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  1. Home

Smog Check Executive Summary Report
August 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 968,963 80,034 8.26%
All Tests 1,046,162 91,661 8.76%

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 90,627 230,318 79,896 204,578
Non-Directed 166,054 327,364 152,290 304,149
Total 256,681 557,682 232,186 508,727

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 112,555 37,218 105,264 34,812
Total 112,555 37,218 105,264 34,812

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 75 26.50% 19.08% 8.48% 10.60% 4.24% NA
1977 397 96 24.18% 16.62% 8.56% 10.08% 5.79% NA
1978 433 97 22.40% 15.94% 6.47% 8.08% 4.85% NA
1979 524 128 24.43% 17.18% 7.06% 10.69% 5.53% NA
1980 239 36 15.06% 11.72% 5.86% 6.69% 4.60% NA
1981 270 44 16.30% 11.85% 5.93% 7.78% 3.70% NA
1982 286 58 20.28% 13.99% 5.59% 8.74% 4.55% NA
1983 333 71 21.32% 17.72% 6.31% 6.31% 3.90% NA
1984 596 110 18.46% 14.60% 6.54% 7.38% 4.03% NA
1985 839 174 20.74% 16.57% 4.77% 6.91% 2.50% NA
1986 1,176 228 19.39% 14.37% 5.95% 7.91% 3.40% NA
1987 1,217 246 20.21% 15.04% 3.94% 7.72% 3.94% NA
1988 1,481 307 20.73% 15.26% 5.74% 8.51% 3.51% NA
1989 1,949 360 18.47% 12.42% 3.28% 7.85% 2.57% NA
1990 2,170 406 18.71% 13.41% 3.78% 7.28% 3.18% NA
1991 2,506 451 18.00% 12.89% 3.67% 7.74% 2.59% NA
1992 2,331 431 18.49% 13.94% 4.33% 7.21% 2.49% NA
1993 2,751 628 22.83% 16.50% 4.33% 9.09% 3.49% NA
1994 3,620 749 20.69% 14.20% 3.15% 8.70% 3.40% NA
1995 4,028 802 19.91% 13.70% 2.43% 7.62% 3.05% NA
1996 4,974 876 17.61% 9.57% 1.53% 7.98% 3.38% 7.98%
1997 6,030 1,220 20.23% 9.94% 1.59% 11.01% 3.57% 11.02%
1998 9,309 1,626 17.47% 8.07% 1.34% 9.39% 3.30% 9.39%
1999 9,846 1,735 17.62% 6.67% 1.06% 10.78% 3.69% 10.78%
2000 246 31 12.60% 6.10% 2.03% 5.69% 2.44% 5.69%
2001 173 14 8.09% 4.62% 1.16% 2.89% 1.73% 2.89%
2002 219 18 8.22% 5.94% 1.37% 1.37% 0.91% 1.37%
2003 205 18 8.78% 6.83% 0.98% 1.46% 0.98% 1.46%
2004 282 19 6.74% 3.90% 1.77% 1.06% 2.84% 1.06%
2005 196 13 6.63% 5.10% 4.08% 0.00% 2.04% 0.00%
2006 329 15 4.56% 2.43% 0.61% 0.91% 1.22% 0.91%
2007 176 6 3.41% 2.27% 1.70% 0.57% 0.57% 0.57%
2008 258 11 4.26% 3.10% 1.16% 0.78% 1.55% 0.78%
2009 65 2 3.08% 3.08% 1.54% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2010 90 2 2.22% 1.11% 1.11% 0.00% 2.22% 0.00%
2011 125 2 1.60% 0.00% 0.00% 1.60% 0.00% 1.60%
2012 231 5 2.16% 0.87% 0.00% 0.43% 0.87% 0.43%
2013 125 2 1.60% 0.80% 0.80% 0.00% 0.80% 0.00%
2014 359 3 0.84% 0.00% 0.00% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
2015 180 3 1.67% 0.56% 0.00% 0.56% 0.56% 0.56%
2016 417 2 0.48% 0.00% 0.00% 0.24% 0.24% 0.24%
2017 212 2 0.94% 0.47% 0.47% 0.47% 0.00% 0.47%
2018 498 5 1.00% 0.20% 0.20% 0.60% 0.40% 0.60%
2019 71 1 1.41% 1.41% 0.00% 1.41% 0.00% 1.41%
2020 110 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2021 47 1 2.13% 0.00% 0.00% 2.13% 0.00% 2.13%
2022 28 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2023 38 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2024 46 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2025 105 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2026 59 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 11 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 62,489 11,129 17.81% 10.45% 2.53% 8.40% 3.20% 8.68%

