CARSTAR announced the opening of CARSTAR First Choice Auto Body, a 6,500 sq. ft. facility located at 4368 Fountain Avenue, in Los Angeles, Calif. The collision repair center is the first CARSTAR location for owner Edwin Khoshabeh, a third-generation auto body repairer who has been in the industry his whole life. “My father had an […]
Auto Recyclers Association Raises Concerns About Changes to Workers Compensation Laws Related to Coronavirus
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced it opposes any legislative and executive actions taken by states that create a presumption that an employee working for an essential business who contracts COVID-19 contracted the virus at their place of work. According to the association these types of changes to workers’ compensation laws place an unfair burden […]
California University Reports Over 50% Decline in Collisions Following Shelter-in-Place Order
Research details dramatic impact of government response to coronavirus on accidents. The University of California, Davis Road Ecology Center last week detailed observations of reported traffic incidents in its real-time California Highway Incident Processing System (CHIPS), that provide an indication of the dramatic decline in traffic incidents on state highways and rural roads that has […]
California Insurance Commissioner Calls for 60-Day Auto Insurance Premium Grace Period
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a Notice requesting that all auto insurance companies provide their policyholders with at least a 60-day grace period to pay insurance premiums. The Commissioner made the request to ensure policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premium due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The Notice follows […]
Pacific Elite and Crash Champions Merge
Pacific Elite, the family owned operator of collision repair shops in California, today announced a merger with Crash Champions, LLC, a leading regional collision repair business in the greater Chicago area. The newly combined company (CombineCo) will be the 5th largest independent MSO in the country according to the company, with an established presence in […]
California Collision Repair Shops Charged with Felony Insurance Fraud
Department of Insurance and Contra Costa District Attorney’s office undercover sting results in eight felony charges against four individuals. To crack down on automobile insurance fraud, the California Department of Insurance, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) conducted an undercover sting operation targeting collision repair facilities across Contra […]
GEICO Files Federal RICO Lawsuit in California Alleging Glass Shop Fraudulently Inflated Claims
Insurer seeks to recover over $150,000 in alleged fraudulent billing and declaration it doesn’t owe over $50,000 in outstanding claims. Following similar lawsuits in Arizona and Florida, GEICO has filed a federal lawsuit in California alleging an auto glass repair facility submitted fraudulent glass repair bills. GEICO seeks to recover damages alleging violations of the […]
California Bureau of Automotive Repair Launches Program to Repurpose Clunker Cars in the Classroom
California high schools and community colleges will receive up to 350 vehicles a year to support technical education programs. The Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) new Cars for Schools program provides retired vehicles to public high schools, community colleges, and regional occupation programs, offering students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in auto and collision […]
Registration Open for 2020 WIN Educational Conference
Early bird pricing available until March 31. The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced that registration for the 2020 Educational Conference is now open. This year’s conference will be held May 3-5, in Newport Beach, Calif. Its theme, Driving the Future, will be reflected throughout the agenda of the two-and-a-half-day event that brings education, connection and celebration […]
Dismantlers Association Says California’s Underground Economy of Unlicensed Auto Dismantling Surging
The State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA) is drawing public attention to the need to extend a highly effective DMV strike team program that was established to combat the underground economy of illegal auto dismantlers. This first in the nation program expired December 30 and could be extended provided legislation advances by January 24. […]