Legislation and regulations update
Chaptered legislation
Legislation chaptered in 2026 related to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and/or its licensees is listed below. For further information regarding legislative proposals, BAR recommends contacting one of the several trade associations that represent the automotive repair industry or visiting www.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
SB 988 (Grayson, Chapter 666) establishes new requirements for businesses primarily engaged in automotive glass repair and replacement, including requiring shops to disclose whether a vehicle is equipped with an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and whether calibration is required following windshield repair or replacement. The bill also requires shops to provide written notice of calibration results, itemized invoices, and follow specific claim authorization procedures before completing insured repairs.
SB 1392 (Cortese/Grove, Chapter 245) expands the definition of a collector motor vehicle and requires the Bureau, in collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to establish in regulation an administrative process to exempt collector motor vehicles from Smog Check inspection requirements. The bill specifies that the exemption process begins in 2028 with collector motor vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year and each year thereafter extends the exemption by one model year, ending in 2033 with collector motor vehicles manufactured before the 1986 model year.
SB 1445 (Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, Chapter 237) clarifies that a written estimate from an automotive repair dealer includes one provided in an electronic format, such as email or text.
Legislation of interest
SB 766 (Allen, Chapter 354, Statutes of 2025) establishes the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act, effective October 1, 2026. The law adds new consumer protections to the Civil Code for motor vehicle sales and leases, including requirements related to vehicle pricing, financing, optional add-on products and services, and cancellation rights for certain used vehicle transactions. Although SB 766 is not administered or enforced by BAR, its requirements may apply to BAR-registered automotive repair dealers that also sell or lease motor vehicles.
Regulations adopted in 2026
For complete information on regulatory actions and to learn about future opportunities for public participation, see Regulatory actions.
Notification of Change of Address and Other Material Changes
This regulatory proposal was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and filed with the Secretary of State on March 30, 2026. The new regulations, which took effect on July 1, 2026, remove inconsistencies in current regulations by clarifying timeframes for reporting to BAR material changes relating to licensure. Specifically, the timeframe for notifying BAR of a change of address is updated to 14 days and notice of other material changes to 30 days.
Biometric Device Updates
This regulatory proposal was approved by OAL and filed with the Secretary of State on April 2, 2026. The new regulations, which took effect on July 1, 2026, update the Smog Check Manual and Vehicle Safety Systems Inspection Manual to read “Fujitsu palm vein scanner sensor model FAT13FPS01 or newer…” (emphasis added).
Pending regulation packages
Storage Fees Charged by Automotive Repair Dealers
This regulatory proposal would:
Codify existing laws on vehicle storage in BAR regulations, specifically to:
Establish that fees charged by an automotive repair dealer (ARD), for the storage of a motor vehicle, shall be based on their costs associated with storing a vehicle.
Define when storage fees may be charged.
Require that an automotive repair dealer (ARD) store a vehicle at its primary business address as registered with the Bureau. If it is necessary to store the vehicle at a different location:
The ARD must notify the customer of the storage location prior to moving the vehicle, and
The ARD cannot charge to move the vehicle without customer authorization.
Require that an ARD provide an itemized invoice for storage fees when charged.
Require an ARD that provides storage services to post their current daily storage fee rate(s) in an area frequented by customers.
Require an ARD to report to the Bureau their maximum daily storage rate when renewing their registration.
- An ARD may make a change to their reported maximum daily storage rate once per registration cycle.
Require an ARD that maintains a motor carrier permit to display the Towing and Storage Fees Access Notice in an area of the business facility that is in plain view of the public and have copies of the notice available to the public.
Require BAR to create a search tool on its website showing average and median daily storage rates for a given locale based on the maximum daily storage rate reported by ARDs.
Define a “locale” as one of four geographic radiuses around each reporting ARD that is sufficient to identify average and median storage rates for that locale.
Status:
Public comment period: November 14-December 31, 2025
15-day public comment period on modified text: March 17-April 13, 2026
15-day public comment period on second modified text: August 13-28, 2026
These regulations are expected to be adopted and take effect on January 1, 2027.
Airbag Safety
This regulatory proposal would:
Prohibit an ARD from manufacturing, installing, selling, or offering for sale any airbag which is part of an inflatable restraint system known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to:
Have been previously deployed
Have an electrical fault
Include a component designed to mislead the vehicle owner or operator into believing a functional airbag has been installed
Display a mark identical or substantially similar to the genuine mark of a motor vehicle manufacturer, or of a supplier of parts to the manufacturer of a motor vehicle, without authorization from that manufacturer or supplier
Be subject to an airbag-related safety recall issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Require an ARD to restore an airbag that is part of an inflatable restraint system to its original operating condition as designed by the OEM
Require an ARD to purchase an airbag replacement part or component only from:
The OEM
A supplier or reseller previously authorized by the OEM whose airbag parts or components are not subject to a recall issued by the OEM or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
An automotive dismantler licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles, that has verified: (1) The replacement airbag parts or components are OEM, (2) The individual replacement parts or components required for the safe deployment of an airbag have not triggered a previous airbag deployment, (3) The assembly shows no indication of damage, previous deployment, or tampering, and (4) Any airbag-related recalls have been performed on the vehicle from which the replacement parts or components are being removed.
Require an ARD to retain receipts for all parts received or purchased
If the manufacturer of the vehicle has published a position statement(s) related to airbag parts or components, the replacement of any airbag parts or components shall not contradict any currently operative position statement(s).
Status:
Public comment period: July 10-August 24, 2026
15-day public comment period on modified text: September 2-17, 2026
These regulations are expected to be adopted and take effect on January 1, 2027.
Towing Authorization Requirement
This regulatory proposal would:
Require an ARD that performs or contracts with another party to perform a towing service to obtain customer authorization of any towing fees prior to the towing service being performed
Require an ARD that maintains a motor carrier permit pursuant to Vehicle Code section 34620 to obtain any towing fee authorization on a separate document from any repair authorization
- This requirement does not apply to a towing service that is needed to transport the vehicle as part of a sublet repair or to transfer the vehicle to a different location for purposes of storage.
Require an ARD to list any storage-related and/or towing-related charges as separate line items on the invoice
Status:
The package is currently under internal review and is expected to be filed with OAL for public notification and comment by the end of the year.
Business Information Updates
This regulatory proposal would:
Require an applicant for an ARD registration to provide a business email address and telephone number for the physical location of the business where a Responsible Managing Employee can be reached during normal business hours
Ensure that, as a condition of registration renewal, an ARD verifies that all information required of an initial applicant for ARD registration is current and submitted to BAR
Require that, in addition to internet-based advertising, print and vehicle-based advertising must clearly display the ARD business name or “doing business as” (DBA) name, and ARD registration number
Delete the requirement to include the telephone number as registered with BAR in the advertising
Allow the requirement to display the ARD business name and registration number in any internet-based advertising to be satisfied if the internet-based advertising directs a user to another online source containing the required business name and registration number. Clarify that internet-based advertising includes social media, email, and websites
Status:
The package is currently under internal review and is expected to be filed with OAL for public notification and comment by the end of the year.