Skip to Main Content
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
July 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 1,019,416 85,135 8.35%
All Tests 1,101,582 97,817 8.88%

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 98,297 243,093 86,452 215,323
Non-Directed 173,914 339,749 159,871 315,720
Total 272,211 582,842 246,323 531,043

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 123,674 35,367 115,775 33,051
Total 123,674 35,367 115,775 33,051

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 320 67 20.94% 15.94% 5.31% 7.50% 5.00% NA
1977 406 93 22.91% 15.76% 7.14% 11.33% 4.93% NA
1978 481 96 19.96% 15.38% 6.24% 6.86% 4.16% NA
1979 514 124 24.12% 18.48% 6.81% 9.53% 5.06% NA
1980 284 61 21.48% 13.38% 5.28% 9.15% 5.28% NA
1981 354 73 20.62% 14.12% 5.08% 8.19% 5.65% NA
1982 289 77 26.64% 16.96% 5.19% 11.07% 5.19% NA
1983 448 94 20.98% 14.51% 5.80% 9.38% 5.58% NA
1984 734 154 20.98% 15.67% 6.13% 9.13% 5.04% NA
1985 1,022 214 20.94% 16.34% 6.36% 9.69% 3.72% NA
1986 1,253 256 20.43% 14.76% 6.54% 8.54% 3.11% NA
1987 1,375 306 22.25% 15.71% 5.24% 9.67% 5.02% NA
1988 1,651 324 19.62% 13.64% 4.30% 8.90% 3.94% NA
1989 2,136 383 17.93% 12.59% 3.79% 7.96% 3.23% NA
1990 2,404 452 18.80% 12.81% 3.74% 8.53% 3.12% NA
1991 2,806 541 19.28% 13.72% 3.56% 7.95% 3.31% NA
1992 2,557 470 18.38% 12.91% 3.72% 7.70% 3.09% NA
1993 3,291 709 21.54% 15.59% 3.10% 8.78% 3.07% NA
1994 3,748 752 20.06% 13.93% 2.72% 8.08% 3.28% NA
1995 5,622 1,090 19.39% 13.55% 2.61% 7.63% 3.18% NA
1996 4,861 997 20.51% 10.99% 1.56% 9.90% 3.41% 9.90%
1997 8,656 1,555 17.96% 8.78% 1.37% 9.96% 2.77% 9.96%
1998 9,145 1,729 18.91% 8.90% 1.34% 10.91% 3.25% 10.90%
1999 14,711 2,292 15.58% 5.76% 0.92% 9.84% 2.67% 9.84%
2000 237 23 9.70% 6.75% 3.80% 2.11% 3.38% 2.12%
2001 235 25 10.64% 7.23% 2.13% 2.13% 1.70% 2.15%
2002 221 26 11.76% 6.33% 2.26% 1.81% 4.07% 1.82%
2003 296 17 5.74% 4.39% 0.68% 0.34% 1.01% 0.34%
2004 294 13 4.42% 3.06% 1.02% 1.70% 0.34% 1.70%
2005 299 9 3.01% 1.67% 1.00% 0.67% 1.00% 0.67%
2006 317 17 5.36% 4.10% 1.89% 0.00% 2.21% 0.00%
2007 283 12 4.24% 2.47% 0.71% 1.06% 1.41% 1.06%
2008 243 19 7.82% 4.12% 2.06% 0.82% 3.70% 0.82%
2009 88 3 3.41% 3.41% 3.41% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 186 2 1.08% 0.54% 0.00% 0.00% 0.54% 0.00%
2012 161 1 0.62% 0.62% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2013 250 1 0.40% 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.00% 0.40%
2014 162 3 1.85% 1.23% 0.00% 0.00% 0.62% 0.00%
2015 350 4 1.14% 0.00% 0.00% 0.29% 0.86% 0.29%
2016 233 3 1.29% 0.00% 0.00% 0.43% 0.86% 0.43%
2017 498 3 0.60% 0.20% 0.20% 0.40% 0.00% 0.40%
2018 64 2 3.12% 0.00% 0.00% 1.56% 1.56% 1.56%
2019 75 1 1.33% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.33% 0.00%
2020 50 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 57 1 1.75% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.75% 0.00%
2022 45 1 2.22% 2.22% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 56 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 66 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 129 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 9 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 74,025 13,095 17.69% 10.20% 2.34% 8.74% 3.08% 9.03%

