November 24, 2025 – Los Angeles, California. Automotive Defense Specialists, a team of lawyers defending auto repair and smog shops against the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, is proud to announce a new post regarding STAR suspension notices. 
California-based lawyers who defend auto repair and smog shops against the bureau can help disentangle language and effectively defend one’s license, though no guarantees can be made.
“Smog and auto repair shops are familiar with customers who cannot find the words to explain what’s wrong with their cars. As smog defense attorneys, we are used to the same problem, that is auto repair shop owners and technicians who do not understand what’s wrong with their licensing status,” explained William Ferreira, lead attorney at Automotive Defense Specialists. “It’s our job to handle the communication and ensure that a STAR suspension is accurately handled to get the best outcome for our clients.”
Interested parties can review the new informational blog post that is ready for review. The term “STAR invalidation” has been renamed a “STAR suspension” by the Bureau of Auto Repair. Receipt of a STAR suspension letter can indicate a smog testing station is not in compliance with the STAR program. Severe penalties can result, such as revocation of a STAR certificate, smog check license, or the license status of an auto repair shop in California, from San Diego to Eureka, Pleasanton to Riverside, Needles to San Mateo, and every city in between. The BAR can take corrective action, such as requiring a smog testing station to replace equipment and/or discharge technicians who have been convicted of violations.
Automotive Defense Specialists is a firm of attorneys focused on defending smog testing and auto repair shops from Bureau of Automotive Repair allegations. The firm supports small ‘mom and pop’ smog and auto repair shops throughout California. Cases can involve STAR suspensions, smog citations, repair licensing issues, interim suspension orders, and criminal defense. The firm offers a regulatory compliance review service to help prevent potential smog testing deficiencies. A thorough compliance review could help mitigate the receipt of a letter from the Bureau of Auto Repair. Details on a BAR update, renaming smog invalidations to suspensions, can be found on the law firm’s page.
ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS
Automotive Defense Specialists is a leading law firm that represents auto repair facilities specializing in smog testing and repairs. The firm also represents smog technicians fighting a BAR accusation letter. Legal support includes Bureau of Automotive Repair letters, citations, and STAR suspensions. The lawyers can step in and work with the Bureau of Auto Repair to have a charge dismissed. Each smog violation notice can be different. If the case does need to go to court, the legal team can defend against the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The company provides phone consultations to auto shops, mechanics, technicians, and other professionals facing disciplinary actions from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.
Tel. (415) 392-2886