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Smog Check Executive Summary Report
December 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 861,491 70,643 8.20%
All Tests 928,619 80,494 8.67%

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 83,034 207,721 73,555 184,807
Non-Directed 144,214 280,261 130,892 259,260
Total 227,248 487,982 204,447 444,067

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 109,155 32,274 101,496 30,023
Total 109,155 32,274 101,496 30,023

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 264 67 25.38% 17.05% 5.30% 10.23% 4.92% NA
1977 281 51 18.15% 11.03% 3.56% 9.25% 6.05% NA
1978 333 64 19.22% 12.31% 4.20% 9.91% 3.90% NA
1979 409 82 20.05% 13.45% 5.13% 9.05% 5.38% NA
1980 213 43 20.19% 16.43% 7.51% 7.98% 4.23% NA
1981 231 40 17.32% 14.72% 5.19% 5.63% 2.16% NA
1982 282 65 23.05% 15.25% 7.09% 9.22% 5.67% NA
1983 290 47 16.21% 9.66% 2.76% 7.93% 4.48% NA
1984 547 102 18.65% 13.53% 5.48% 7.50% 3.84% NA
1985 759 165 21.74% 17.26% 6.19% 7.64% 4.48% NA
1986 933 187 20.04% 14.36% 5.36% 9.11% 3.43% NA
1987 1,121 228 20.34% 14.54% 4.46% 8.12% 4.73% NA
1988 1,164 265 22.77% 15.29% 6.27% 10.65% 4.04% NA
1989 1,606 314 19.55% 12.95% 4.11% 9.22% 3.18% NA
1990 1,774 346 19.50% 13.42% 3.38% 7.89% 2.93% NA
1991 2,082 397 19.07% 14.02% 3.36% 7.64% 2.64% NA
1992 1,870 397 21.23% 14.22% 3.32% 8.82% 3.10% NA
1993 2,362 487 20.62% 15.24% 3.56% 8.04% 3.13% NA
1994 2,910 621 21.34% 14.64% 2.58% 8.59% 3.47% NA
1995 3,913 781 19.96% 13.85% 2.38% 7.51% 2.86% NA
1996 3,818 733 19.20% 9.53% 1.65% 10.87% 2.72% 10.85%
1997 5,948 1,207 20.29% 9.57% 1.28% 11.28% 3.36% 11.28%
1998 7,307 1,385 18.95% 8.38% 1.34% 11.33% 3.00% 11.33%
1999 9,744 1,594 16.36% 5.36% 0.94% 10.99% 2.90% 10.99%
2000 193 23 11.92% 7.25% 2.07% 2.59% 2.07% 2.59%
2001 166 14 8.43% 4.82% 1.81% 2.41% 2.41% 2.44%
2002 183 13 7.10% 3.83% 0.00% 1.64% 2.73% 1.65%
2003 189 13 6.88% 4.23% 1.06% 1.06% 1.59% 1.06%
2004 191 11 5.76% 2.62% 1.05% 1.05% 2.09% 1.05%
2005 225 11 4.89% 4.44% 2.22% 0.00% 0.89% 0.00%
2006 251 11 4.38% 3.59% 0.80% 0.00% 0.80% 0.00%
2007 225 8 3.56% 2.22% 0.44% 0.44% 1.78% 0.44%
2008 175 11 6.29% 3.43% 1.71% 2.29% 1.14% 2.29%
2009 88 2 2.27% 1.14% 0.00% 1.14% 0.00% 1.14%
2010 71 2 2.82% 0.00% 0.00% 2.82% 1.41% 2.82%
2011 153 8 5.23% 2.61% 0.00% 0.65% 1.96% 0.65%
2012 226 2 0.88% 0.00% 0.00% 0.44% 0.44% 0.44%
2013 220 1 0.45% 0.00% 0.00% 0.45% 0.00% 0.45%
2014 237 3 1.27% 0.00% 0.00% 0.42% 1.27% 0.42%
2015 328 2 0.61% 0.00% 0.00% 0.30% 0.30% 0.30%
2016 276 7 2.54% 0.72% 0.72% 1.81% 0.00% 1.81%
2017 416 1 0.24% 0.00% 0.00% 0.24% 0.00% 0.24%
2018 134 1 0.75% 0.75% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2019 75 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 86 1 1.16% 0.00% 0.00% 1.16% 0.00% 1.16%
2021 27 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 24 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 18 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 42 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 57 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 11 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 54,448 9,813 18.02% 10.05% 2.26% 9.12% 3.02% 9.71%