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 3 2 66.67% 33.33% 66.67% 33.33% 33.33% 0.00%
1997 6 3 50.00% 33.33% 16.67% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 144 19 13.19% 12.50% 2.78% 10.42% 4.86% 1.85%
1999 610 76 12.46% 11.31% 1.97% 10.67% 8.54% 0.72%
2000 15,953 2,599 16.29% 14.44% 3.44% 14.23% 10.21% 0.47%
2001 25,427 3,777 14.85% 13.32% 2.82% 13.12% 9.65% 0.38%
2002 20,570 2,970 14.44% 12.73% 3.08% 12.55% 8.47% 0.40%
2003 36,632 4,408 12.03% 10.49% 2.54% 10.32% 7.18% 0.30%
2004 27,550 3,544 12.86% 11.20% 2.87% 10.97% 7.68% 0.40%
2005 48,556 5,173 10.65% 9.35% 2.08% 9.20% 6.37% 0.30%
2006 32,793 3,622 11.05% 9.51% 2.37% 9.35% 6.43% 0.31%
2007 55,703 4,772 8.57% 7.30% 1.82% 7.19% 4.74% 0.21%
2008 30,326 2,821 9.30% 8.19% 1.70% 8.04% 5.44% 0.25%
2009 39,713 2,920 7.35% 6.59% 1.13% 6.49% 4.62% 0.16%
2010 27,170 2,452 9.02% 8.30% 1.13% 8.23% 3.72% 0.13%
2011 50,078 3,746 7.48% 6.80% 0.96% 6.74% 3.08% 0.09%
2012 30,827 2,926 9.49% 8.65% 1.29% 8.56% 3.65% 0.13%
2013 86,902 5,358 6.17% 5.36% 1.02% 5.31% 2.48% 0.07%
2014 34,414 2,704 7.86% 7.06% 1.08% 7.01% 3.00% 0.09%
2015 116,417 5,795 4.98% 4.32% 0.82% 4.28% 2.02% 0.06%
2016 31,689 2,071 6.54% 5.92% 0.82% 5.87% 2.70% 0.07%
2017 135,516 5,450 4.02% 3.63% 0.49% 3.60% 1.90% 0.04%
2018 16,695 876 5.25% 4.89% 0.50% 4.85% 2.93% 0.06%
2019 16,900 941 5.57% 5.24% 0.43% 5.20% 3.51% 0.04%
2020 13,331 686 5.15% 4.98% 0.22% 4.97% 3.48% 0.02%
2021 16,832 781 4.64% 4.49% 0.17% 4.49% 3.24% 0.01%
2022 11,264 458 4.07% 3.84% 0.27% 3.84% 2.86% 0.00%
2023 11,026 471 4.27% 4.11% 0.18% 4.10% 3.35% 0.01%
2024 8,379 366 4.37% 4.24% 0.14% 4.19% 3.50% 0.05%
2025 3,921 245 6.25% 6.17% 0.13% 6.24% 5.31% 0.00%
2026 41 7 17.07% 17.07% 0.00% 19.44% 5.56% 0.00%
Other 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 0.00% 25.00%
All Model Years 945,391 72,040 7.62% 6.77% 1.27% 6.69% 4.01% 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 7,551 10.20%
All Visual 12,003 1.27% 2,278 3.08%
All Functional 64,003 6.77% 6,471 8.74%
OBDII 63,217 6.69% 3,820 9.03%
Overall 72,040 7.62% 13,095 17.69%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 816,276 62,317 7.63% 61,352 11,048 18.01%
Partial Enhanced 46,813 3,625 7.74% 3,714 679 18.28%
Basic 76,506 5,637 7.37% 8,487 1,254 14.78%
Change of Ownership 5,796 461 7.95% 472 114 24.15%
All Program Areas 945,391 72,040 7.62% 74,025 13,095 17.69%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 537,988 42,684 7.93% 44,854 7,731 17.24%
Non-STAR Test-Only 33,903 2,024 5.97% 1,499 188 12.54%
STAR Test-and-Repair 250,493 20,306 8.11% 21,718 4,368 20.11%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 118,573 6,564 5.54% 5,243 642 12.24%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 2,070 102 4.93% 22 2 9.09%
Business Fleet 279 4 1.43% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 18 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 407 286 70.27% 146 89 60.96%
Government Fleet 1,660 70 4.22% 543 75 13.81%
All Stations 945,391 72,040 7.62% 74,025 13,095 17.69%

