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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
March 2026

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 1,047,894 89,429 8.53%
All Tests 1,132,433 102,313 9.03%

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 96,977 244,165 85,003 215,801
Non-Directed 178,526 353,348 163,290 327,809
Total 275,503 597,513 248,293 543,610

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 128,528 40,144 120,340 37,432
Total 128,528 40,144 120,340 37,432

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 389 75 19.28% 14.65% 5.14% 7.46% 2.57% NA
1977 430 79 18.37% 12.56% 4.65% 6.28% 3.49% NA
1978 500 108 21.60% 16.00% 6.20% 9.40% 4.80% NA
1979 573 129 22.51% 16.93% 5.93% 9.25% 5.24% NA
1980 283 44 15.55% 10.95% 5.30% 6.71% 3.53% NA
1981 340 70 20.59% 18.24% 5.88% 6.47% 4.71% NA
1982 405 86 21.23% 15.06% 4.94% 7.65% 5.19% NA
1983 485 113 23.30% 20.21% 7.42% 6.80% 3.09% NA
1984 736 144 19.57% 14.67% 6.11% 8.56% 5.03% NA
1985 1,026 243 23.68% 18.03% 5.85% 9.55% 5.26% NA
1986 1,386 277 19.99% 15.08% 5.48% 7.94% 4.62% NA
1987 1,511 297 19.66% 14.76% 4.30% 8.27% 3.57% NA
1988 1,787 379 21.21% 15.67% 4.70% 8.17% 4.20% NA
1989 2,164 383 17.70% 12.15% 4.02% 8.64% 3.23% NA
1990 2,639 495 18.76% 12.69% 3.79% 8.07% 3.52% NA
1991 2,927 575 19.64% 13.91% 4.07% 8.13% 2.66% NA
1992 2,730 551 20.18% 14.10% 3.81% 8.42% 2.60% NA
1993 3,215 687 21.37% 15.28% 2.86% 8.40% 3.20% NA
1994 4,103 860 20.96% 14.38% 2.49% 8.75% 3.53% NA
1995 4,700 988 21.02% 15.38% 2.70% 7.72% 3.36% NA
1996 5,881 1,077 18.31% 9.01% 1.14% 8.79% 3.32% 8.79%
1997 7,803 1,639 21.00% 11.05% 1.68% 11.20% 3.69% 11.20%
1998 10,871 2,073 19.07% 8.44% 1.39% 11.17% 3.14% 11.17%
1999 12,369 2,087 16.87% 5.99% 0.91% 10.70% 3.30% 10.70%
2000 273 27 9.89% 7.33% 4.40% 3.30% 1.10% 3.30%
2001 227 23 10.13% 3.96% 1.32% 2.64% 3.96% 2.65%
2002 222 16 7.21% 4.50% 0.90% 1.80% 0.90% 1.81%
2003 238 15 6.30% 4.62% 1.68% 0.84% 2.10% 0.84%
2004 358 15 4.19% 1.96% 1.12% 1.40% 0.84% 1.40%
2005 259 12 4.63% 3.09% 0.39% 1.16% 0.77% 1.16%
2006 424 25 5.90% 4.72% 1.42% 0.47% 0.71% 0.47%
2007 255 20 7.84% 5.88% 1.57% 0.39% 1.57% 0.39%
2008 270 11 4.07% 2.96% 0.74% 0.37% 1.48% 0.37%
2009 89 8 8.99% 7.87% 4.49% 1.12% 1.12% 1.12%
2010 74 1 1.35% 1.35% 1.35% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2011 132 4 3.03% 1.52% 0.00% 0.76% 1.52% 0.76%
2012 235 6 2.55% 0.43% 0.00% 1.28% 0.85% 1.28%
2013 181 4 2.21% 1.10% 0.00% 0.55% 0.55% 0.56%
2014 299 4 1.34% 0.67% 0.00% 0.33% 0.33% 0.34%
2015 190 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 449 3 0.67% 0.22% 0.00% 0.45% 0.00% 0.45%
2017 231 2 0.87% 0.00% 0.00% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43%
2018 475 1 0.21% 0.00% 0.00% 0.21% 0.00% 0.21%
2019 67 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 69 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 45 1 2.22% 2.22% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 34 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 49 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 44 2 4.55% 0.00% 0.00% 4.55% 0.00% 4.55%
2025 48 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 74,526 13,659 18.33% 10.62% 2.36% 8.91% 3.24% 9.42%

