Don’t Let a Star Suspension Get Lost in Translation
For those of us with experience in the car repair business, we know the importance of naming things correctly. But we also know the general public doesn’t always get the terms right when they talk to us.
Did Your Shop Do an ‘NPC’ Smog Check? (Undercover Cars)
The first question you might be asking is ‘what is an NPC?’ If you’re a gamer, you already know. But if not, an NPC is a ‘nonplayer character.’ They are the people and creatures that are not other online human players.
Automotive Defense Specialists Announces New Content for Fighting Bureau of Automotive Repair Suspension Letters
Los Angeles, California – October 29, 2025. Automotive Defense Specialists, a team of top-rated lawyers defending auto repair and SMOG shops against the California Bureau of Automotive Repair is proud to announce several new blog posts for the public. These posts focus on “suspensions” that threaten the license status of shops and technicians in the repair and SMOG industry.
Automotive Defense Specialists Announces New Content on the Bureau of Automotive Repair and Criminal Defense Lawyers
Los Angeles, California – September 29, 2025. Automotive Defense Specialists, a team of lawyers working both administrative and criminal law in California vis-à-vis the Bureau of Automotive Repair, is proud to announce updated content on criminal issues.
So You Got a STAR Suspension Notice? Here’s What That Means—and Why You Shouldn’t Shrug It Off
You’ve been running your smog check station like a pro. You’ve got regulars. You’ve invested in good tech. You’ve been part of the STAR program—maybe for years. Then, one day, you receive a STAR suspension notice from the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR).
Now what?
Let’s break it down. I’ll explain what the STAR program is, what a suspension really means, and why this isn’t something to “deal with later.”
So You Got a Citation from the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Now What?
You’re halfway through a busy Tuesday, juggling customers, parts orders, and that one tech who keeps forgetting to close repair orders. Then you check your mail—and bam. A crisp, official-looking envelope from the Bureau of Automotive Repair. You open it, and there it is: a citation. Just what you needed.
If you’re like most smog shop or repair shop owners in California, your stomach drops. And for good reason.