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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 978,296 82,401 8.42%
All Tests 1,058,018 94,801 8.96%

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 93,691 230,844 82,410 203,904
Non-Directed 167,921 321,627 154,715 298,603
Total 261,612 552,471 237,125 502,507

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 124,961 33,458 117,194 31,319
Total 124,961 33,458 117,194 31,319

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 291 68 23.37% 15.46% 7.90% 10.31% 5.50% NA
1977 404 90 22.28% 14.60% 4.95% 10.15% 4.46% NA
1978 507 105 20.71% 14.60% 5.92% 7.30% 3.94% NA
1979 482 88 18.26% 13.49% 6.02% 8.30% 5.19% NA
1980 288 57 19.79% 12.50% 8.33% 10.07% 7.29% NA
1981 311 55 17.68% 13.83% 5.14% 6.75% 5.79% NA
1982 344 87 25.29% 16.28% 6.69% 9.30% 5.23% NA
1983 376 80 21.28% 15.43% 5.59% 10.11% 5.05% NA
1984 691 161 23.30% 16.50% 6.22% 9.99% 6.22% NA
1985 993 200 20.14% 14.50% 4.33% 8.26% 4.43% NA
1986 1,291 265 20.53% 14.79% 4.96% 8.60% 4.49% NA
1987 1,401 291 20.77% 14.99% 4.85% 7.28% 4.64% NA
1988 1,684 335 19.89% 14.85% 4.28% 7.72% 3.03% NA
1989 2,077 402 19.35% 12.61% 3.32% 8.86% 3.56% NA
1990 2,478 498 20.10% 13.52% 4.04% 8.92% 2.82% NA
1991 2,822 532 18.85% 12.90% 3.79% 8.54% 2.87% NA
1992 2,737 492 17.98% 12.50% 3.65% 7.42% 3.03% NA
1993 3,274 699 21.35% 15.24% 3.21% 8.49% 3.63% NA
1994 3,753 777 20.70% 14.55% 3.38% 8.58% 3.54% NA
1995 5,295 1,066 20.13% 14.41% 2.38% 7.52% 3.51% NA
1996 4,665 980 21.01% 10.95% 1.35% 11.08% 3.54% 11.08%
1997 8,678 1,633 18.82% 9.62% 1.26% 9.85% 2.88% 9.85%
1998 9,002 1,685 18.72% 8.52% 1.40% 11.02% 3.28% 11.02%
1999 15,004 2,258 15.05% 5.49% 0.87% 9.86% 2.63% 9.85%
2000 263 28 10.65% 6.46% 3.04% 2.66% 2.28% 2.66%
2001 267 19 7.12% 4.12% 2.25% 3.00% 0.75% 3.02%
2002 233 20 8.58% 5.15% 0.86% 1.72% 2.58% 1.72%
2003 299 18 6.02% 3.01% 1.67% 1.67% 2.01% 1.68%
2004 269 13 4.83% 2.97% 2.23% 0.74% 1.49% 0.75%
2005 314 21 6.69% 4.14% 2.23% 0.64% 1.91% 0.64%
2006 286 19 6.64% 4.55% 1.05% 1.05% 1.75% 1.05%
2007 308 14 4.55% 1.95% 0.65% 1.30% 1.62% 1.30%
2008 237 13 5.49% 3.80% 0.84% 0.42% 1.27% 0.42%
2009 100 4 4.00% 3.00% 1.00% 1.00% 0.00% 1.00%
2010 72 2 2.78% 2.78% 1.39% 0.00% 1.39% 0.00%
2011 192 2 1.04% 1.04% 0.52% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2012 127 3 2.36% 0.00% 0.00% 0.79% 1.57% 0.79%
2013 249 6 2.41% 1.20% 0.00% 1.20% 0.40% 1.20%
2014 148 4 2.70% 0.68% 0.00% 0.68% 1.35% 0.68%
2015 326 4 1.23% 0.31% 0.31% 0.31% 0.61% 0.31%
2016 211 3 1.42% 0.47% 0.00% 0.95% 0.47% 0.95%
2017 581 2 0.34% 0.17% 0.00% 0.00% 0.17% 0.00%
2018 65 1 1.54% 1.54% 1.54% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 66 1 1.52% 1.52% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 68 3 4.41% 2.94% 2.94% 1.47% 0.00% 1.47%
2021 51 2 3.92% 3.92% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 63 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 88 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 45 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 73,821 13,106 17.75% 10.17% 2.28% 8.80% 3.14% 9.19%

