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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
May 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 950,170 77,548 8.16%
All Tests 1,024,887 88,691 8.65%

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 86,450 219,806 76,142 195,020
Non-Directed 161,579 325,033 148,525 302,669
Total 248,029 544,839 224,667 497,689

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 116,295 35,643 109,184 33,547
Total 116,295 35,643 109,184 33,547

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 283 63 22.26% 15.19% 5.30% 8.83% 5.30% NA
1977 382 69 18.06% 12.83% 4.19% 6.02% 3.66% NA
1978 461 84 18.22% 13.45% 4.99% 6.29% 4.34% NA
1979 476 98 20.59% 13.66% 4.83% 10.50% 5.67% NA
1980 273 53 19.41% 14.29% 5.49% 7.69% 3.66% NA
1981 276 54 19.57% 15.94% 5.43% 7.97% 4.35% NA
1982 309 50 16.18% 12.30% 4.53% 5.50% 4.85% NA
1983 408 87 21.32% 17.65% 7.84% 7.84% 4.17% NA
1984 666 120 18.02% 12.91% 5.56% 6.91% 3.90% NA
1985 889 182 20.47% 15.41% 5.40% 9.45% 4.39% NA
1986 1,139 241 21.16% 14.84% 5.79% 9.48% 4.04% NA
1987 1,300 277 21.31% 15.08% 5.31% 8.77% 6.23% NA
1988 1,413 286 20.24% 15.36% 5.66% 7.01% 4.03% NA
1989 1,919 367 19.12% 13.39% 4.17% 8.70% 2.87% NA
1990 2,143 418 19.51% 12.83% 4.76% 8.63% 3.36% NA
1991 2,471 448 18.13% 12.38% 3.60% 7.97% 2.79% NA
1992 2,418 428 17.70% 11.79% 3.39% 7.32% 3.23% NA
1993 2,728 573 21.00% 15.87% 3.30% 7.29% 3.15% NA
1994 3,622 746 20.60% 14.38% 3.04% 8.83% 3.56% NA
1995 4,029 784 19.46% 14.74% 2.53% 7.25% 2.95% NA
1996 5,343 946 17.71% 9.28% 1.03% 8.70% 3.03% 8.69%
1997 6,521 1,288 19.75% 10.03% 1.23% 10.52% 3.33% 10.52%
1998 9,267 1,596 17.22% 7.83% 1.21% 9.93% 2.64% 9.93%
1999 10,331 1,763 17.07% 6.73% 0.99% 10.39% 3.20% 10.39%
2000 274 30 10.95% 6.20% 1.82% 2.92% 2.55% 2.93%
2001 186 12 6.45% 3.23% 2.15% 3.23% 1.61% 3.23%
2002 225 13 5.78% 3.56% 1.78% 1.33% 1.78% 1.33%
2003 226 15 6.64% 5.31% 2.21% 0.88% 1.33% 0.89%
2004 309 13 4.21% 2.59% 1.62% 0.97% 1.29% 0.97%
2005 227 14 6.17% 4.85% 1.32% 0.44% 1.76% 0.44%
2006 356 19 5.34% 3.65% 0.28% 0.28% 1.97% 0.28%
2007 212 12 5.66% 4.25% 1.89% 0.47% 1.42% 0.47%
2008 249 12 4.82% 3.21% 2.01% 0.80% 0.80% 0.80%
2009 73 6 8.22% 5.48% 1.37% 1.37% 2.74% 1.37%
2010 93 3 3.23% 2.15% 1.08% 1.08% 1.08% 1.08%
2011 127 2 1.57% 0.79% 0.00% 0.79% 0.00% 0.79%
2012 210 3 1.43% 0.48% 0.00% 0.48% 0.48% 0.48%
2013 119 2 1.68% 0.00% 0.00% 0.84% 0.84% 0.84%
2014 250 2 0.80% 0.00% 0.00% 0.40% 0.40% 0.40%
2015 195 1 0.51% 0.51% 0.51% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2016 439 5 1.14% 0.46% 0.46% 0.23% 0.46% 0.23%
2017 203 4 1.97% 0.99% 0.00% 0.00% 0.99% 0.00%
2018 407 1 0.25% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.25% 0.00%
2019 61 1 1.64% 0.00% 0.00% 1.64% 0.00% 1.64%
2020 42 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 40 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 30 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 34 1 2.94% 0.00% 0.00% 2.94% 0.00% 2.94%
2024 53 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 52 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 44 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 63,804 11,192 17.54% 10.29% 2.35% 8.44% 3.12% 8.78%

