The Kentucky Senate is considering a bill that would exclude the cost of airbag replacement from the 75 percent total loss calculation.
Pat J. Gisler, executive director of the Automotive Service Council of Kentucky (ASC-KY), said the bill would help save cars that may have been totaled otherwise and provide more work for shops.
“We’re totaling cars that there actually isn’t that much wrong with because they’re older and airbags are so expensive to replace,” she said. “We’re thinking that this will put some money back into the pockets of shops and consumers.”
The bill also stipulates that insurers would still be bound by terms and conditions of individual policies relating to airbag reinstallation.
The Senate has referred the bill, which the House of Representatives already passed, to the Transportation Committee. A hearing for the bill was slated for March 11.
For more information, visit www.ascky.org.