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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
April 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 948,066 79,649 8.40%
All Tests 1,026,118 91,385 8.91%

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 85,600 215,432 75,195 190,550
Non-Directed 161,447 320,632 148,026 297,482
Total 247,047 536,064 223,221 488,032

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 122,058 37,002 114,269 34,533
Total 122,058 37,002 114,269 34,533

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 293 52 17.75% 14.68% 6.14% 7.17% 2.39% NA
1977 374 74 19.79% 12.83% 4.01% 9.09% 6.15% NA
1978 474 79 16.67% 11.60% 4.43% 6.33% 3.38% NA
1979 497 116 23.34% 17.71% 4.83% 9.66% 5.63% NA
1980 294 53 18.03% 13.61% 5.78% 7.48% 5.44% NA
1981 330 70 21.21% 17.27% 6.97% 6.67% 2.73% NA
1982 337 67 19.88% 15.43% 5.64% 7.42% 5.04% NA
1983 369 86 23.31% 18.16% 7.59% 9.21% 4.61% NA
1984 635 130 20.47% 16.22% 6.61% 7.56% 4.88% NA
1985 903 193 21.37% 16.50% 6.31% 8.64% 4.10% NA
1986 1,138 221 19.42% 15.73% 5.89% 8.26% 3.51% NA
1987 1,323 248 18.75% 14.89% 5.22% 7.18% 3.55% NA
1988 1,434 284 19.80% 14.50% 4.18% 8.79% 3.63% NA
1989 1,930 375 19.43% 13.01% 4.40% 9.17% 3.21% NA
1990 2,257 429 19.01% 13.42% 3.81% 8.06% 2.79% NA
1991 2,543 482 18.95% 12.90% 3.70% 8.49% 3.03% NA
1992 2,351 425 18.08% 12.12% 2.89% 7.95% 3.02% NA
1993 2,825 625 22.12% 15.93% 4.11% 9.52% 3.89% NA
1994 3,633 736 20.26% 14.18% 2.78% 8.73% 3.58% NA
1995 4,075 826 20.27% 14.26% 2.55% 7.73% 3.12% NA
1996 5,226 966 18.48% 9.22% 1.28% 9.61% 3.00% 9.59%
1997 6,491 1,280 19.72% 9.98% 1.73% 10.78% 3.62% 10.77%
1998 9,154 1,624 17.74% 8.25% 1.41% 9.78% 2.93% 9.77%
1999 10,517 1,833 17.43% 6.69% 1.25% 10.93% 3.44% 10.93%
2000 278 26 9.35% 6.12% 3.24% 2.52% 2.16% 2.53%
2001 165 16 9.70% 5.45% 2.42% 3.03% 1.82% 3.03%
2002 182 19 10.44% 7.14% 2.75% 2.75% 1.65% 2.75%
2003 203 13 6.40% 4.43% 1.97% 1.48% 0.99% 1.48%
2004 337 14 4.15% 2.97% 0.89% 0.30% 0.89% 0.30%
2005 232 14 6.03% 5.60% 2.16% 0.43% 0.43% 0.43%
2006 376 19 5.05% 4.26% 1.33% 0.53% 0.80% 0.53%
2007 230 15 6.52% 5.22% 1.74% 1.30% 0.00% 1.30%
2008 229 15 6.55% 4.37% 1.31% 0.44% 2.18% 0.44%
2009 87 6 6.90% 6.90% 1.15% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 74 1 1.35% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 1.35% 0.00%
2011 131 3 2.29% 1.53% 0.76% 0.76% 0.00% 0.76%
2012 188 3 1.60% 0.00% 0.00% 1.06% 1.06% 1.06%
2013 136 2 1.47% 1.47% 0.74% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2014 356 4 1.12% 0.56% 0.00% 0.28% 0.28% 0.28%
2015 199 6 3.02% 0.50% 0.00% 1.51% 1.51% 1.51%
2016 425 5 1.18% 0.00% 0.00% 0.47% 0.71% 0.47%
2017 230 3 1.30% 0.43% 0.00% 0.87% 0.00% 0.87%
2018 407 1 0.25% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.25% 0.00%
2019 74 2 2.70% 1.35% 0.00% 1.35% 0.00% 1.35%
2020 55 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 35 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 38 1 2.63% 2.63% 2.63% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 29 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 31 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 99 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 33 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 64,263 11,462 17.84% 10.45% 2.49% 8.75% 3.17% 9.06%

