A bill introduced in the California Assembly would require insurers to disclose in writing to claimants that any damage assessment made by the insurer is not a written estimate of repair costs and that only facilities licensed by the state Board of Autobody Repair can write an estimate.
A.B. 1179 is supported by the California Autobody Association (CAA). The CAA has set up a toll-free fax number – (888) 222-8976 – for its members to send examples of insurer’s estimates that Assemblyman Dave Jones can use in support of the legislation. The estimates the CAA is looking for are:
• Initial field estimates prepared by insurers that blatantly omitted necessary and visible repair operations, and then later added those operations by supplement once the car was taken to the shop.
• Estimates prepared by insurers based on shop estimates that omitted repair operations shops requested because they were necessary to repair the car properly.
• Any examples of insurer estimates or documentation that may violate recently passed “paint capping” legislation (click HERE for more information on paint capping).
Experienced shop owners will review the estimates, and the CAA asks that any issues on the estimate that may not be obvious be noted.
The CAA will notify anyone whose estimate may be used to support the legislation or sent to the California Department of Insurance.
For more information on the CAA, visit www.calautobody.com.
