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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
June 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 959,963 78,529 8.18%
All Tests 1,036,012 90,128 8.70%

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 88,034 220,924 77,444 196,027
Non-Directed 164,659 323,585 151,513 301,076
Total 252,693 544,509 228,957 497,103

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 120,357 36,992 112,815 34,671
Total 120,357 36,992 112,815 34,671

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 273 59 21.61% 12.45% 5.13% 12.82% 5.13% NA
1977 376 76 20.21% 13.03% 4.52% 9.31% 4.26% NA
1978 415 89 21.45% 15.18% 5.78% 9.16% 4.34% NA
1979 463 91 19.65% 14.69% 5.83% 9.29% 3.46% NA
1980 272 62 22.79% 17.65% 8.46% 9.56% 8.09% NA
1981 287 62 21.60% 18.82% 8.01% 7.67% 2.09% NA
1982 275 58 21.09% 15.27% 6.55% 7.64% 5.45% NA
1983 381 77 20.21% 15.22% 5.25% 8.14% 4.99% NA
1984 631 123 19.49% 15.53% 5.86% 6.34% 3.96% NA
1985 872 179 20.53% 15.83% 4.93% 8.26% 4.01% NA
1986 1,104 209 18.93% 14.04% 4.98% 7.79% 4.44% NA
1987 1,275 269 21.10% 15.76% 5.80% 8.71% 3.76% NA
1988 1,444 297 20.57% 14.96% 4.85% 8.38% 4.16% NA
1989 1,946 387 19.89% 14.29% 4.06% 8.79% 3.49% NA
1990 2,224 424 19.06% 12.99% 3.64% 8.32% 3.19% NA
1991 2,544 483 18.99% 13.13% 4.25% 7.78% 2.75% NA
1992 2,355 458 19.45% 12.78% 3.35% 8.45% 3.23% NA
1993 2,728 604 22.14% 16.17% 4.18% 9.02% 3.59% NA
1994 3,509 717 20.43% 14.51% 3.19% 8.63% 2.99% NA
1995 4,073 837 20.55% 14.73% 2.43% 8.32% 3.46% NA
1996 5,216 953 18.27% 9.36% 1.17% 9.14% 3.05% 9.13%
1997 6,293 1,211 19.24% 9.69% 1.21% 10.17% 3.11% 10.17%
1998 9,174 1,641 17.89% 7.97% 1.05% 9.90% 3.61% 9.90%
1999 10,567 1,819 17.21% 6.62% 1.09% 10.35% 3.52% 10.35%
2000 270 37 13.70% 9.26% 5.56% 4.07% 1.48% 4.07%
2001 188 19 10.11% 6.38% 2.13% 2.13% 1.60% 2.13%
2002 239 21 8.79% 6.28% 2.51% 0.42% 2.09% 0.42%
2003 221 15 6.79% 3.62% 0.90% 2.26% 2.26% 2.26%
2004 334 15 4.49% 3.59% 0.90% 0.30% 1.20% 0.30%
2005 221 13 5.88% 4.52% 3.17% 0.45% 1.36% 0.45%
2006 327 21 6.42% 4.28% 1.53% 0.92% 2.14% 0.92%
2007 243 11 4.53% 3.70% 1.23% 0.41% 0.82% 0.41%
2008 257 12 4.67% 4.28% 1.56% 0.00% 0.39% 0.00%
2009 75 5 6.67% 6.67% 4.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 71 2 2.82% 1.41% 0.00% 0.00% 1.41% 0.00%
2011 130 5 3.85% 1.54% 1.54% 2.31% 0.77% 2.31%
2012 203 7 3.45% 0.49% 0.00% 0.00% 2.96% 0.00%
2013 154 4 2.60% 1.30% 0.00% 1.30% 0.00% 1.30%
2014 221 3 1.36% 0.45% 0.00% 0.00% 0.90% 0.00%
2015 208 2 0.96% 0.48% 0.48% 0.48% 0.00% 0.48%
2016 454 5 1.10% 0.22% 0.00% 0.44% 0.44% 0.44%
2017 181 1 0.55% 0.00% 0.00% 0.55% 0.00% 0.55%
2018 448 3 0.67% 0.22% 0.00% 0.22% 0.45% 0.22%
2019 72 1 1.39% 1.39% 1.39% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2020 64 1 1.56% 1.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 36 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2022 50 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 24 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 39 1 2.56% 2.56% 2.56% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 59 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 116 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 5 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 63,607 11,389 17.91% 10.44% 2.39% 8.61% 3.27% 8.72%

