What does the bureau of automotive repair do

Consumer Assistance Program

Phone

(866) 272-9642 (Consumer Assistance Program )

(800) 952-5210 (General Consumer Information Center)

Eligibility

To review eligibility requirements and apply, visit www.bar.ca.gov.

Services

The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) offers eligible consumers repair assistance and vehicle retirement options to help improve California's air quality. Eligible consumers may receive up to $1,200 in emissions-related repairs at a STAR test-and-repair station if their vehicle fails its biennial Smog Check inspection. Eligible consumers may receive either $1,500 or $1,000 to retire their operational vehicle at a BAR-contracted dismantler site.

Note: Participation is based on meeting eligibility requirements and the availability of funds each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Hours

Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays.

Addresses

Bringing your car into a repair shop for repairs or service can sometimes be an intimidating experience. Often times, you as the customer know far less about cars than the mechanics, and you might be worried that the shop will take advantage of you or cheat you out of your hard-earned money. Fortunately, the State of California has put into place a series of car repair laws and regulations to protect customers of the automotive repair industry. These car repair laws provide oversight to the industry, as well as rules that give the consumer protection, and more information and control over the repair process.

As someone who will have to get your car repaired from time to time, it’s important for you to understand your legal rights as a consumer when it comes to automotive repair, so as to make sure that any repair shop you’re dealing with is in compliance and respecting your rights. By knowing these rights, you should be able to choose an automotive repair shop that will repair your car honestly and transparently.

History of the California Automotive Repair Act

In 1971, the California Legislature enacted, and then Governor Ronald Reagan signed into law the California Automotive Repair Act (CAR Act). The CAR Act established a series of regulations and protections for consumers who go in to get their cars repaired. Automotive repair shops of all types were now required to register and be licensed, and a series of laws were put into place mandating transparency on the part of auto repair shops.

The California Automotive Repair Act also established the Bureau of Automotive Repair (B.A.R.). The B.A.R. is a regulatory agency, a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, that oversees the licensing and regulation of the automotive repair industry. The B.A.R. also mediates complaints against automotive repair shops; and investigates and takes administrative and enforcement action against shops that violate provisions of the Automotive Repair Act.

The California Automotive Repair Act was passed in response to a litany of customer complaints about unscrupulous tactics being practiced by certain bad-apple auto repair shops and mechanics. One prominent example of a shady practice that the Automotive Repair Act sought to combat was an auto repair shop taking a car in for a given repair, then doing extra repairs, without the customer’s authorization, and charging the customer. Another example would be an auto repair shop utilizing used or modified parts in a repair job and charging a customer for new parts.

What many unscrupulous auto repair practices have in common is that the customer is kept in the dark as much as possible. A lack of communication before and after the repair(s), as well as a lack of written documentation leads to an environment where unethical repair shops can take advantage of their customers.

The Automotive Repair Act and the Bureau of Automotive Repair bring order to the automotive repair industry, and give you, the consumer, a set of automotive repair rights that ensure you aren’t taken advantage of.

CAR Act and the B.A.R.
The California Automotive Repair Act has had two major impacts. First of all, it requires that all persons or businesses that perform auto repairs for a fee, whether it is an auto repair shop operating at a specific address or a mobile mechanic, must be registered and licensed with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Second, it establishes a protocol of how an automotive repair shop treats its customers with regard to written repair orders, transparency, and the sharing of information.

The net effect of the CAR Act is to curb some of the bad practices that result in customers being cheated or misled when trying to get their cars repaired.

Licensing Requirements for the Automotive Repair Industry
Any automotive repair shop in the state of California must be registered with the B.A.R., and should be able to provide their licensing information to you upon request.

Requiring the automotive repair shops to be registered and licensed provides accountability. The B.A.R. tracks complaints and violations and punishes violators. So, being a licensed auto repair shop gives testimony to the fact that a shop is likely in compliance with CAR Act protections.

Despite the laws, unlicensed mechanics do exist. A mechanic or shop that’s operating without a license isn’t likely to abide by the consumer protection laws, as would a licensed repair shop. If you’re in doubt, it’s a good idea to ask a repair shop or mechanic for their Auto Repair Dealer license, just to be on the safe side.

