  • Register to Vote
Copyright © State of California