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 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.13%
1997 2 1 50.00% 50.00% 0.00% 50.00% 50.00% 0.17%
1998 143 9 6.29% 5.59% 0.70% 5.63% 2.82% 0.18%
1999 584 86 14.73% 13.53% 2.05% 13.18% 9.76% 0.17%
2000 18,225 2,817 15.46% 13.69% 3.05% 13.47% 10.22% 0.36%
2001 15,370 2,412 15.69% 13.92% 3.16% 13.72% 9.77% 0.38%
2002 25,405 3,396 13.37% 11.68% 2.81% 11.42% 8.12% 0.45%
2003 20,810 2,852 13.70% 11.95% 3.09% 11.70% 7.94% 0.49%
2004 34,302 3,935 11.47% 10.01% 2.41% 9.81% 6.74% 0.37%
2005 27,552 3,326 12.07% 10.25% 2.74% 10.08% 7.06% 0.31%
2006 39,650 4,184 10.55% 9.04% 2.30% 8.86% 6.11% 0.27%
2007 32,435 3,230 9.96% 8.32% 2.40% 8.19% 5.46% 0.27%
2008 37,880 3,220 8.50% 7.40% 1.59% 7.27% 5.04% 0.24%
2009 20,231 1,801 8.90% 7.83% 1.65% 7.69% 5.40% 0.29%
2010 39,189 3,079 7.86% 7.09% 1.06% 7.01% 3.47% 0.12%
2011 25,671 2,416 9.41% 8.54% 1.33% 8.43% 3.53% 0.18%
2012 58,884 4,478 7.60% 6.77% 1.15% 6.71% 3.08% 0.10%
2013 33,250 2,860 8.60% 7.60% 1.36% 7.52% 3.20% 0.15%
2014 82,876 4,782 5.77% 5.02% 0.96% 4.97% 2.25% 0.08%
2015 36,451 2,682 7.36% 6.55% 1.11% 6.49% 2.87% 0.09%
2016 107,493 4,769 4.44% 3.86% 0.71% 3.82% 1.89% 0.04%
2017 30,962 1,861 6.01% 5.43% 0.81% 5.39% 2.69% 0.05%
2018 114,303 4,667 4.08% 3.54% 0.64% 3.52% 1.89% 0.04%
2019 16,111 938 5.82% 5.46% 0.48% 5.40% 3.37% 0.06%
2020 13,692 705 5.15% 4.94% 0.30% 4.91% 3.39% 0.03%
2021 13,237 579 4.37% 4.15% 0.27% 4.13% 2.91% 0.01%
2022 15,595 695 4.46% 4.30% 0.23% 4.28% 3.01% 0.02%
2023 11,224 502 4.47% 4.29% 0.21% 4.25% 3.15% 0.03%
2024 12,109 550 4.54% 4.40% 0.17% 4.40% 3.52% 0.00%
2025 8,826 300 3.40% 3.30% 0.11% 3.41% 2.48% 0.00%
2026 3,847 7 0.18% 0.03% 0.16% 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
2027 44 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 896,356 67,140 7.49% 6.59% 1.30% 6.54% 3.87% 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 6,639 10.44%
All Visual 11,697 1.30% 2,078 3.27%
All Functional 59,097 6.59% 5,478 8.61%
OBDII 58,304 6.54% 3,154 8.72%
Overall 67,140 7.49% 11,389 17.91%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 772,042 57,544 7.45% 52,783 9,583 18.16%
Partial Enhanced 46,411 3,548 7.64% 3,199 648 20.26%
Basic 72,634 5,634 7.76% 7,192 1,070 14.88%
Change of Ownership 5,269 414 7.86% 433 88 20.32%
All Program Areas 896,356 67,140 7.49% 63,607 11,389 17.91%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test Only 506,499 39,289 7.76% 38,010 6,738 17.73%
Non-STAR Test Only 35,169 2,036 5.79% 1,859 191 10.27%
STAR Test and Repair 234,028 18,867 8.06% 18,665 3,743 20.05%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 116,272 6,501 5.59% 4,218 557 13.21%
Test and Repair/Dealer 1,955 82 4.19% 13 0 0.00%
Business Fleet 258 5 1.94% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 9 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 364 269 73.90% 60 28 46.67%
Government Fleet 1,802 91 5.05% 782 132 16.88%
All Stations 896,356 67,140 7.49% 63,607 11,389 17.91%