In recent years, with the significant increase in mobile mechanics that advertise in such mediums as Craigslist, the Bureau of Automotive Repair has faced some struggles with enforcement when it comes to these mobile mechanics. This is due to the fact that a sizeable number of these mobile mechanics are not licensed and registered with the B.A.R., and are on the move.

In an effort to curb this unlicensed activity, the Bureau of Automotive Repair is continually adopting new regulations, such as specific advertising requirements for mobile mechanics. These efforts by the B.A.R. are intended to help consumers differentiate between licensed auto repair businesses and unlicensed ones. Again, if an Auto Repair Dealer license is not prominently displayed – as it should be, request to see it. If you’re speaking to a mobile mechanic on the phone, ask for his/her Auto Repair Dealer license number and verify the number here on the B.A.R.’s website.

Regulations for Automotive Repair Shops
Under the California Automotive Repair Act, all licensed auto repair shops are required to follow certain guidelines, which ensure that you, the customer, are as protected and informed as possible during the process of your car’s repairs. While the guidelines are fairly comprehensive, detailed, and all-encompassing, these guidelines can be briefly summarized as follows:

• Repair shops are required to keep their customers informed during the vehicle repair process.
• Repair shops are required to only perform the repairs that customers have authorized them to perform.
• Repair shops are required to make a written record of all work they perform and parts they use.
• Repair shops are required to provide customers with copies of both the estimates and final invoices, as well as copies of anything else customers sign.

Again, by following these guidelines, auto repair shops make sure that you, the customer, are in the loop during all steps of the decision making process, and are fully informed as to what is happening both before and after any repairs take place.

Please be aware of a few specific points about these regulations:

First, an estimate and invoice should specify whether any parts utilized in the repair are new or used, as well as if they’re rebuilt or reconditioned. This protects you by letting you know exactly which parts are going into your car, giving you the ability to look it up after the fact and check the price quoted.

Second, the way you authorize an auto repair shop to make any repairs is via your signature, with only very few exceptions. An auto repair shop can’t legally make repairs to your car without your signature authorizing them to do so, or your documented verbal authorization only in the instance of certain “unusual circumstances” that are clearly defined in the law. This makes sure that you aren’t blindsided by an auto repair shop making costly repairs and then billing you after the fact.

Third, an invoice should spell out exactly what repairs and service work were done on the car. By law, auto repair shops are required to document in plain English what each step and task consisted of. If you’re not sure what some line on the invoice means, you have the right to ask the service person or mechanic to explain so that you’re able to understand it.

Any reputable and licensed auto repair shop will follow the guidelines of the California Automotive Repair Act, and you should be aware of your rights. If an auto repair shop isn’t informing you of what it’s doing or is claiming to have made repairs that you didn’t authorize, or doesn’t provide you with up-front estimates and invoices after your repairs are complete, you have the right to speak up and seek recourse, as your consumer protections may have been violated.

Our Pledge
At Budget Auto Repair and Transmission, we pledge to fully comply with all the regulations and laws of the California Automotive Repair Act in order to provide service with integrity, transparency, and honesty. We will always obtain your authorization before proceeding with any work on your vehicle and we will always clearly document all work performed.

For us, complying with the California Automotive Repair Act is much more than just following the law. We believe that it’s every customer’s right to receive fair and ethical treatment; and nowhere is that more true than in the automotive repair industry. That is why we are also a proud member of the Business-Consumer Alliance, the Automotive Service Councils of California, and the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce; and we’re even accredited by the Better Business Bureau. At Budget Auto Repair and Transmission, you can trust that your car will be in the hands of experienced, licensed, professionals who are committed to giving you the service you deserve.

The materials contained in this blog post and available at this website were neither written by nor provided by an attorney; and are for informational purposes only. None of the information in this blog post or on this website should ever be considered to be legal advice. You should consult an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem with an auto repair or an auto repair business in general or as may be unique to your particular situation.

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