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% 0.25%
1997 3 1 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 0.00% 0.19%
1998 119 18 15.13% 12.61% 3.36% 9.24% 1.68% 0.16%
1999 498 58 11.65% 10.24% 2.01% 9.90% 7.47% 0.16%
2000 18,681 2,858 15.30% 13.60% 2.93% 13.42% 10.01% 0.42%
2001 15,882 2,468 15.54% 13.83% 3.00% 13.63% 9.68% 0.40%
2002 25,831 3,452 13.36% 11.86% 2.63% 11.64% 8.27% 0.37%
2003 21,637 2,959 13.68% 11.80% 3.20% 11.53% 7.81% 0.46%
2004 35,316 4,035 11.43% 9.96% 2.43% 9.75% 6.62% 0.33%
2005 26,002 3,161 12.16% 10.43% 2.73% 10.26% 7.03% 0.36%
2006 41,977 4,309 10.27% 8.91% 2.02% 8.73% 6.11% 0.29%
2007 31,949 3,140 9.83% 8.35% 2.16% 8.19% 5.51% 0.25%
2008 40,938 3,458 8.45% 7.33% 1.62% 7.19% 4.98% 0.22%
2009 21,284 1,912 8.98% 7.76% 1.77% 7.64% 5.20% 0.20%
2010 41,450 3,159 7.62% 6.90% 1.10% 6.81% 3.15% 0.14%
2011 26,117 2,532 9.69% 8.71% 1.45% 8.63% 3.76% 0.16%
2012 59,445 4,621 7.77% 6.78% 1.33% 6.71% 3.07% 0.11%
2013 33,723 2,817 8.35% 7.36% 1.37% 7.29% 3.13% 0.10%
2014 82,234 4,893 5.95% 5.09% 1.08% 5.05% 2.34% 0.07%
2015 36,733 2,868 7.81% 6.79% 1.34% 6.75% 2.99% 0.08%
2016 106,306 4,993 4.70% 4.03% 0.79% 4.00% 1.98% 0.06%
2017 29,856 1,915 6.41% 5.81% 0.85% 5.78% 2.98% 0.04%
2018 116,882 4,940 4.23% 3.68% 0.65% 3.64% 2.06% 0.04%
2019 15,408 922 5.98% 5.67% 0.46% 5.63% 3.56% 0.04%
2020 13,927 791 5.68% 5.36% 0.45% 5.34% 3.74% 0.02%
2021 12,448 581 4.67% 4.48% 0.28% 4.47% 3.07% 0.02%
2022 14,163 649 4.58% 4.43% 0.22% 4.41% 3.16% 0.02%
2023 10,078 447 4.44% 4.31% 0.20% 4.30% 3.11% 0.01%
2024 12,858 598 4.65% 4.54% 0.16% 4.53% 3.72% 0.01%
2025 9,678 342 3.53% 3.45% 0.09% 3.50% 2.58% 0.01%
2026 4,962 5 0.10% 0.00% 0.10% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
2027 85 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
All Model Years 906,474 68,905 7.60% 6.67% 1.34% 6.63% 3.93% 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 6,527 10.45%
All Visual 12,140 1.34% 1,999 3.20%
All Functional 60,505 6.67% 5,247 8.40%
OBDII 59,725 6.63% 3,043 8.68%
Overall 68,905 7.60% 11,129 17.81%

Initial Test Failures by Program Area

Program Area OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
Enhanced 782,760 59,296 7.58% 51,706 9,372 18.13%
Partial Enhanced 45,842 3,585 7.82% 3,147 617 19.61%
Basic 72,624 5,627 7.75% 7,244 1,056 14.58%
Change of Ownership 5,248 397 7.56% 392 84 21.43%
All Program Areas 906,474 68,905 7.60% 62,489 11,129 17.81%

Initial Test Failures by Station Type

Station Type OIS BAR-97
Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate Initial Tests Failed Failure Rate
STAR Test Only 519,976 40,815 7.85% 37,706 6,621 17.56%
Non-STAR Test Only 35,552 2,146 6.04% 1,692 173 10.22%
STAR Test and Repair 238,571 19,444 8.15% 18,110 3,626 20.02%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 108,621 6,133 5.65% 4,053 528 13.03%
Test and Repair/Dealer 1,716 75 4.37% 14 3 21.43%
Business Fleet 293 7 2.39% 0 0 0.00%
Permanent Fleet Registered 12 0 0.00% 0 0 0.00%
Referee 291 200 68.73% 49 26 53.06%
Government Fleet 1,442 85 5.89% 865 152 17.57%
All Stations 906,474 68,905 7.60% 62,489 11,129 17.81%

