Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 3353 - Estimate/Work Order Requirements

An estimate shall be provided to and authorized by the customer before any work commences. The estimate shall meet the requirements of Business and Professions Code section 9884.9 as well as the following:

(a) An automotive repair dealer shall provide the customer an estimate containing the estimated price for parts and labor for a specific job prior to obtaining authorization. Each part listed in the estimate shall be new unless specifically identified as a used, rebuilt, or reconditioned part.

(b) An automotive repair dealer, when doing auto body or collision repairs, shall provide the customer an itemized estimate containing the estimated price for parts and labor for a specific job. Parts and labor shall be described separately, and each part shall be listed in the estimate. Each part listed in the estimate shall be new unless specifically identified as a used, rebuilt, or reconditioned part. Each new replacement crash part listed in the estimate shall be an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part unless specifically identified as a non-OEM aftermarket crash part.

(1) If an automotive repair dealer uses an estimate prepared by or on behalf of the customer's third-party payor ("third-party estimate") to create its own estimate ("ARD estimate"), the automotive repair dealer shall:

(A) Notify the customer that the third-party estimate is subject to the Fair Claims Settlement Practice Regulations as adopted by the California Department of Insurance contained in Title 10, Chapter 5, Subchapter 7.5, Article 1 of the California Code of Regulations;

(B) Ensure the ARD estimate provided to the customer complies with all estimate requirements of the Business and Professions Code and this Article;

(C) Record the following on the ARD estimate:

i. A statement of the intent to repair the vehicle per the third-party estimate;

ii. The name of the third-party payor;

iii. The unique identifier contained on the third-party estimate. This unique identifier may be, but is not limited to, a "claim number," "file number," or similar identifying number; and,

iv. The total cost of repair listed on the third-party estimate.

(D) Attach the third-party estimate (the original, a duplicate, or printout of the original) to the ARD estimate provided to the customer.

(E) If the customer authorizes changes to the repair, prior to continuing with the repair, notify the third-party payor of customer-approved changes in the ARD estimate that would alter the payment amount specified in the third-party estimate.

(c) Any automotive repair dealer, when performing a tear down, shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide the customer with an estimate, which shall include all the following:

(A) The cost of the tear down and a description of the portion(s) or area(s) of the vehicle or vehicle component(s) on which a tear down is necessary to evaluate the condition of the vehicle or vehicle component(s).

(B) The cost of reassembling the portion(s) or area(s) of the vehicle or vehicle component(s) after performing the tear down.

(C) The cost of all parts and labor necessary to replace items that are normally destroyed by the tear down such as gaskets, seals, and O rings.

(D) If applicable, notification that the tear down might prevent the restoration of the vehicle or component(s) to the condition in which it was provided by the customer.

(E) The maximum time it will take the automotive repair dealer to reassemble the vehicle or component(s) in the event the customer elects not to proceed with the repair or maintenance of the vehicle. The automotive repair dealer shall reassemble the vehicle or component(s) within the time period specified in the tear down estimate. The maximum time shall be counted from the date of authorization of the tear down.

(2) Upon completion of the tear down, the automotive repair dealer shall provide the customer an itemized estimate for parts and labor necessary for the required repair. The automotive repair dealer shall then obtain the customer's authorization to repair or reassemble the vehicle or any disassembled component(s).

(3) If, after performing the tear down, a customer declines repair or reassembly, the automotive repair dealer shall, as applicable, document on the tear down invoice that the customer declined repair or reassembly.

(d) If an automotive repair dealer will be accepting payment for repairs from a third-party payor, the automotive repair dealer shall, prior to obtaining authorization from the customer, do one of the following:

(1) If the amount of the payment to be made by the third-party payor is known, the automotive repair dealer shall include the amount approved to be paid by the third-party payor on the ARD estimate;

(2) If the amount of payment to be made by the third-party payor is not known, the automotive repair dealer shall include the following notification on the ARD estimate:

"This estimate is for repairs to meet vehicle manufacturer and industry standards. As the customer, it is your responsibility to contact the third-party payor for approval of payment for the repairs you have authorized."

(e) If an automotive repair dealer provides or contracts for a towing service, the towing fees shall be provided to the customer -- prior to receiving payment for those services -- on a separate document (electronic or printed) from any repair estimate or invoice pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22651.07(a)(3) and the Towing and Storage Fees and Access Notice in Vehicle Code section 22651.07(e). Authorization for towing fees shall be obtained separate and apart from any authorization for repair work.

(f) No automotive repair shall be done by someone other than the automotive repair dealer or their employees without the consent of the customer unless the customer cannot reasonably be notified. An automotive repair dealer shall include with the estimate a statement of any sublet repair to be performed on the vehicle. If requested by the customer, an automotive repair dealer shall disclose the name and location of the facility performing the sublet repair.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 3353

Note: Authority cited: Sections 9882 and 9884.9, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9884.8, 9884.9, 9889.50 and 9889.52, Business and Professions Code; and Section 22651.07, Vehicle Code.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 9882 and 9884.9, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9884.8, 9884.9, 9889.50 and 9889.52, Business and Professions Code.

1. Amendment filed 6-26-74; designated effective 8-1-74 (Register 74, No. 26).
2. Amendment of subsection (b) and new subsection (c) filed 6-9-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 23).
3. Repealer and new section filed 10-27-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 44).
4. Redesignation of former Article 7 (Section 3365) to new Article 7 (Sections 3353-3358) filed 2-22-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 9).
5. Amendment of subsections (d) and (d)(1) filed 5-9-96; operative 6-8-96 (Register 96, No. 19).
6. Amendment of subsection (a) and Note filed 10-20-97; operative 11-19-97 (Register 97, No. 43).
7. Amendment of section and Note filed 5-2-2002; operative 6-1-2002 (Register 2002, No. 18).
8. Amendment of subsection (c), new subsections (f)-(f)(6), subsection relettering and amendment of newly designated subsection (g) filed 4-17-2006; operative 5-17-2006 (Register 2006, No. 16).
9. Amendment filed 9-13-2018; operative 9/13/2018 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2018, No. 37).
10. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) filed 6-4-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 23).
11. Amendment of section and Note filed 5-29-2025; operative 7/1/2025 (Register 2025, No. 22).