Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons signed S.B. 306 into law May 29. The bill opens salvage vehicle sales to the public and also increases the time insurers are given to obtain salvage titles.
Specifically, the legislation:
• Authorizes a person other than an auto wrecker, dealer of new or used motor vehicles or rebuilder to obtain an identifying card for a fee and bid to purchase a vehicle other than a nonrepairable vehicle from the operator of a salvage pool.
• Prohibits a person who obtains a card from purchasing more than three vehicles from the operator of a salvage pool in any calendar year.
• Increases the period in which an insurance company must submit an application for a salvage title or nonrepairable vehicle certificate for a salvage vehicle from 60 days to 180 days.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) says it opposes this legislation because:
• It will allow potentially unsafe vehicles on Nevada’s highways.
• It will allow untrained, ill-equipped and unregulated individuals to purchase these vehicles and attempt to repair or dismantle them.
• Unregulated purchasers of these vehicles will threaten the environment with the handling of hazardous materials.
• It will encourage automotive theft via vehicle identification number (VIN) switching.
The new law will be effective Jan. 1, 2010. Click HERE to read a previous story about S.B. 360.