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 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33%
1998 148 9 6.08% 6.08% 1.35% 6.08% 2.70% 0.66%
1999 647 84 12.98% 11.44% 2.32% 10.87% 7.61% 0.68%
2000 15,461 2,606 16.86% 15.13% 3.33% 14.86% 11.04% 0.56%
2001 25,155 3,824 15.20% 13.50% 2.87% 13.28% 9.55% 0.40%
2002 19,579 2,946 15.05% 13.08% 3.45% 12.84% 8.76% 0.57%
2003 34,150 4,279 12.53% 10.94% 2.63% 10.70% 7.34% 0.43%
2004 26,992 3,485 12.91% 11.01% 3.05% 10.66% 7.33% 0.54%
2005 45,411 4,871 10.73% 9.34% 2.17% 9.19% 6.49% 0.28%
2006 30,981 3,560 11.49% 10.03% 2.36% 9.80% 6.71% 0.37%
2007 53,598 4,436 8.28% 7.15% 1.68% 7.03% 4.74% 0.22%
2008 30,463 2,907 9.54% 8.40% 1.77% 8.25% 5.76% 0.24%
2009 34,486 2,592 7.52% 6.67% 1.21% 6.57% 4.64% 0.14%
2010 25,829 2,297 8.89% 8.17% 1.20% 8.05% 3.70% 0.20%
2011 48,074 3,754 7.81% 7.13% 0.97% 7.05% 3.31% 0.11%
2012 30,709 2,764 9.00% 8.11% 1.28% 8.02% 3.48% 0.15%
2013 83,972 5,132 6.11% 5.38% 0.94% 5.33% 2.59% 0.07%
2014 33,875 2,548 7.52% 6.70% 1.10% 6.64% 2.90% 0.10%
2015 110,327 5,425 4.92% 4.26% 0.81% 4.22% 2.04% 0.05%
2016 32,097 2,075 6.46% 5.93% 0.77% 5.87% 2.81% 0.08%
2017 125,316 4,999 3.99% 3.58% 0.52% 3.55% 1.85% 0.04%
2018 16,218 828 5.11% 4.75% 0.45% 4.74% 2.92% 0.02%
2019 15,982 842 5.27% 5.02% 0.33% 5.00% 3.28% 0.02%
2020 12,862 679 5.28% 5.03% 0.33% 5.01% 3.47% 0.04%
2021 17,327 813 4.69% 4.51% 0.23% 4.50% 3.22% 0.02%
2022 12,125 530 4.37% 4.28% 0.11% 4.27% 3.22% 0.02%
2023 11,865 488 4.11% 3.99% 0.14% 3.99% 3.20% 0.01%
2024 7,962 341 4.28% 4.18% 0.11% 4.18% 3.24% 0.00%
2025 2,851 177 6.21% 6.14% 0.07% 6.22% 5.40% 0.00%
2026 6 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 3 3 100.00% 0.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 40.00%
All Model Years 904,475 69,295 7.66% 6.80% 1.28% 6.71% 4.06% 0.17%

