The Better Automotive Repair Program - Review of a Pilot Project - September 1987

Sep 20, 2026

A September 1987 Legislative Analyst report reviews California’s Better Automotive Repair Program pilot project for voluntary certification of automotive repair garages. The analysis explains the program’s statutory basis, pilot-area scope in northern California, and the role of the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Findings assess pilot implementation and performance, emphasizing low industry and public awareness participation, fee coverage that falls far short of expenditures, limited testing of mechanic competency, and concerns about the effectiveness of complaint and arbitration provisions before considering statewide applicability.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Executive Summary

Findings

Public Awareness Efforts Appear to be Ineffective

Low Industry Participation

Project is Not Self-Financing

The Better Automotive Repair Program Review of a Pilot Project Office of the Legislative AnalystSeptember 1987 a Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………2 Findings………………………………………………………………………………………2 Recommendations …………………………………………………………………………………3 Chapter I Overview of the State Pilot Project……………………………………4 Pilot Project Implementation…………………………………………………4 Project Requirements …………………………………………………………………5 Project Revenues Do Not Cover Costs………………………………5 AAA Automotive Repair Programs……………………………………6 Differences Between the AAAPrograms and the State Project…………………………………………………………………6 Chapter II Evaluation of the Pilot Project……………………………………………9 Project Expenditures and Revenues………………………………9 Operating Costs ……………………………………………………………………9 Fees Cover Only About 4 Percent of Expenditures ……………………………………………………………………10 Low Industry Participation……………………………………………10 Effectiveness of Project Services…………………………………11 Industry Awareness Efforts Appear To Be Declining……………………………………………………………………………11 Public Awareness Efforts Appear To Be Ineffective……………………………………………………………………………11 Customer Survey Results……………………………………………………12 Mechanic Competency Is Not Tested………………………………12 Complaint Handling Is Prompt, But Arbitration Provision Is Untested…………………………………………13 Conclusion and Recommendation…………………………………………13 Appendix A—Mechanics'Qualifications…………………14 Introduction # Introduction This report was prepared pursuant toChapter 815,Statutes of 1982(as amended byChapter703,Statutes of1985),which requiresthe Legislative Analyst to submit a report tothe Legislature evaluating the program effec-tiveness and costs of the Better AutomotiveRepair Program.This program is a pilot proj-ect for the voluntary certification of automo-tive repair garages. In enacting Chapter 815,the Legislatureinitially limited the program to a specifiedarea in northern California in order to secureoperating experience before decidingwhether to expand the program statewide. The primary goal of the Better AutomotiveRepair Program's pilot project is to assistmotorists in finding competent garages thatbackup their work.The pilot project waspatterned after the Approved AutomotiveRepair Service(AAR)programs previouslyestablished in California by the AmericanAutomobile Association(AAA).Implemen-tation and administration of the program isthe responsibility of the Bureau of Automo-tive Repair in the Department of ConsumerAffairs. Specifically,the Legislative Analyst's re-port is to address: 1.Pilot project costs; 2.Pilot project effectiveness;and 3.Applicability of the program for state-wide use,or for limited use in portions of thestate. This report is submitted in response to theabove requirement.The Executive Summarysets forth our findings,conclusions and rec-ommendations on whether the programshould be expanded statewide.Chapter Iprovides an overview of the pilot project,including its implementation and projectrequirements.The AAA Approved Automo-tive RepairService programis alsodiscussed.Chapter Ⅱ evaluates pilot project costs andeffectiveness. We wish to express our appreciation to thestaff of the Bureau of Automotive Repair fortheir assistance in providing informationnecessary forthe preparation of this report.Inaddition,we wish to thank Mr.MauryKramer of the Automobile Club of SouthernCalifornia and Mr.Donald Felts of the Cali-fornia State Automobile Association for theirassistance in providing information on theAAA automotive repair programs. This report was prepared by DannyAlvarez and Marilyn Bybee under the super-vision of Wayne Keithley and HadleyJohnson.Secretarial services were providedby Judy Cashner.The report was formattedfor publication by SukiO Kane. # ExecutiveSummary Executive Summary California's 17.5 million licensed driverspay about $7billion annually to maintain andrepair 17.6 million automobiles and pickuptrucks.These repairs,wh

FAQs

What was the Better Automotive Repair Program pilot project designed to do?

It was a pilot effort to provide voluntary certification for automotive repair garages and help motorists find competent garages that back their work.

Why was the pilot program limited to an initial region?

The Legislature limited it to a specified area in northern California to build operating experience before deciding whether to expand statewide.

What were the key findings about participation and financing?

Public awareness and industry participation were low, and the $125 annual certification fee covered only about 4 percent of project costs, meaning the pilot was not self-financing.

Sep 20, 2026

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