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% 0.00% 66.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.16%
1997 5 1 20.00% 0.00% 20.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.18%
1998 105 7 6.67% 5.71% 0.95% 4.76% 1.90% 0.16%
1999 529 75 14.18% 12.85% 2.08% 12.17% 9.89% 0.24%
2000 17,990 2,816 15.65% 14.01% 2.90% 13.73% 10.32% 0.50%
2001 15,685 2,504 15.96% 14.29% 3.17% 14.10% 10.44% 0.36%
2002 24,161 3,198 13.24% 11.64% 2.72% 11.41% 8.11% 0.41%
2003 20,507 2,984 14.55% 12.42% 3.36% 12.20% 8.13% 0.44%
2004 33,772 4,013 11.88% 10.44% 2.38% 10.23% 7.27% 0.34%
2005 25,944 3,166 12.20% 10.53% 2.82% 10.32% 7.11% 0.37%
2006 39,467 4,137 10.48% 9.04% 2.17% 8.87% 6.07% 0.30%
2007 32,783 3,259 9.94% 8.58% 2.21% 8.42% 5.65% 0.25%
2008 37,850 3,300 8.72% 7.53% 1.63% 7.43% 5.25% 0.17%
2009 19,323 1,893 9.80% 8.73% 1.70% 8.56% 5.87% 0.25%
2010 35,708 3,117 8.73% 7.96% 1.08% 7.88% 3.85% 0.12%
2011 26,557 2,617 9.85% 9.01% 1.29% 8.93% 3.92% 0.15%
2012 58,257 4,529 7.77% 6.93% 1.14% 6.86% 3.22% 0.12%
2013 33,823 3,015 8.91% 7.89% 1.43% 7.83% 3.36% 0.11%
2014 80,628 4,771 5.92% 5.12% 1.02% 5.07% 2.37% 0.07%
2015 38,541 2,940 7.63% 6.80% 1.08% 6.75% 3.16% 0.07%
2016 102,993 4,637 4.50% 3.92% 0.71% 3.89% 1.95% 0.04%
2017 33,625 2,253 6.70% 6.11% 0.79% 6.06% 2.93% 0.06%
2018 110,176 4,390 3.98% 3.49% 0.60% 3.46% 1.84% 0.04%
2019 16,351 936 5.72% 5.42% 0.41% 5.41% 3.33% 0.02%
2020 13,436 728 5.42% 5.19% 0.33% 5.19% 3.59% 0.00%
2021 13,649 649 4.75% 4.51% 0.32% 4.48% 3.14% 0.04%
2022 16,220 718 4.43% 4.26% 0.20% 4.25% 3.02% 0.01%
2023 11,546 586 5.08% 5.00% 0.12% 4.97% 3.72% 0.03%
2024 11,813 587 4.97% 4.88% 0.09% 4.87% 3.80% 0.02%
2025 9,350 355 3.80% 3.70% 0.10% 3.79% 2.69% 0.01%
2026 2,994 3 0.10% 0.03% 0.07% 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
2027 10 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 883,803 68,187 7.72% 6.83% 1.29% 6.77% 4.03% 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 6,713 10.45%
All Visual 11,428 1.29% 2,039 3.17%
All Functional 60,389 6.83% 5,626 8.75%
OBDII 59,620 6.77% 3,283 9.06%
Overall 68,187 7.72% 11,462 17.84%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 761,920 58,448 7.67% 53,256 9,663 18.14%
Partial Enhanced 46,094 3,702 8.03% 3,362 625 18.59%
Basic 70,262 5,585 7.95% 7,215 1,068 14.80%
Change of Ownership 5,527 452 8.18% 430 106 24.65%
All Program Areas 883,803 68,187 7.72% 64,263 11,462 17.84%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test Only 497,579 39,812 8.00% 38,485 6,790 17.64%
Non-STAR Test Only 34,963 2,175 6.22% 2,066 206 9.97%
STAR Test and Repair 228,511 18,936 8.29% 18,536 3,710 20.02%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 117,835 6,755 5.73% 4,345 587 13.51%
Test and Repair/Dealer 2,014 95 4.72% 23 1 4.35%
Business Fleet 180 6 3.33% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 3 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 382 299 78.27% 49 28 57.14%
Government Fleet 2,336 109 4.67% 759 140 18.45%
All Stations 883,803 68,187 7.72% 64,263 11,462 17.84%

