What is a star smog station?

​This is the most comprehensive guide to the question we are asked often.

California DMV mandates most vehicles get an emissions test done at a certain interval.  This program is administered by the Bureau of Auto Repair (BAR).  A certain portion of such vehicles, for example gross polluters and other directed vehicles, are required to obtain their smog certification from a STAR certified smog test station.  In order to obtain STAR certification, a smog test station has to meet certain base requirements.

​A smog check customer can get a smog certificate for a directed vehicle only at a STAR certified smog station.  A non-directed vehicle can be smogged at a STAR certified or a regular smog station.  Taking your vehicle to a STAR certified smog station ensures the highest degree of accuracy of smog test results.

​Overview of STAR certification requirements

1. Only STAR-eligible smog inspectors are able to run the smog test AND
2. Smog stations are required to maintain certain resources and are required to exceed smog check accuracy thresholds that are evaluated by BAR.

​In order to clearly demonstrate the concept; we shall take a real-world example of a STAR certified smog test center, and a STAR-eligible smog inspector that works at the smog center.

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​Detailed requirements of STAR-eligible inspectors

1. Short-term Measures – smog test deviations on no more than one short-term measure AND
2. Long-term Measures – FPR score greater than or equal to 0.40.

​​Short-term Measures (for smog inspector)

Smog inspectors are evaluated on short-term measures that are calculated on a quarterly basis.  Examples below:

1. Fuel Cap Not Performed:
   1. Note State Average column.  0.36% of the smog tests, an inspector does not perform the Fuel Cap Test when it is required.
   2. Note Standard column.  BAR provides for an allowable 0.45% of error on this measure beyond which such inspector is considered to breach this performance measure.
   3. In this particular inspector’s case, he performed the Fuel Cap Test accurately 100% of the times.  Hence the Inspector Average column shows 0.00% deviation.
2. ASM Restarts:
   1. Note State Average column.  5.40% of the smog tests, an inspector has to restart a dyno smog test.  Restarts are caused by a variety of reasons; either the inspector is not skilled enough or the smog station equipment is faulty.
   2. Note Standard column.  BAR provides for an allowable 6.75% error on this measure beyond which such inspector is considered to breach this performance measure.
   3. Note Inspector Average column.  In this particular inspector’s case, his restarts were only 4.55% of the times he did a dyno smog test.  Hence, he met the performance standard set by the BAR.

​​Long-term Measures (for smog inspector)

Smog Inspectors are also evaluated on long-term measures that are evaluated on a semi-annual basis.  Unlike short-term measures, there is only one long-term measure under consideration.  Follow-up Pass Rate, abbreviated as FPR, is a measure of sequence of tests a vehicle goes through, and its test results.  For example, imagine a hypothetical scenario where every car that a smog inspector passes, had failed its smog test two years ago!  Clearly such an inspector is simply certifying the car without following the proper smog test procedures.  In such an instance, the inspector is bound to have a failing FPR score, which would disqualify him or her from doing smog tests at a STAR certified smog station.

​In this real smog inspector example, note his FPR scores overtime.  FPRs range from 0 – 0.99; and rarely does an inspector consistently maintain their scores above 0.90.  This inspector clearly demonstrates that not only does he perform smog checks correctly, but also does so on a consistent basis.

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​Detailed requirements of STAR smog stations

1. Resource Requirements – equipment and tools, signage, manuals, administrative procedures AND
2. Short-term Measures – smog test deviations on no more than one short-term measure AND
3. Long-term Measures – FPR score greater than or equal to 0.40.

​​​Resource Requirements (for smog station)

​Smog testing is highly regulated by the State of California, under the framework established by the BAR.  In order to maintain consistency of smog test results, the BAR has set forth certain resource requirements that a smog station must satisfy in order for it to be eligible for STAR certification.  Such requirements include, but are not limited to, the equipment and tools used by a smog station (e.g. Bar97, OiS, EVAP Pliers), the signage for customers (e.g. Pricing Sign, Notice to Consumers), manuals for inspectors a station must carry (e.g. Smog Check Manual, Reference Guide), and the estimate-certificate-invoice-payment procedures a station must follow.  Deviations from such requirements set forth by the BAR are not permitted.

​​​Short-term Measures (for smog station)

Smog check accuracy thresholds include overall station scores that are a combination of performance measures that a smog station is required to meet and the weighted average of the scores of the technicians that the station employs.

1. Short-term performance measures that a smog station is required to meet:
   1. Total station’s smog test deviations should not exceed one.  Note this example smog station has zero deviations.
   2. Incorrect Gear Selection.  This is a short-term performance measure.  Dyno smog tests are required to be performed at a certain gear selection.  The smog station example has selected the correct gear in all 100% of the smog tests across all its smog inspectors.  This metric demonstrates that the smog inspectors employed by the smog station are clearly very knowledgeable and skilled at their job.
   3. Similar Vehicle Failure Rate (SVFR).  This is a short-term performance measure.  Imagine a scenario where across the State, 32% of 1995 Toyota Camrys fail a smog test, however, in this hypothetical scenario of a smog station, all hundred 1995 Toyota Camrys pass the smog test.  Clearly the smog station is not following the correct smog testing procedures.  This will result in a deviation.  Note in the picture, the Standard minimum SVFR of 3.91% versus the Station Result SVFR of 16.36%.
   
   
   

​​​Long-term Measures (for smog station)

1. Follow-up Pass Rate (FPR).  This is a long-term performance measure.  Unlike a smog inspectors’ FPR, smog station’s FPR is calculated on an overall shop basis across all smog inspectors at the shop.  Other than that, it is the same concept, that carries the same thresholds.  Note in the picture that the example smog station has the highest FPR possible of 0.99!

​​Clearly, our example smog station meets all the eligibility criteria to be a STAR certified smog station!

Please note that all picture examples provided are based on live data.  We have not modified or made up any of the examples.  Names and license numbers of smog inspectors are redacted for privacy reasons.

​We sincerely hope you find our detailed guide to star smog stations helpful.

All StarSmogCenter smog stations are STAR certified!