Auto insurance companies would be required to conduct annual market surveys to determine rates paid to collision repair and glass repairers. Oklahoma House Bill 3132 (HB3132), filed yesterday by Representative Josh Cockroft, seeks to amend the state’s Unfair Claims Settlement Act to require insurance companies to survey collision repair and glass facilities on an annual […]
Insurance Information Institute Research Shows 79% of Customers Want Insurer to Make a Shop Recommendation
Research by the insurance industry consumer education organization analyzes customer demand for both insurance company collision repair facility referrals and generic crash parts. The Insurance Information Institute’s (I.I.I.) yesterday released a new report, PulsePoints: Home and Auto Insurance, that examines a variety of consumer attitudes and opinions on insurance topics. Among the finding of interest […]
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Approves Photo-Video Appraisal, Counterfeit Airbag Bills
Proposals to amend the Commonwealth’s 1972 Appraisers Act that requires physical inspections of collision damaged vehicles and make the sale an installation of non-functioning airbags illegal approved. Yesterday, two pieces of legislation touching upon the collision repair industry in Pennsylvania were approved by the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives in floor votes. House Bill 1638 (HB1638) […]
Hearing Held for Michigan Bill to Ban Insurer-Mandated Procurement Processes
Proponents and opponents of pending legislation that would restrict an insurer’s ability to mandate specific collision repair procurement processes had a chance to outline their positions before the Michigan Senate Committee on Insurance. The Michigan Senate Committee on Insurance held a hearing Wednesday, December 2 on Senate Bill 430 (SB430) that proposes to restrict an […]
Cadillac to Launch Aluminum Collision Repair Network
Program open to both dealer an independent repair facilities. Includes specific facility, training and equipment requirements to repair the Cadillac CT6 along with annual on-site audits. General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced the launch of its Cadillac Aluminum Repair Network in conjunction with the upcoming production of the Cadillac CT6 at the end of 2015. The Cadillac […]
Bill to Abolish Massachusetts Appraiser Licensing Board Scheduled for Hearing Tomorrow
Proposed legislation would eliminate the independent body charged with regulation of appraisers. Non-OEM parts and repair facility choice disclosure bill also to be heard. A bill to abolish the Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board, (ADALB) before the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services, is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, December 1 at 11 […]
NACE | CARS and Automechanika Chicago Scheduled for Same Week in Summer 2017
Chicago and Orlando trade shows scheduled for July 2017 will overlap. When the Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced that it was moving its NACE | CARS conference and trade show to the summer in 2014 in Detroit, away from its traditional fall time frame, the industry breathed a sigh of relief at not having two […]
Final Rule on Automotive Software Copyright Protection Exemption Excludes Repair Industry
Final rule by the Library of Congress gives consumers the ability to circumvent copyright protection on vehicle software, but excludes third-parties. Repair industry groups concerned it could impact independent repair facilities. The Library of Congress published its final rule on the Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies in […]
Telephone Interview: David Byers, CEO, CARSTAR Collision Repair Experts
In our telephone interview, Byers discusses the sale of the collision repair facility network to Driven Brands announced yesterday. Yesterday, Driven Brands, Inc., a portfolio company of Roark Capital, announced that it acquired Kansas-based CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts. CARSTAR is one of the largest multi-shop networks of independently owned collision repair facilities in the […]
Massachusetts ADALB Overturns Ruling on Use of Video to Appraise Damage; Addresses Used Part Specification
Safety concerns led to repeal of last year’s advisory ruling by the appraiser licensing board on the use of photos and video. Issues new ruling cautioning appraisers on specification of used parts, such as suspension, that could impact safety. Following the appointment of three new members to the Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board by […]