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 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1997 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
1998 136 21 15.44% 11.03% 6.62% 9.56% 2.21% 1.36%
1999 495 56 11.31% 10.30% 2.02% 9.76% 6.91% 0.56%
2000 14,247 2,238 15.71% 13.95% 3.11% 13.68% 10.19% 0.43%
2001 17,005 2,612 15.36% 13.50% 3.11% 13.29% 9.67% 0.42%
2002 19,586 2,642 13.49% 11.92% 2.67% 11.69% 8.35% 0.43%
2003 23,240 3,167 13.63% 12.04% 2.86% 11.83% 8.15% 0.40%
2004 26,487 3,104 11.72% 10.14% 2.45% 9.92% 6.97% 0.38%
2005 29,059 3,435 11.82% 10.34% 2.29% 10.19% 7.01% 0.31%
2006 33,732 3,432 10.17% 8.87% 2.05% 8.74% 6.11% 0.23%
2007 35,531 3,342 9.41% 8.20% 1.90% 8.09% 5.49% 0.20%
2008 32,626 2,762 8.47% 7.39% 1.57% 7.29% 5.05% 0.22%
2009 20,596 1,791 8.70% 7.83% 1.37% 7.69% 5.05% 0.19%
2010 28,566 2,290 8.02% 7.34% 1.12% 7.26% 3.44% 0.18%
2011 33,888 2,806 8.28% 7.57% 1.07% 7.48% 3.19% 0.14%
2012 40,903 3,137 7.67% 6.82% 1.08% 6.74% 3.15% 0.13%
2013 51,019 3,789 7.43% 6.59% 1.12% 6.53% 2.94% 0.09%
2014 50,458 2,918 5.78% 5.14% 0.83% 5.10% 2.40% 0.06%
2015 69,132 4,293 6.21% 5.49% 0.93% 5.45% 2.60% 0.06%
2016 61,303 2,784 4.54% 4.01% 0.66% 3.97% 2.01% 0.06%
2017 78,720 4,065 5.16% 4.64% 0.68% 4.60% 2.28% 0.05%
2018 55,273 2,022 3.66% 3.28% 0.47% 3.26% 2.04% 0.02%
2019 15,114 854 5.65% 5.43% 0.33% 5.42% 3.39% 0.02%
2020 12,068 667 5.53% 5.32% 0.29% 5.30% 3.75% 0.02%
2021 12,947 648 5.01% 4.80% 0.26% 4.77% 3.48% 0.03%
2022 15,752 750 4.76% 4.66% 0.12% 4.65% 3.37% 0.01%
2023 11,285 496 4.40% 4.26% 0.15% 4.24% 3.46% 0.02%
2024 10,730 445 4.15% 4.04% 0.13% 4.03% 3.09% 0.01%
2025 6,101 262 4.29% 4.16% 0.13% 4.23% 3.24% 0.02%
2026 1,036 1 0.10% 0.00% 0.10% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other 6 1 16.67% 0.00% 16.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 807,043 60,830 7.54% 6.72% 1.21% 6.64% 3.99% 0.14%

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 5,471 10.05%
All Visual 9,785 1.21% 1,643 3.02%
All Functional 54,208 6.72% 4,968 9.12%
OBDII 53,539 6.64% 3,020 9.71%
Overall 60,830 7.54% 9,813 18.02%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 696,691 52,323 7.51% 45,153 8,304 18.39%
Partial Enhanced 40,210 3,136 7.80% 2,690 548 20.37%
Basic 65,169 4,969 7.62% 6,275 879 14.01%
Change of Ownership 4,973 402 8.08% 330 82 24.85%
All Program Areas 807,043 60,830 7.54% 54,448 9,813 18.02%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test-Only 455,238 35,674 7.84% 32,744 5,899 18.02%
Non-STAR Test-Only 30,677 1,877 6.12% 1,638 152 9.28%
STAR Test-and-Repair 211,544 16,880 7.98% 15,704 3,062 19.50%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 105,434 5,943 5.64% 3,817 523 13.70%
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 1,916 112 5.85% 16 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 270 6 2.22% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 28 2 7.14% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 329 236 71.73% 66 40 60.61%
Government Fleet 1,607 100 6.22% 463 137 29.59%
All Stations 807,043 60,830 7.54% 54,448 9,813 18.02%