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 928,631 91.09% 90,785 8.91%
All Tests 997,709 90.57% 103,873 9.43%

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 246,323 90.49% 25,888 9.51%
STAR Test-Only 531,043 91.11% 51,799 8.89%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 115,775 93.51% 8,041 6.49%
Non-STAR Test-Only 33,051 93.36% 2,351 6.64%
Total 926,192 91.32% 88,079 8.68%

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 21,718 $76.16 250,493 $62.54 272,211 $69.35
STAR Test-Only 44,854 $65.15 537,988 $56.33 582,842 $60.74
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 5,243 $71.21 118,573 $74.54 123,816 $72.88
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,499 $59.71 33,903 $51.52 35,402 $55.62
Total 73,314 $70.36 940,957 $64.02 1,014,271 $67.19

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 $0.00 350 $51.87 21,718 $76.19 250,143 $62.58
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 2,020 $48.75 44,854 $65.15 535,968 $56.37
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 45,958 $78.19 5,243 $71.09 72,615 $71.33
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 14,094 $52.40 1,499 $59.71 19,809 $50.19
Total 0 $0.00 62,422 $73.84 73,314 $70.36 878,535 $61.83

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) $1-100 482 $56.85 3,149 $633.56
$101-250 756 $177.29
$251-500 649 $366.55
$501-650 250 $575.79
Over $650 1012 $1,434.58
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $1-100 88 $58.86 668 $679.04
$101-250 181 $177.48
$251-500 143 $367.75
$501-650 51 $566.47
Over $650 205 $1,633.24
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 2 $59.25 517 $1,460.44
$101-250 21 $220.29
$251-500 41 $381.17
$501-650 34 $581.89
Over $650 419 $1,706.18
Total Repairs $1-100 572 $57.17 4,334 $739.20
$101-250 958 $178.27
$251-500 833 $367.48
$501-650 335 $574.99
Over $650 1636 $1,529.04

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 112 32 1,611 78 1,833
STAR Test-Only 19 4 1,691 39 1,753
STAR Sub-Total 131 36 3,302 117 3,586
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 433 47 1,709 188 2,377
Non-STAR Test-Only 41 9 319 40 409
Non-STAR Sub-Total 474 56 2,028 228 2,786
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 22 1 24
Other Station Sub-Total 100 5 369 16 490
All Stations 705 97 5,699 361 6,862

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 274 1,482
STAR Test-Only 0 151 1,534
STAR Sub-Total 2 425 3,016
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 1 1,567 246
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 203 73
Non-STAR Sub-Total 1 1,770 319
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 7 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 0 41 3
Government Fleet 2 138 29
Referee 0 1 32
Other Station Sub-Total 2 189 64
All Stations 5 2,384 3,399

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 517
Law Enforcement Citations 456
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 451
Clean Gas 195
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 190
Engine Change/Replacement 88
CAT BAR Label 60
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 19
OBD Monitor Issues 13
Grey Market 13
All Inspections 2,002

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 243 131
Repair Cost Waiver 56 7
Limited Parts Exemption 4 2
Exempt Vehicle 4 13
Exempted by Directive 18 1
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 1 0
All Certificates Issued 326 154

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,745 7,455
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,902 5,049
All License Types 8,647 12,504

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 255 1,120 3,675 1,322 6,372
Inspectors 300 1,673 5,607 4,924 12,504

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