This page will address changes to the State of California Smog Check Program.
Future Testing of Pre-OBD II Vehicles
• BAR’s Sunset Bill (AB 1263) includes several provisions including:
• Authorizes BAR to establish a centralized testing network for model year 1995 (pre-OBD II) and older vehicles no earlier than January 1, 2025
• Must be competitively bid • May include subcontracted licensed Smog Check stations (i.e., centralized/hybrid)
• Authorizes BAR to begin testing model year 1996 -1999 vehicles using the BAR Onboard Diagnostic Inspection System (BAR-OIS) no earlier than January 1, 2025
Considerations
• Although the population of older vehicles (model year 1976 -1995) is relatively small (615,200), it is still a large part of the Smog Check emissions inventory (17.6%)
• Continued testing of this population of vehicles is critical to meeting State Implementation Plan (SIP) commitments
• Shifting the testing of model year 1996 -1999 to the BAR-OIS without establishing an alternative testing network would:
• Provide even less incentive for STAR stations to maintain BAR-97 equipment
• Exacerbate challenges for owners of older vehicles seeking BAR-97 inspections
• Increase pressure to exempt this population of vehicles from Smog Check
• Establishing a centralized/hybrid network and shifting the testing of model year 1996 -1999 vehicles benefits consumers and the Smog Check industry
• Improved air quality
• Reduced BAR-97 testing costs for consumers who own older vehicles
• Helps to ensure adequate program area coverage for BAR-97 testing
• Removes burdensome BAR-97 equipment requirements for STAR stations who no longer wish to continue BAR-97 testing
• Increases the population of vehicles that can be tested on the OIS
• Allows a pathway for existing high-performing stations to continue BAR-97 testing
Metrics / Criteria
• The cost of a BAR-97 inspection
• The cost of performing a centralized/hybrid BAR-97 inspection
• Smog Check station willingness/ability to maintain BAR-97 equipment
• BAR-97 vendors' willingness/ability to maintain BAR-97 equipment
• BAR-97 test volume of STAR and non-STAR stations • Population of older vehicles
• Contribution of older vehicles to the emissions inventory
• Consumer complaints relative to the ability to obtain a BAR-97 inspection
Contact Information
Clayton Leek
clayton.leek@dca.ca.gov