How to check a body shop’s BAR registration
California requires businesses that repair cars for pay to register with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. It takes a minute to check a shop, and it’s one of the few trust signals that comes from the state rather than the shop.
How to look a shop up
- Go to the Department of Consumer Affairs license search.
- Choose the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the “Automotive Repair Dealer” license type.
- Search by business name or, if the shop shows it, by its registration number (it often starts with “ARD”).
- Check that the name and address match the shop you’re dealing with — chains register each location separately.
What the record tells you
The record shows whether a registration is current and, where applicable, any public enforcement actions. It doesn’t tell you about workmanship, paint quality or certifications. A clean record is a baseline, not a recommendation.
We record a BAR number only when the shop shows it or the state record matches the shop’s exact name and address. So far that’s 14 shops of the 140 shops in our directory (as of October 28, 2026). If a profile doesn’t show one, look the shop up yourself or ask for it.
If something goes wrong
Talk to the shop first, in writing if you can. If that doesn’t resolve it, the Bureau of Automotive Repair accepts consumer complaints about repair dealers. For problems with an insurer’s handling of a claim, contact the California Department of Insurance.
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This is general information, not legal, insurance or repair advice. Every car, policy and claim is different — check your policy, ask your insurer and the shop, and contact the California Department of Insurance or the Bureau of Automotive Repair if you need help with a dispute.