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Auto Body Inspection Program - Bureau of Automotive Repair
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Auto Body Inspection Program - Bureau of Automotive Repair

Phone number
(800) 952-5210
Category
Car
Auto tags
Car
Auto Body Inspection Program
Bureau of Automotive Repair
Eligibility
California vehicle owners whose collision repairs were done in California after they bought the car
Auto Summary
Free in-person inspection of recent auto body / collision repairs by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair. The inspector verifies the shop actually did the work on your invoice and that repairs are safe. The inspection comes to your home or work — no cost, open to all California vehicle owners. Request online at bar.ca.gov/autobody or call (800) 952-5210.
Value
Free
Espanol
Programa de Inspección de Carrocería Automotriz - Oficina de Reparación Automotriz
URL
https://www.bar.ca.gov/autobody
Last verified 2026-05-17. This program is active.

What you get

A free in-person inspection of recent collision (auto body) repairs on your car by a state inspector from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). The inspector checks whether the body shop actually did all the work listed on your invoice and whether the repairs were done safely and correctly. Most collision damage is hidden behind panels, so it can be hard to tell on your own.
After the inspection, the BAR representative explains what they found. If something is wrong or missing, they walk you through your options — including how to push the shop to fix it or how to file a complaint. [Source: bar.ca.gov/collision-inspection (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Cost: $0. Open to all California vehicle owners.

Who qualifies

  • You own the vehicle.
  • The collision repairs were done by a California auto body shop.
  • The repairs were done after you bought the car (BAR won't inspect work done before you owned it).
It does not matter who paid — insurance, you, or someone else.

How to request an inspection

  1. Go to bar.ca.gov/autobody and fill out the "Collision Repair Inspection Request" form online.
  1. You'll need: your contact info, the auto shop name and city, the vehicle (year/make/model), whether it has a salvage title, and a short description of why you want it inspected (e.g., "the paint doesn't match," "I hear a new rattle," "the shop says they replaced the bumper but it looks used").
  1. A BAR representative contacts you to schedule.
  1. The inspection comes to you — home, work, or another spot that works. You don't drive anywhere. [Source: bar.ca.gov/collision-inspection (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Prefer to call? Reach BAR consumer assistance at (800) 952-5210, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (and the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays until 5:00 p.m.). [Source: bar.ca.gov/contact-us (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Before you request — gather these

  • The repair invoice from the body shop (itemized).
  • Any estimates (yours or the insurance company's).
  • Photos of the damage before repair, if you have them.
  • The shop's name, address, and license number if it's on the invoice.
The more paperwork you have, the easier it is for the inspector to spot work that was billed but not done.

Common pitfalls

  • Don't sign a "satisfied" release before you're sure. Some shops ask you to sign that the repair is complete before you can really tell. You can still request an inspection after, but a release can complicate a dispute.
  • Don't wait too long. The sooner after the repair, the easier it is to tell what's new damage vs. shop error.
  • Don't take the car back to the same shop for a "second look" if you suspect fraud — get the BAR inspection first.

Where to get help

  • BAR consumer line: (800) 952-5210
  • File a complaint against a shop: bar.ca.gov — "File a complaint"
  • Local field office: BAR has 12 field offices statewide; the consumer line will route you. [Source: bar.ca.gov/contact-us (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Related TechEmpower resources

If your problem is a smog check failure rather than collision repair, see the BAR Consumer Assistance Program (smog repair help up to $1,200) and the Vehicle Retirement program ($1,500 to scrap an older vehicle) — both also listed in this resource library.

Sources