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 862,260 90.95% 85,806 9.05%
All Tests 928,081 90.45% 98,037 9.55%

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 223,221 90.36% 23,826 9.64%
STAR Test Only 488,032 91.04% 48,032 8.96%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 114,269 93.53% 7,911 6.47%
Non-STAR Test Only 34,533 93.26% 2,496 6.74%
Total 860,055 91.27% 82,265 8.73%

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 18,536 $77.76 228,511 $63.41 247,047 $70.58
STAR Test Only 38,485 $67.17 497,579 $57.99 536,064 $62.58
Non-STAR Test and Repair 4,345 $72.35 117,835 $76.44 122,180 $74.40
Non-STAR Test Only 2,066 $59.65 34,963 $51.39 37,029 $55.52
Total 63,432 $71.95 878,888 $65.44 942,320 $68.70

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 $0.00 415 $55.87 18,536 $77.76 228,096 $63.44
STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 2,341 $52.00 38,485 $67.16 495,238 $58.04
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 $0.00 51,721 $79.58 4,345 $72.46 66,114 $73.42
Non-STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 15,149 $53.09 2,066 $59.03 19,814 $48.67
Total 0 $0.00 69,626 $75.13 63,432 $71.94 809,262 $63.12

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) $0-100 409 $56.98 3,005 $692.93
$101-250 641 $175.90
$251-500 562 $366.20
$501-650 243 $576.48
Over $651 1150 $1,391.56
Non-STAR Repairs (Test and Repair) $0-100 83 $59.99 560 $685.05
$101-250 147 $178.89
$251-500 105 $364.47
$501-650 35 $578.26
Over $651 190 $1,546.55
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 $59.95 425 $1,484.69
$101-250 18 $218.10
$251-500 37 $351.83
$501-650 24 $571.88
Over $651 345 $1,739.90
Total Repairs $0-100 493 $57.49 3,990 $776.16
$101-250 806 $177.39
$251-500 704 $365.19
$501-650 302 $576.32
Over $651 1685 $1,480.36

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 30 1,562 80 1,783
STAR Test Only 18 4 1,693 40 1,755
STAR Subtotal 129 34 3,255 120 3,538
Non-STAR Test and Repair 432 50 1,726 183 2,391
Non-STAR Test Only 42 10 317 43 412
Non-STAR Subtotal 474 60 2,043 226 2,803
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 702 99 5,677 364 6,842

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test and Repair 2 273 1,444
STAR Test Only 3 162 1,523
STAR Subtotal 5 435 2,967
Non-STAR Test and Repair 1 1,595 224
Non-STAR Test Only 0 196 77
Non-STAR Subtotal 1 1,791 301
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 1 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 41 3
Government Fleet 5 146 29
Referee 0 5 28
Other Station Subtotal 5 195 60
All Stations 11 2,421 3,328

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 453
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 447
Law Enforcement Citations 290
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 150
Engine Change/Replacement 80
Clean Gas 67
CAT BAR Label 31
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 20
OBD Monitor Issues 16
Grey Market 8
All Inspections 1,562

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 183 58
Repair Cost Waiver 40 6
Limited Parts Exemption 7 0
Exempt Vehicle 2 7
Exempted by Directive 16 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 248 71

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 3,201 5,218
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,240 7,373
All License Types 8,441 12,591

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 246 1,128 3,528 1,439 6,341
Inspectors 282 1,689 5,426 5,194 12,591

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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