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 782,201 90.80% 79,290 9.20%
All Tests 838,750 90.32% 89,869 9.68%

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 204,447 89.97% 22,801 10.03%
STAR Test-Only 444,067 91.00% 43,915 9.00%
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 101,496 92.90% 7,755 7.10%
Non-STAR Test-Only 30,023 92.91% 2,292 7.09%
Total 780,033 91.04% 76,763 8.96%

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 15,704 $76.92 211,544 $63.43 227,248 $70.17
STAR Test-Only 32,744 $66.23 455,238 $57.93 487,982 $62.08
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 3,817 $72.13 105,434 $75.79 109,251 $73.96
Non-STAR Test-Only 1,638 $62.74 30,677 $52.97 32,315 $57.86
Total 53,903 $71.12 802,893 $65.24 856,796 $68.18

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.

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 $0.00 372 $55.54 15,704 $76.92 211,172 $63.47
STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 2,063 $53.54 32,744 $66.22 453,175 $57.97
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 0 $0.00 43,991 $80.45 3,817 $72.13 61,443 $71.54
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 $0.00 12,585 $54.75 1,638 $62.93 18,092 $50.68
Total 0 $0.00 59,011 $76.08 53,903 $71.13 743,882 $62.75

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) $0-100 344 $53.80 2,464 $669.88
$101-250 567 $176.36
$251-500 434 $370.63
$501-650 224 $568.08
Over $651 895 $1,389.93
Non-STAR Repairs (Test-and-Repair) $0-100 84 $53.31 494 $667.08
$101-250 128 $175.47
$251-500 96 $359.34
$501-650 34 $582.44
Over $651 152 $1,633.55
Repair-Only $0-100 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
$101-250 0 $0.00
$251-500 0 $0.00
$501-650 0 $0.00
Over $651 0 $0.00
CAP Repairs $0-100 1 $54.75 400 $1,466.69
$101-250 12 $219.37
$251-500 36 $390.62
$501-650 25 $576.84
Over $651 326 $1,704.01
Total Repairs $0-100 429 $53.71 3,358 $764.39
$101-250 707 $176.93
$251-500 566 $369.99
$501-650 283 $570.58
Over $651 1373 $1,491.47

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 109 32 1,573 79 1,793
STAR Test-Only 19 4 1,681 40 1,744
STAR Sub-Total 128 36 3,254 119 3,537
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 432 47 1,730 183 2,392
Non-STAR Test-Only 43 9 313 40 405
Non-STAR Sub-Total 475 56 2,043 223 2,797
Test-and-Repair/Dealer 48 0 0 0 48
Business Fleet 0 0 3 0 3
Permanent Fleet Registered 1 0 12 1 14
Referee 5 0 29 1 35
Government Fleet 44 5 303 13 365
Repair Only 1 0 23 1 25
Other Station Sub-Total 99 5 370 16 490
All Stations 702 97 5,667 358 6,824

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test-and-Repair 2 331 1,398
STAR Test-Only 3 189 1,492
STAR Sub-Total 5 520 2,890
Non-STAR Test-and-Repair 2 1,571 229
Non-STAR Test-Only 0 214 70
Non-STAR Sub-Total 2 1,785 299
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 4 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 41 4
Government Fleet 3 118 26
Referee 0 1 32
Other Station Sub-Total 3 166 62
All Stations 10 2,471 3,251

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 424
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 412
Law Enforcement Citations 325
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 123
Clean Gas 86
Engine Change/Replacement 58
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 25
CAT BAR Label 22
OBD Monitor Issues 19
Grey Market 14
All Inspections 1,508

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 172 79
Repair Cost Waiver 34 3
Limited Parts Exemption 5 0
Exempt Vehicle 1 6
Exempted by Directive 10 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 222 88

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 4,768 7,551
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 3,816 4,956
All License Types 8,584 12,507

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 1,418 6,334
Inspectors 285 1,637 5,521 5,064 12,507

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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