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 7,510 10.17%
All Visual 11,600 1.28% 2,319 3.14%
All Functional 61,524 6.80% 6,499 8.80%
OBDII 60,654 6.71% 3,888 9.19%
Overall 69,295 7.66% 13,106 17.75%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 780,439 59,965 7.68% 61,218 11,076 18.09%
Partial Enhanced 45,603 3,431 7.52% 3,647 702 19.25%
Basic 73,053 5,491 7.52% 8,503 1,212 14.25%
Change of Ownership 5,380 408 7.58% 453 116 25.61%
All Program Areas 904,475 69,295 7.66% 73,821 13,106 17.75%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 508,064 40,985 8.07% 44,407 7,699 17.34%
Non-STAR Test-Only 31,960 1,916 5.99% 1,522 177 11.63%
STAR Test-and-Repair 240,019 19,253 8.02% 21,593 4,285 19.84%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 119,823 6,653 5.55% 5,288 725 13.71%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,026 127 6.27% 30 2 6.67%
Business Fleet 323 8 2.48% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 9 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 385 264 68.57% 133 95 71.43%
Government Fleet 1,866 89 4.77% 848 123 14.50%
All Stations 904,475 69,295 7.66% 73,821 13,106 17.75%

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 890,545 91.03% 87,751 8.97%
All Tests 957,326 90.48% 100,692 9.52%

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 237,125 90.64% 24,487 9.36%
STAR Test-Only 502,507 90.96% 49,964 9.04%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 117,194 93.67% 7,917 6.33%
Non-STAR Test-Only 31,319 93.54% 2,163 6.46%
Total 888,145 91.31% 84,531 8.69%

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 21,593 $75.70 240,019 $62.90 261,612 $69.30
STAR Test-Only 44,407 $64.39 508,064 $57.32 552,471 $60.86
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,288 $69.28 119,823 $74.33 125,111 $71.80
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,522 $59.07 31,960 $53.63 33,482 $56.35
Total 72,810 $69.61 899,866 $64.47 972,676 $67.04

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 $0.00 412 $50.05 21,593 $75.70 239,607 $62.95
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 1,697 $143.08 44,407 $64.39 506,367 $56.80
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 48,493 $77.43 5,288 $69.36 71,330 $71.62
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 12,663 $56.38 1,522 $59.07 19,297 $50.20
Total 0 $0.00 63,265 $74.88 72,810 $69.62 836,601 $62.18

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) $1-100 454 $54.42 3,127 $632.52
$101-250 750 $175.62
$251-500 665 $367.33
$501-650 249 $575.02
Over $650 1009 $1,421.22
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 108 $55.41 637 $652.56
$101-250 166 $169.82
$251-500 138 $366.66
$501-650 42 $568.14
Over $650 183 $1,677.83
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 $0.00 484 $1,419.35
$101-250 33 $215.59
$251-500 33 $390.48
$501-650 42 $572.86
Over $650 376 $1,709.85
Total Repairs $1-100 562 $54.61 4,248 $725.17
$101-250 949 $176.00
$251-500 836 $368.13
$501-650 333 $573.88
Over $650 1568 $1,520.38

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 111 32 1,621 80 1,844
STAR Test-Only 19 4 1,679 39 1,741
STAR Sub-Total 130 36 3,300 119 3,585
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 436 49 1,712 187 2,384
Non-STAR Test-Only 37 8 329 38 412
Non-STAR Sub-Total 473 57 2,041 225 2,796
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 24 1 26
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 371 16 492
All Stations 703 98 5,712 360 6,873

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 3 277 1,486
STAR Test-Only 1 147 1,528
STAR Sub-Total 4 424 3,014
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 1,588 243
Non-STAR Test-Only 1 195 70
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,783 313
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 3 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 40 5
Government Fleet 3 140 29
Referee 0 2 31
Other Station Sub-Total 3 187 65
All Stations 8 2,394 3,392

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 521
Law Enforcement Citations 437
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 414
Clean Gas 213
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 134
CAT BAR Label 98
Engine Change/Replacement 90
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 30
OBD Monitor Issues 22
Grey Market 12
All Inspections 1,971

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 223 125
Repair Cost Waiver 39 4
Limited Parts Exemption 6 1
Exempt Vehicle 7 12
Exempted by Directive 16 1
Hardship Extensions 0 0
All Certificates Issued 291 143

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,687 7,406
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,893 5,075
All License Types 8,580 12,481

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 238 1,088 3,590 1,465 6,381
Inspectors 295 1,614 5,414 5,158 12,481

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.

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