Contractors and Repair Shops in California

Contractors must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board unless a job's total price for labor and materials is under $1,000 and no building permit is required (the exception does not apply if the work is split to evade the law, or if the person advertises as a contractor or uses employees). Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and include detailed required terms and notices. A down payment may not exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.

An automotive repair dealer must give the customer a written estimated price for parts and labor for a specific job, and may not do work or charge before the customer authorizes it. It may not charge more than the estimate without the customer's oral or written consent, obtained after it learns the estimate is too low and before doing the extra work. Auto body and collision estimates must be itemized and say whether parts are new, used, rebuilt or reconditioned and whether crash parts are original-manufacturer or aftermarket. If the customer asks when the work order is written, replaced parts must be returned (warranty parts that must go back to the manufacturer must be shown instead).