California auto repair regulations.

California SB 1392 (Chapter 245, signed September 16, 2026) directs BAR and DMV to implement a phased Smog Check exemption process for eligible insured collector vehicles beginning January 1, 2028, starting with pre-1981 model years and extending to later collector model years over time. Eligibility and application procedures require BAR rulemaking; no immediate blanket exemption is established for vehicles merely because they are old.

California SB 988 (Chapter 666, signed September 27, 2026) establishes the Motor Vehicle Glass Act. Beginning in 2027, businesses primarily engaged in automotive glass replacement face additional pre-service ADAS and calibration disclosures, written calibration outcome notices, itemized invoices/receipts, and special claim-number, estimate, and authorization conditions for first-party insured repairs. Certain assignment-of-benefits contracts entered on or after January 1, 2027 are void.

California SB 1445 (Chapter 237 of 2026) clarifies Business and Professions Code §9884.9 to expressly allow a required automotive-repair written estimate to be in electronic format, including an email or text. This clarifies the permitted format; it does not eliminate existing estimate, disclosure, or authorization duties, nor require repair shops to adopt electronic estimates.

BAR's Spring 2026 newsletter says AB 2496 will require courts to verify a BAR Referee certificate of compliance for cited excessive-noise vehicles beginning January 1, 2027, and Cal-VIS has been updated in preparation.