- Legislation is already pending in North Carolina and other states regarding “no insurer mandate on aftermarket parts” for new vehicles in the warranty period.
- Virginia is introducing “anti-steering” legislation that contains some of the strongest language ever against insurer steering to “preferred shops.”
- North Carolina has a pending bill that would eliminate “couponing and waiving of deductibles” in windshield glass replacement.
- New laws to protect collision repair consumers will be passed in 2003 in many states.
Naturally, every one of these bills will be opposed vigorously by the insurance industry, their associations, lobbyists and public relations firms hired by insurers to misinform the public by way of high-powered ads.
For the bills that do pass and become law, they’re meaningless unless they’re enforced. Enforcement is needed and must be insisted upon by consumers and shop owners alike in each state. We at the Independent Auto Body Association (IABA) and other groups will be lobbying congress, the U.S. Department of Justice, state legislatures and every possible agency with enforcement powers
to do something about the insurance monopoly in collision repair and auto glass
replacement. Consumer safety will be emphasized at every level.