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 4 1 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 25.00% 25.00% 0.26%
1998 127 14 11.02% 11.02% 0.79% 10.24% 3.94% 0.14%
1999 560 70 12.50% 11.25% 2.14% 10.38% 8.05% 0.19%
2000 19,330 3,109 16.08% 14.29% 3.22% 14.07% 10.50% 0.40%
2001 17,187 2,809 16.34% 14.52% 3.46% 14.30% 10.28% 0.43%
2002 26,299 3,635 13.82% 12.19% 2.74% 11.98% 8.63% 0.42%
2003 22,618 3,265 14.44% 12.40% 3.44% 12.23% 8.37% 0.37%
2004 36,990 4,459 12.05% 10.59% 2.35% 10.39% 7.37% 0.37%
2005 28,368 3,599 12.69% 10.97% 2.81% 10.77% 7.26% 0.36%
2006 44,835 4,789 10.68% 9.45% 2.02% 9.30% 6.45% 0.24%
2007 35,900 3,702 10.31% 8.77% 2.36% 8.60% 5.84% 0.31%
2008 43,209 3,815 8.83% 7.76% 1.64% 7.63% 5.44% 0.20%
2009 21,618 2,101 9.72% 8.65% 1.66% 8.54% 5.87% 0.22%
2010 41,153 3,317 8.06% 7.33% 1.05% 7.26% 3.57% 0.11%
2011 30,535 3,066 10.04% 9.25% 1.23% 9.17% 3.99% 0.15%
2012 65,773 5,030 7.65% 6.92% 1.04% 6.84% 3.16% 0.12%
2013 38,170 3,380 8.86% 7.94% 1.35% 7.87% 3.43% 0.12%
2014 89,277 5,274 5.91% 5.17% 0.92% 5.12% 2.47% 0.08%
2015 42,975 3,238 7.53% 6.77% 1.08% 6.71% 2.99% 0.08%
2016 113,149 5,095 4.50% 3.91% 0.73% 3.86% 1.92% 0.07%
2017 38,626 2,575 6.67% 6.11% 0.78% 6.06% 3.11% 0.07%
2018 120,416 4,807 3.99% 3.48% 0.62% 3.44% 1.90% 0.04%
2019 16,655 1,009 6.06% 5.72% 0.48% 5.67% 3.69% 0.04%
2020 13,372 725 5.42% 5.19% 0.32% 5.17% 3.58% 0.02%
2021 13,801 641 4.64% 4.36% 0.34% 4.34% 3.06% 0.03%
2022 16,483 758 4.60% 4.39% 0.24% 4.37% 2.99% 0.02%
2023 12,059 558 4.63% 4.51% 0.13% 4.46% 3.28% 0.06%
2024 12,119 540 4.46% 4.33% 0.13% 4.32% 3.36% 0.01%
2025 9,358 384 4.10% 4.05% 0.05% 4.15% 3.02% 0.00%
2026 2,391 1 0.04% 0.00% 0.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 7 1 14.29% 14.29% 0.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 973,368 75,770 7.78% 6.92% 1.30% 6.85% 4.09% 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 7,914 10.62%
All Visual 12,643 1.30% 2,418 3.24%
All Functional 67,315 6.92% 6,637 8.91%
OBDII 66,451 6.85% 3,974 9.42%
Overall 75,770 7.78% 13,659 18.33%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 838,214 64,947 7.75% 61,936 11,532 18.62%
Partial Enhanced 50,649 4,165 8.22% 3,832 775 20.22%
Basic 78,494 6,189 7.88% 8,293 1,251 15.09%
Change of Ownership 6,011 469 7.80% 465 101 21.72%
All Program Areas 973,368 75,770 7.78% 74,526 13,659 18.33%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test Only 552,573 44,166 7.99% 44,940 8,120 18.07%
Non-STAR Test Only 37,758 2,411 6.39% 2,414 226 9.36%
STAR Test and Repair 254,088 21,513 8.47% 21,415 4,458 20.82%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 123,843 7,126 5.75% 4,845 671 13.85%
Test and Repair/Dealer 2,117 108 5.10% 26 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 258 7 2.71% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 9 1 11.11% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 385 294 76.36% 73 36 49.32%
Government Fleet 2,337 144 6.16% 813 148 18.20%
All Stations 973,368 75,770 7.78% 74,526 13,659 18.33%

