If you run an automotive repair business in California, you need to pay a fee for each location and register with the state using specific forms. These forms must include your business name, contact details, and the address of each location. You also need to confirm that each location is zoned appropriately, provide any necessary tax permit numbers, and disclose mobile repair operation details like the vehicle license plate number. If you're using a fictitious business name, that needs to be noted. You must identify key individuals involved in the business and include any relevant educational certifications. The information provided must be true, as you're signing under penalty of perjury. Local state agencies aren't responsible for enforcing local rules about where repair shops can operate.

If a company has multiple car repair shops, they can submit one application each year for all locations. However, they must list each shop's address and who is in charge of each one. They still need to pay the fee for each individual shop.

When a properly completed application and fee are received, the director will issue a registration and provide proof to the auto repair dealer. The director can set rules to ensure compliance with the law. Someone who previously lost or was denied a registration, or broke certain rules, can still get a registration under special conditions set by the director.

This law says that if you're running an auto repair business, your registration is only good for a year. After that, you need to pay a renewal fee to keep it valid.

This law says that a registration becomes invalid if the information a person submitted, as required by a specific form, is no longer up-to-date and the director considers it important.

If an automotive repair dealer in California doesn't renew their registration within three years after it expires, they can't renew it at all after that period, and their registration will be automatically canceled. Once canceled, to get a new registration, the dealer must meet all registration requirements again and pay any necessary fees. However, within those first three years after expiration, they can still renew by submitting the proper form and paying all fees, which keeps their registration active until it needs to be renewed again.

If you want to run an automotive repair business, you must register properly and keep your registration up to date. This rule also applies to people who get paid to adjust, install, or test retrofit systems, which help vehicles meet specific environmental standards.

This law allows the director to take disciplinary actions against an automotive repair dealer if they commit certain dishonest or negligent acts. These actions include denial, suspension, or revocation of their registration. Examples of violations that can lead to such actions are making false or misleading statements, failing to document customer requests accurately, committing fraud, and more. The law also sets rules for handling violations at multiple business locations and requires a remediation training program for minor violations. Any fraudulent activities, as defined in related legal terms, will result in harsher consequences without the possibility of remedial training.

Every time an auto repair shop does work, they must create an invoice that lists all the services performed and parts used separately. This invoice should also show subtotal prices for the service work and parts excluding taxes, with the sales tax listed separately. If any parts used are old, rebuilt, or a mix of new and old, it must be clearly indicated. Additionally, the invoice should specify if crash parts are from the original manufacturer or not. Both the customer and the shop keep a copy of the invoice.

This section outlines the responsibilities of an automotive repair dealer when providing estimates for repair work. Dealers must provide customers with a written estimate for labor and parts before starting any work. No extra charges can apply without customer approval—either in writing or verbally—documented with details like date and time. If repairs involve another party, the customer must be informed. For bodywork, estimates must itemize parts and labor, specifying if parts are new, used, or aftermarket. Customers can designate someone else to approve extra work, but that person can't be the dealer or insurer. Written estimates aren't needed for free services or when prices are clearly posted and acknowledged by the customer.

When you get your car fixed, you can ask the repair shop to give you back any parts they replace. However, some parts might be too big or heavy to return, or the repair shop might need to send them back to the manufacturer for warranty reasons. If that's the case, the repair shop should offer to show you the replaced parts when the work is finished, as long as there's a charge for them.

If you run an auto repair shop, you must keep certain records as dictated by regulations. These records must be easily accessible for inspection by law enforcement and must be stored for at least three years.

If someone faces actions like denial, suspension, revocation, or probation of a registration, these matters are handled according to specific government procedures laid out in another part of the law.

This law explains that even if an automotive repair dealer's registration expires, it doesn't stop the authorities from investigating or taking disciplinary action, including canceling the registration temporarily or permanently.

This law allows a superior court to issue an order stopping someone from running an automotive repair business or working as a mechanic if they are breaking the rules outlined in this chapter. The director or chief can request this without proving that other legal remedies wouldn't work or that there would be serious harm. It works alongside other laws and doesn't replace them.

If an automotive repair dealer breaks the rules set by this chapter or its regulations, the director can bring the matter to the district attorney or city attorney to take legal action.

If you need to have a valid registration under this law, you cannot claim any liens for your work or materials on car repairs. Also, you can't sue for unpaid repair bills unless you have this valid registration. The bureau is allowed to make rules as needed, like regarding car repair towing or storage fees, to enforce these provisions.

This law requires all auto repair shops to display a sign that the public can easily see. The sign must inform customers that they can contact the regulatory bureau with questions about services. It also needs to include the bureau's phone number and website address. Moreover, the sign should tell customers they are allowed to ask for any parts that are replaced during repair, but they must make this request when they give the work order.

This law states that people are allowed to sue automotive repair dealers in civil court. The chapter doesn't stop anyone from taking legal action against them.

This law allows a bureau to create, change, or remove rules related to preventing fraudulent or misleading advertising by car repair shops. It can define terms like 'fraud,' 'guarantee,' and 'negligence' and set guidelines for suspending or revoking licenses. The bureau must also give each registered repair shop copies of these rules and regulations.

This law says that if someone wants to file a complaint against an auto repair shop for doing something wrong, they have to do it within three years of the issue happening. However, if the complaint is about fraud or lying, they have two years from when the problem is discovered to file it.

This section allows the director to issue a probationary registration to applicants, with specific conditions like treatment or abstaining from alcohol, after considering the circumstances, especially if the applicant has a dismissed conviction. Applicants can provide additional documents to show rehabilitation. The director may also adjust or end these conditions if the applicant petitions for it. Probationary registrations have a three-year cap, and guidelines will be set for transitioning to a standard registration.

This law makes it a crime for an auto repair shop to promise to replace a deployed airbag and then not actually do it. If a customer pays for this service but the airbag isn’t properly restored, the shop can be fined $5,000, sent to jail for a year, or both.