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 2 50.00% 25.00% 25.00% 25.00% 0.00% 0.22%
1998 119 11 9.24% 6.72% 4.20% 5.88% 4.20% 0.13%
1999 536 62 11.57% 10.63% 0.93% 10.67% 8.24% 0.18%
2000 18,073 2,734 15.13% 13.50% 2.86% 13.32% 10.26% 0.38%
2001 15,482 2,465 15.92% 14.25% 3.07% 14.05% 10.11% 0.42%
2002 24,492 3,167 12.93% 11.54% 2.37% 11.35% 8.11% 0.36%
2003 20,375 2,872 14.10% 12.27% 3.16% 11.99% 8.35% 0.44%
2004 34,495 3,981 11.54% 10.05% 2.41% 9.86% 7.02% 0.30%
2005 26,487 3,151 11.90% 10.08% 2.81% 9.93% 6.89% 0.29%
2006 39,567 4,113 10.40% 9.05% 2.07% 8.89% 6.13% 0.30%
2007 32,341 3,151 9.74% 8.30% 2.23% 8.14% 5.52% 0.27%
2008 37,922 3,289 8.67% 7.58% 1.67% 7.44% 5.33% 0.22%
2009 19,286 1,746 9.05% 7.91% 1.73% 7.72% 5.36% 0.23%
2010 37,295 2,973 7.97% 7.24% 1.07% 7.16% 3.48% 0.14%
2011 24,986 2,400 9.61% 8.81% 1.21% 8.71% 3.74% 0.15%
2012 59,356 4,505 7.59% 6.67% 1.23% 6.59% 3.14% 0.13%
2013 32,756 2,746 8.38% 7.53% 1.25% 7.47% 3.33% 0.11%
2014 82,622 4,782 5.79% 5.00% 1.01% 4.95% 2.28% 0.06%
2015 36,280 2,692 7.42% 6.56% 1.15% 6.50% 2.94% 0.08%
2016 107,242 4,665 4.35% 3.75% 0.72% 3.71% 1.87% 0.05%
2017 30,867 2,057 6.66% 6.10% 0.75% 6.05% 3.04% 0.06%
2018 115,154 4,587 3.98% 3.48% 0.61% 3.46% 1.91% 0.03%
2019 15,452 890 5.76% 5.46% 0.41% 5.42% 3.37% 0.05%
2020 13,059 730 5.59% 5.36% 0.31% 5.34% 3.68% 0.03%
2021 12,652 581 4.59% 4.32% 0.36% 4.32% 3.01% 0.01%
2022 15,108 697 4.61% 4.52% 0.14% 4.51% 3.32% 0.02%
2023 10,868 481 4.43% 4.28% 0.16% 4.27% 3.11% 0.01%
2024 11,164 514 4.60% 4.48% 0.16% 4.48% 3.55% 0.01%
2025 9,281 304 3.28% 3.20% 0.11% 3.29% 2.58% 0.00%
2026 3,018 2 0.07% 0.00% 0.07% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 19 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 886,366 66,356 7.49% 6.61% 1.28% 6.55% 3.94% 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 6,564 10.29%
All Visual 11,324 1.28% 1,990 3.12%
All Functional 58,620 6.61% 5,387 8.44%
OBDII 57,875 6.55% 3,179 8.78%
Overall 66,356 7.49% 11,192 17.54%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 766,745 57,215 7.46% 53,167 9,484 17.84%
Partial Enhanced 45,089 3,483 7.72% 3,232 667 20.64%
Basic 69,439 5,319 7.66% 6,992 942 13.47%
Change of Ownership 5,093 339 6.66% 413 99 23.97%
All Program Areas 886,366 66,356 7.49% 63,804 11,192 17.54%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test Only 506,297 39,265 7.76% 38,542 6,681 17.33%
Non-STAR Test Only 33,749 1,897 5.62% 1,926 168 8.72%
STAR Test and Repair 229,514 18,469 8.05% 18,515 3,655 19.74%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 112,359 6,217 5.53% 4,063 523 12.87%
Test and Repair/Dealer 1,856 100 5.39% 7 1 14.29%
Business Fleet 157 2 1.27% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 2 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 399 296 74.19% 61 31 50.82%
Government Fleet 2,033 110 5.41% 690 133 19.28%
All Stations 886,366 66,356 7.49% 63,804 11,192 17.54%