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 952,091 90.86% 95,803 9.14%
All Tests 1,023,218 90.36% 109,215 9.64%

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 248,293 90.12% 27,210 9.88%
STAR Test Only 543,610 90.98% 53,903 9.02%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 120,340 93.51% 8,348 6.49%
Non-STAR Test Only 37,432 93.18% 2,740 6.82%
Total 949,675 91.15% 92,201 8.85%

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 21,415 $77.93 254,088 $64.08 275,503 $71.01
STAR Test Only 44,940 $66.70 552,573 $58.01 597,513 $62.36
Non-STAR Test and Repair 4,845 $73.26 123,843 $74.79 128,688 $74.02
Non-STAR Test Only 2,414 $59.80 37,758 $53.84 40,172 $56.82
Total 73,614 $71.90 968,262 $65.22 1,041,876 $68.56

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 $0.00 473 $53.52 21,415 $77.93 253,615 $64.12
STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 2,215 $50.86 44,940 $66.70 550,358 $58.06
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 $0.00 52,885 $79.19 4,845 $73.15 70,958 $70.61
Non-STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 15,764 $55.90 2,414 $59.19 21,994 $50.70
Total 0 $0.00 71,337 $75.20 73,614 $71.89 896,925 $62.85

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) $0-100 445 $56.37 3,227 $664.00
$101-250 732 $173.23
$251-500 644 $366.84
$501-650 274 $573.20
Over $651 1132 $1,411.27
Non-STAR Repairs (Test and Repair) $0-100 103 $56.04 648 $779.32
$101-250 128 $175.62
$251-500 141 $361.26
$501-650 55 $568.00
Over $651 221 $1,785.38
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 4 $75.25 507 $1,462.94
$101-250 18 $229.12
$251-500 50 $348.62
$501-650 26 $586.75
Over $651 409 $1,722.73
Total Repairs $0-100 552 $56.45 4,382 $773.49
$101-250 878 $174.72
$251-500 835 $364.80
$501-650 355 $573.39
Over $651 1762 $1,530.49

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 110 32 1,564 80 1,786
STAR Test Only 17 4 1,691 39 1,751
STAR Subtotal 127 36 3,255 119 3,537
Non-STAR Test and Repair 437 49 1,711 181 2,378
Non-STAR Test Only 44 10 313 45 412
Non-STAR Subtotal 481 59 2,024 226 2,790
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 34 1 40
Government Fleet 44 5 308 15 372
Repair Only 1 0 22 1 24
Other Station Subtotal 99 5 379 18 501
All Stations 707 100 5,658 363 6,828

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test and Repair 2 281 1,447
STAR Test Only 2 161 1,520
STAR Subtotal 4 442 2,967
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 1,604 220
Non-STAR Test Only 0 201 69
Non-STAR Subtotal 0 1,805 289
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 4 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 40 4
Government Fleet 3 157 31
Referee 0 3 30
Other Station Subtotal 3 206 65
All Stations 7 2,453 3,321

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 509
BAR Referrals 442
Law Enforcement Citations 315
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 142
Clean Gas 78
Engine Change/Replacement 76
CAT BAR Label 37
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 30
OBD Monitor Issues 26
Grey Market 9
All Inspections 1,664

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 192 73
Repair Cost Waiver 42 2
Limited Parts Exemption 9 1
Exempt Vehicle 1 17
Exempted by Directive 14 2
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 258 95

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 3,269 5,331
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,173 7,235
All License Types 8,442 12,566

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 251 1,138 3,544 1,394 6,327
Inspectors 291 1,694 5,432 5,149 12,566

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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