Midnight smog
"When the other guys go home, we keep on working — Get your smog check after work!"
California Smog Check: September 2025 — STAR vs Non‑STAR (BAR)
Key takeaways from California BAR’s Smog Check Executive Summary for September 2025. This page explains differences between STAR and non‑STAR station performance, why STAR failure rates can look higher, and how station/equipment mix affects the numbers. For drivers, if your DMV renewal notice says "STAR station required" (sometimes shown as "STAR required"), you must use a STAR‑certified station; if it doesn’t, you can complete your smog check at either a STAR or non‑STAR station.
Quick Highlights
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OIS initial test failure rate: STAR Test‑Only 8.13%; STAR Test‑and‑Repair 8.09%; Non‑STAR Test‑Only 5.77%; Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair 5.56%.
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BAR‑97 initial test failure rate: STAR Test‑Only 17.31%; STAR Test‑and‑Repair 19.84%; Non‑STAR Test‑Only 7.13%; Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair 12.88%.
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Certificates issued on initial test: STAR Test‑Only 90.91%; STAR Test‑and‑Repair 90.42%; Non‑STAR Test‑Only 93.82%; Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair 93.49%.
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Vehicle mix at STAR: STAR stations test both directed and non‑directed vehicles; many initial tests at STAR are non‑directed (walk‑ins).
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Stations conducting tests (unique counts): STAR: 3,423; Non‑STAR: 2,090.
Directed vs Non‑Directed Vehicles at STAR
BAR directs a portion of the fleet to STAR‑certified stations (these are directed vehicles). However, STAR stations are authorized to inspect all vehicles subject to Smog Check. In practice, many vehicles inspected at STAR stations are not directed—motorists often choose STAR for convenience, perceived quality, or because they are already at a test‑and‑repair facility. As a result, STAR failure and certification rates reflect a mix of directed and non‑directed vehicles.
INITIAL TEST FAILURES — BY STATION TYPE & EQUIPMENT
• STAR Test‑Only — OIS: 480,160 tests; 39,059 failed (8.13%). BAR‑97: 39,462 tests; 6,829 failed (17.31%).
• STAR Test‑and‑Repair — OIS: 224,006 tests; 18,117 failed (8.09%). BAR‑97: 19,112 tests; 3,791 failed (19.84%).
• Non‑STAR Test‑Only — OIS: 31,649 tests; 1,826 failed (5.77%). BAR‑97: 1,627 tests; 116 failed (7.13%).
• Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair — OIS: 108,802 tests; 6,051 failed (5.56%). BAR‑97: 4,619 tests; 595 failed (12.88%).
CERTIFICATION ON INITIAL TEST — BY STATION TYPE
• STAR Test‑Only — 472,404 certificates (90.91%); 47,218 no certificate (9.09%).
• STAR Test‑and‑Repair — 219,822 certificates (90.42%); 23,296 no certificate (9.58%).
• Non‑STAR Test‑Only — 31,218 certificates (93.82%); 2,058 no certificate (6.18%).
• Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair — 106,042 certificates (93.49%); 7,379 no certificate (6.51%).
STATIONS CONDUCTING TESTS — BY EQUIPMENT TYPE
• STAR Test‑and‑Repair — BAR‑97 only: 1; OIS only: 293; Both: 1,447; Total: 1,741.
• STAR Test‑Only — BAR‑97 only: 3; OIS only: 177; Both: 1,502; Total: 1,682.
• STAR Sub‑Total — BAR‑97 only: 4; OIS only: 470; Both: 2,949; Total: 3,423.
• Non‑STAR Test‑and‑Repair — BAR‑97 only: 0; OIS only: 1,579; Both: 234; Total: 1,813.
• Non‑STAR Test‑Only — BAR‑97 only: 1; OIS only: 208; Both: 68; Total: 277.
• Non‑STAR Sub‑Total — BAR‑97 only: 1; OIS only: 1,787; Both: 302; Total: 2,090.
Source: California Bureau of Automotive Repair — Smog Check Executive Summary (September 2025). This page is a formatted summary (not the state website).