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 883,031 91.13% 85,932 8.87%
All Tests 948,167 90.63% 97,995 9.37%

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 232,186 90.46% 24,495 9.54%
STAR Test Only 508,727 91.22% 48,955 8.78%
Non-STAR Test and Repair 105,264 93.42% 7,410 6.58%
Non-STAR Test Only 34,812 93.47% 2,432 6.53%
Total 880,989 91.36% 83,292 8.64%

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 18,110 $78.69 238,571 $63.37 256,681 $71.03
STAR Test Only 37,706 $68.03 519,976 $58.64 557,682 $63.34
Non-STAR Test and Repair 4,053 $73.29 108,621 $75.43 112,674 $74.36
Non-STAR Test Only 1,692 $63.81 35,552 $54.14 37,244 $58.97
Total 61,561 $72.90 902,720 $65.42 964,281 $69.16

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 $0.00 358 $54.27 18,110 $78.69 238,213 $63.39
STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 2,041 $73.91 37,706 $68.03 517,935 $58.53
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 $0.00 47,471 $78.51 4,053 $73.36 61,150 $72.28
Non-STAR Test Only 0 $0.00 16,476 $53.96 1,692 $63.90 19,076 $54.41
Total 0 $0.00 66,346 $74.72 61,561 $72.92 836,374 $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) $0-100 524 $56.05 2,986 $689.16
$101-250 649 $176.92
$251-500 544 $366.42
$501-650 225 $574.24
Over $651 1044 $1,518.30
Non-STAR Repairs (Test and Repair) $0-100 81 $61.70 516 $768.99
$101-250 101 $180.22
$251-500 117 $360.07
$501-650 37 $562.11
Over $651 180 $1,725.96
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 2 $71.00 439 $1,438.88
$101-250 26 $214.40
$251-500 48 $350.77
$501-650 29 $573.51
Over $651 334 $1,773.90
Total Repairs $0-100 607 $56.85 3,941 $783.13
$101-250 776 $178.60
$251-500 709 $364.31
$501-650 291 $572.62
Over $651 1558 $1,597.09

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 114 29 1,555 80 1,778
STAR Test Only 19 4 1,679 38 1,740
STAR Subtotal 133 33 3,234 118 3,518
Non-STAR Test and Repair 423 51 1,715 183 2,372
Non-STAR Test Only 39 10 330 46 425
Non-STAR Subtotal 462 61 2,045 229 2,797
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 5 312 15 376
Repair Only 1 0 23 1 25
Other Station Subtotal 98 5 384 18 505
All Stations 693 99 5,663 365 6,820

Stations Conducting Test by Equipment Type

Station Type Equipment Type
BAR-97 Only OIS Only BAR-97 and OIS
STAR Test and Repair 2 288 1,424
STAR Test Only 5 186 1,489
STAR Subtotal 7 474 2,913
Non-STAR Test and Repair 0 1,626 213
Non-STAR Test Only 2 198 65
Non-STAR Subtotal 2 1,824 278
Permanent Fleet Registered 0 5 0
Business Fleet 0 2 0
Test and Repair/Dealer 0 42 2
Government Fleet 5 150 29
Referee 0 4 29
Other Station Subtotal 5 203 60
All Stations 14 2,501 3,251

Referee Inspections

Inspection Type Total Completed
Smog Inspection/Repair Disputes 505
BAR Referrals 457
Law Enforcement Citations 382
Repair Cost Waiver + Parts Locator Service 185
Engine Change/Replacement 88
Clean Gas 57
Specially Constructed Vehicle/Kit Car 38
CAT BAR Label 31
OBD Monitor Issues 25
Grey Market 5
All Inspections 1,773

Referee Certificates Issued

Certificate Type OIS BAR-97
Certificate of Compliance 205 54
Repair Cost Waiver 55 3
Limited Parts Exemption 7 0
Exempt Vehicle 0 14
Exempted by Directive 18 0
Hardship Extensions 2 0
Non-Compliance 0 0
All Certificates Issued 287 71

Technicians

Technician License Type Technicians Conducting Tests Total Licensed Technicians
EO (Inspect Only) 3,264 5,343
EO+EI (Inspect and Repair) 5,230 7,331
All License Types 8,494 12,674

FPR Score Distribution

License Type FPR Score < 0.10 FPR Score ≥ 0.10 and < 0.40 FPR Score ≥ 0.40 No Score Total
Stations 224 1,128 3,613 1,350 6,315
Inspectors 282 1,736 5,579 5,077 12,674

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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