California Auto ShopCheck
Public records · updated 2026-10-16

Check a California auto shop's BAR registration

Every auto repair shop with an active registration at the Bureau of Automotive Repair, from BAR's own license file: its registration number, how long it has been registered, and whether it is also a licensed Smog Check or safety systems inspection station.

Popular: Los AngelesSacramentoSan DiegoSan JoseBakersfield
Data from 4 official public-record sourcesHow we verify →
What every listing shows
  • BAR-registered status from the official record, with the date we checked
  • Status
  • Registered since
  • Registration expires
  • Smog Check station
  • Address and phone from the public record

No ratings for sale. Featured spots are labelled and never change the order.

35,631auto repair shops listed
35,631with an active BAR registration
849cities covered
Oct 16, 2026last data refresh
Why it matters. In California it is unlawful to repair vehicles for pay without a valid BAR registration (Business and Professions Code 9884.6). Registered shops must give you a written estimate, get your approval before any work, and call you before going over it. Check the registration, then use your rights.

Browse by license type

See all →
Smog Check test-and-repair stations3,938 auto repair shopsSmog Check test-only stations1,974 auto repair shopsVehicle safety systems inspection stations588 auto repair shopsAuto repair shops (no station license)29,668 auto repair shops

Top cities

Where the most auto repair shops are listed.

All 849 cities →
Los Angeles, CA1,632
Sacramento, CA1,011
San Diego, CA916
San Jose, CA727
Bakersfield, CA685
Fresno, CA668
Riverside, CA445
North Hollywood, CA441
Van Nuys, CA401
Stockton, CA374
Modesto, CA350
San Francisco, CA344
Santa Ana, CA323
Oakland, CA323
San Bernardino, CA313
Sun Valley, CA309

How it works

Compiled from DCA public license data: Bureau of Automotive Repair file, DCA License Search (Bureau of Automotive Repair), Bureau of Automotive Repair, Automotive Repair Act (Bus. & Prof. Code 9880–9889).

Methodology →

Search your area

Every auto repair shop in the public record for your city — not just the ones that paid to be listed.

Check the record

BAR-registered status, key facts and the date we last refreshed the data, on every profile.

Contact them directly

Call from the profile or send a message. We never sell your details.

Guides

Plain-English answers, with links to the official sources.

All guides →
Guide · 5 min readYour rights at a California auto repair shop: estimates, consent and invoicesWhat the Automotive Repair Act requires before, during and after a repair: written estimates, tear-down estimates, consent to go over the estimate, old parts and the invoice.Guide · 4 min readSmog Check in California: when you need one and which station to useBiennial and change-of-ownership Smog Checks, exemptions, test-only vs. test-and-repair vs. STAR stations, the $8.25 certificate fee and what to do if you fail.Guide · 4 min readHow to check a California auto shop's BAR registrationWho must register with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, the signs and online ad details to look for, how to look a shop up and how to read each listing.Guide · 4 min readVehicle safety systems inspections for revived salvage vehicles in CaliforniaWhich vehicles need a BAR safety systems inspection before DMV registration, what is checked, common failures, costs and advice for buyers of rebuilt cars.

Our promise

What we will never do — for the people searching and for the businesses listed.

Read the full promise →
Your details go only to the business you chooseWe never sell or rent your contact information, and we never pass it to other businesses.
We won’t call or text youYou decide who to contact. Nobody from this site will phone you or put you on a call list.
No paid advisors steering youNobody here earns a commission or referral fee for sending you to a particular business.
Paying can’t buy a better rank or recordThe order and the badges come from public records. Paid spots are clearly labelled “Featured” and never change the list.
We never hide accurate records for moneyA business can correct an error or add a response, but it can’t pay to remove an accurate public record.
Free to use, nothing to cancelNo sign-up, no subscription, no fees for the people using this directory.

Are you an auto repair shop?

Your listing already exists — it was built from public records. Claim it free to correct your details, or get featured in your city for $99/month. No per-lead fees.

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Common questions

Does an auto repair shop need a license in California?

Yes. Any business that repairs or diagnoses vehicles for pay must hold a valid Automotive Repair Dealer registration from the Bureau of Automotive Repair for each location (Business and Professions Code 9884 and 9884.6). Smog Check and safety systems inspection stations also need a station license.

Can a shop charge more than the estimate?

Not without your consent. The shop must give you a written estimate, get your authorization before starting, and get your oral or written consent before doing work or supplying parts beyond it (Bus. & Prof. Code 9884.9). If you agree by phone, the shop must record the details on the work order.

What is the difference between a test-only and a test-and-repair smog station?

A test-only station performs Smog Check inspections but may not make emissions repairs (Health and Safety Code 44014.5). A test-and-repair station can test and fix. Your DMV notice may require a STAR station, which is a test-only or test-and-repair station certified to BAR's higher performance standards.

Does a listing show complaints or discipline?

No. BAR's public license file has no complaint or disciplinary data. The DCA License Search shows any disciplinary history for a registration; each listing links to it.

Why is there no phone number?

BAR's public file doesn't include phone numbers. Use the form on a listing and we pass your message on, or ask the shop to claim its listing and add its details.

How often is the data updated?

DCA publishes BAR's license file once a month. We check for a new file every week, so a new registration or renewal can take up to about five weeks to appear.