Legislation and regulations update
Legislation
Several bills introduced this year may affect the automotive repair industry. Key measures are summarized below. For the latest information on these and other proposals, visit the California Legislature’s website, or contact any of the various trade associations that represent the automotive repair industry.
Senate Bill (SB) 988 (Grayson), introduced as the California Motor Vehicle Glass Act, would establish new requirements for windshield repair and replacement, including a requirement that shops inform consumers about advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibration needs.
SB 1112 (Archuleta) would:
Authorize the legal owner, lienholder, or insurer of a vehicle in the possession of a towing company or storage facility to initiate judicial proceedings to determine whether a vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld or whether any storage charges include excessive or unreasonable fees.
Authorize the vehicle owner to post a bond of a maximum of $6,250 if the owner of the vehicle is a company, and a maximum of $500 if the owner of the vehicle is an individual.
Authorize the court to issue a certificate directing the release of the vehicle.
Require businesses, including auto body shops, to post a BAR notice explaining consumer rights under this bill.
SB 1392 (Cortese/Grove) written as of April 15, 2026, and effective January 1, 2027, would:
Redefine “collector motor vehicle” as one that is:
At least 35 years old
Used primarily in shows, parades, charitable functions, and historical exhibitions for display, maintenance, and preservation
Not used as the owner's primary mode of transportation
Insured as a collector motor vehicle with proof of insurance submitted to DMV at the time of registration
As a result of this revised definition:
A vehicle would no longer be required to be owned by a “collector” as defined in Vehicle Code (VC) section 5051(a).
Submission of proof that the vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle would still be required by regulation of the Bureau. This requirement remains unchanged in both Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 44011(c) and VC 4000.1(g)(1).
Exempt collector motor vehicles manufactured before the 1981 model year from Smog Check (biennial inspection only).
Beginning January 1, 2028, extend the exemption by one model year for five years, with the final extension ending with model year 1985 vehicles on January 1, 2032 (biennial inspection only).
Continue to allow collector motor vehicles 35 model years and older that are not eligible for the biennial exemption to be eligible for an abbreviated Smog Check inspection, in which they would be exempt from the visual check of emission control devices. This process is currently available for the biennial, initial registration, and transfer of ownership inspection requirements.
The Bureau anticipates modifications to this proposed bill as it moves through the legislative process.
SB 1445 (Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development) would allow an automotive repair dealer to provide a customer a written estimate in electronic format.
Regulations
For more information on these regulatory proposals and 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 take effect on July 1, 2026:
Update the timeframes for reporting a change of address and other material changes. Specifically, a change of address must be reported to BAR within 14 days. Other material changes, such as a change of business phone number or controlling individuals, must be reported to BAR within 30 days.
Remove duplicative text and make minor grammatical changes for consistency and clarification.
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 take 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).
Storage Fees Charged by Automotive Repair Dealers
This regulatory proposal would:
Establish that fees charged for the storage of a motor vehicle must be reasonable.
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 the customer’s 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 in an area frequented by customers and provide the Bureau with their maximum daily storage rate when renewing their registration.
- An ARD may change 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 available to the public.
Create a search tool on BAR’s website showing average and median daily storage rates for a given locale based on the maximum daily storage rates 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: March 27 – April 13, 2026
Airbag Safety
This regulatory proposal would:
Prohibit an ARD from manufacturing, importing, installing, reinstalling, distributing, 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
Require an ARD to restore an airbag that is part of an inflatable restraint system to its original operating condition as designed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
Require an ARD to purchase any airbag replacement part or component from one of the following:
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, only if the airbag has not been previously deployed; the airbag assembly shows no indications of damage, previous deployment, or tampering; and the vehicle from which the used parts or components are being removed has no airbag-related recalls that have not been performed
Require an ARD to retain receipts for all parts received or purchased
Status:
BAR is currently working with the Department of Consumer Affairs, under which the Bureau is organized, to advance the proposal through the regulatory review process. Upon approval, the Bureau will file the proposal with the Office of Administrative Law to notify interested parties and begin a 45-day public comment period.
For additional information, see our related article, BAR and industry respond to counterfeit airbag risk.
Towing Authorization Requirement
This regulatory proposal would:
Require that, if an ARD performs a towing service or contracts with another party to perform a towing service, the amount of any towing fees the ARD will charge shall be disclosed to and authorized by the customer 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 from a customer on a document separate from any repair authorization. This does not apply to a towing service 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 storage-related and/or towing-related charges as separate line items on any invoice.
Status:
BAR is currently working with the Department of Consumer Affairs to advance the proposal through the regulatory review process. Upon approval, the Bureau will file the proposal with the Office of Administrative Law to notify interested parties and begin a 45-day public comment period.