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 875,801 91.23% 84,162 8.77%
All Tests 939,850 90.72% 96,162 9.28%

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 228,957 90.61% 23,736 9.39%
STAR Test Only 497,103 91.29% 47,406 8.71%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 112,815 93.63% 7,675 6.37%
Non-STAR Test Only 34,671 93.63% 2,357 6.37%
Total 873,546 91.50% 81,174 8.50%

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 18,665 $78.38 234,028 $64.63 252,693 $71.51
STAR Test Only 38,010 $67.65 506,499 $58.14 544,509 $62.89
Non-STAR Test and Repair 4,218 $73.37 116,272 $75.95 120,490 $74.66
Non-STAR Test Only 1,859 $60.75 35,169 $52.75 37,028 $56.75
Total 62,752 $72.52 891,968 $65.76 954,720 $69.14

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 $0.00 326 $54.89 18,665 $78.38 233,702 $64.66
STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 2,182 $53.32 38,010 $67.65 504,317 $58.17
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 $0.00 51,128 $80.19 4,218 $73.37 65,144 $71.66
Non-STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 15,874 $53.46 1,859 $60.75 19,295 $51.77
Total 0 $0.00 69,510 $75.75 62,752 $72.52 822,458 $63.28

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) $0-100 438 $56.95 2,917 $663.80
$101-250 651 $176.84
$251-500 595 $361.70
$501-650 233 $576.77
Over $651 1000 $1,446.63
Non-STAR Repairs (Test and Repair) $0-100 99 $64.21 603 $662.08
$101-250 145 $177.19
$251-500 122 $354.28
$501-650 59 $571.93
Over $651 178 $1,630.45
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 $0.00 460 $1,438.90
$101-250 17 $231.13
$251-500 47 $372.05
$501-650 24 $576.47
Over $651 372 $1,684.53
Total Repairs $0-100 537 $58.28 3,980 $753.12
$101-250 813 $178.04
$251-500 764 $361.15
$501-650 316 $575.85
Over $651 1550 $1,524.84

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 30 1,553 80 1,775
STAR Test Only 18 4 1,670 40 1,732
STAR Subtotal 130 34 3,223 120 3,507
Non-STAR Test and Repair 431 49 1,726 184 2,390
Non-STAR Test Only 41 10 333 43 427
Non-STAR Subtotal 472 59 2,059 227 2,817
Test and Repair/Dealer 47 0 0 0 47
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 98 5 379 18 500
All Stations 700 98 5,661 365 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 4 262 1,449
STAR Test Only 0 172 1,505
STAR Subtotal 4 434 2,954
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 1,621 218
Non-STAR Test Only 2 201 82
Non-STAR Subtotal 2 1,822 300
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 3 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 43 1
Government Fleet 3 129 32
Referee 0 2 30
Other Station Subtotal 3 179 63
All Stations 9 2,435 3,317

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 490
BAR Referrals 453
Law Enforcement Citations 343
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 155
Engine Change/Replacement 71
Clean Gas 64
CAT BAR Label 39
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 30
OBD Monitor Issues 13
Grey Market 12
All Inspections 1,670

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 199 67
Repair Cost Waiver 50 3
Limited Parts Exemption 4 0
Exempt Vehicle 4 16
Exempted by Directive 17 0
Hardship Extensions 0 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 274 86

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 3,219 5,399
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,084 7,226
All License Types 8,303 12,625

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 237 1,114 3,494 1,479 6,324
Inspectors 275 1,677 5,401 5,272 12,625

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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