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 867,128 91.26% 83,042 8.74%
All Tests 930,262 90.77% 94,625 9.23%

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 224,667 90.58% 23,362 9.42%
STAR Test Only 497,689 91.35% 47,150 8.65%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 109,184 93.78% 7,238 6.22%
Non-STAR Test Only 33,547 94.04% 2,128 5.96%
Total 865,087 91.55% 79,878 8.45%

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 18,515 $78.63 229,514 $63.34 248,029 $70.99
STAR Test Only 38,542 $67.42 506,297 $58.06 544,839 $62.74
Non-STAR Test and Repair 4,063 $72.34 112,359 $75.83 116,422 $74.09
Non-STAR Test Only 1,926 $59.36 33,749 $51.47 35,675 $55.42
Total 63,046 $72.47 881,919 $65.20 944,965 $68.84

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 $0.00 432 $55.87 18,515 $78.63 229,082 $63.38
STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 2,667 $54.00 38,542 $67.39 503,630 $58.10
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 $0.00 48,506 $80.02 4,063 $72.35 63,853 $71.64
Non-STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 14,791 $53.42 1,926 $58.70 18,958 $48.29
Total 0 $0.00 66,396 $75.48 63,046 $72.45 815,523 $62.69

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) $0-100 433 $54.69 2,952 $650.03
$101-250 679 $178.20
$251-500 585 $371.59
$501-650 243 $578.65
Over $651 1012 $1,399.42
Non-STAR Repairs (Test and Repair) $0-100 82 $59.95 539 $626.60
$101-250 131 $180.40
$251-500 137 $359.76
$501-650 41 $583.44
Over $651 148 $1,594.48
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 0 $0.00 363 $1,462.28
$101-250 18 $226.22
$251-500 29 $365.74
$501-650 26 $576.76
Over $651 290 $1,728.04
Total Repairs $0-100 515 $55.53 3,854 $723.26
$101-250 828 $179.59
$251-500 751 $369.20
$501-650 310 $579.13
Over $651 1450 $1,485.05

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 1,560 80 1,781
STAR Test Only 18 4 1,693 40 1,755
STAR Subtotal 129 34 3,253 120 3,536
Non-STAR Test and Repair 432 50 1,717 184 2,383
Non-STAR Test Only 42 10 309 41 402
Non-STAR Subtotal 474 60 2,026 225 2,785
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 5,658 363 6,822

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test and Repair 4 271 1,444
STAR Test Only 1 174 1,505
STAR Subtotal 5 445 2,949
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 1,619 214
Non-STAR Test Only 1 202 66
Non-STAR Subtotal 1 1,821 280
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 2 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 43 1
Government Fleet 3 152 28
Referee 0 2 29
Other Station Subtotal 3 201 58
All Stations 9 2,467 3,287

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
BAR Referrals 516
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 458
Law Enforcement Citations 334
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 173
Engine Change/Replacement 76
Clean Gas 67
CAT BAR Label 34
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 33
OBD Monitor Issues 18
Grey Market 16
All Inspections 1,725

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 184 82
Repair Cost Waiver 59 4
Limited Parts Exemption 3 0
Exempt Vehicle 3 9
Exempted by Directive 7 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 256 95

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 3,229 5,247
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,220 7,364
All License Types 8,449 12,611

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 241 1,123 3,510 1,447 6,321
Inspectors 277 1,686 5,416 5,232 12,611

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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