1. (a) “Estimate” means a paper or electronic document provided to the customer that contains an estimated price for labor and parts for a specific job and that meets the requirements of Business and Professions Code section 9884.9 and California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 3353.
2. (b) “Specific job” means all the repair work to be performed in a single transaction, with a statement of each repair to be performed and a description of each repair provided in a manner free of technical and industry terms that a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject would understand.
3. (c) “Work order” means a paper or electronic document that contains the estimate and memorializes the customer's authorization for a specific job.
4. (d) “Invoice” means a paper or electronic document provided to the customer that meets the invoice requirements of Business and Professions Code section 9884.8 and California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 3356.
5. (e) “Tear Down” is a repair as defined in Business and Professions Code section 9880.1(k) and means the act of disassembling a portion(s) or area(s) of the vehicle or vehicle component(s) necessary to assess the extent of the damage or evaluate the condition of the vehicle or vehicle component(s) in order to prepare an estimate.

6. (f) “Authorization” means consent, documented in accordance with applicable sections of this article, and expressed as either:

   1. (1) A written signature authorizing a specific job;
   2. (2) A statement communicated either orally or electronically to the automotive repair dealer authorizing a specific job.
7. (g) “Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
8. (h) “Oral” means voice communication, whether in person, by telephone, or by any electronic manner where voice can be heard.

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

Note: Authority cited: Section 9882, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 9880.1, 9884.8, 9884.9, 9889.50 and 9889.52, Business and Professions Code.

History

1. New section filed 10-20-97; operative 11-19-97 (Register 97, No. 43). For prior history, see Register 83, No. 9.

2. Amendment filed 9-13-2018; operative 9-13-2018 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2018, No. 37). 3. 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).

3. 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).

4. Amendment of section and Note filed 5-29-2025; operative 7-1-2025 (Register 2025, No. 22).