State Lawmakers to Revisit Aftermarket Parts in July Meeting

June 6, 2005

In a discussion expected to ignite strong opinions regarding which automotive crash parts best serve consumers, state legislators from across the country who sit on the Property-Casualty Insurance Committee of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators will consider a proposed Certified Aftermarket Crash Parts Model Act during a July 7 hearing scheduled during the NCOIL meeting in Newport, R.I.

The proposed model law would provide that all certified non-car company aftermarket crash parts used to repair a motor vehicle are suitable replacement parts; require a body shop or insurance estimate to indicate the possible use of certified aftermarket crash parts and to identify the parts’ manufacturers, if possible; and also apply to leased or financed cars.

NCOIL first considered the proposed model law several years ago but put off further discussion until this time, citing more pressing issues.

Concerns previously raised with the model act included how to enforce a provision that prevented penalizing a person who leased or financed a vehicle and repaired it with a certified aftermarket crash part. Committee members also questioned why the model law did not require auto body shops and insurers to specify whether a certified aftermarket or an OEM crash part had been used.

The NCOIL committee of state lawmakers further discussed ways in which consumers might ensure use of original manufacturers’ parts should they prefer them over non-manufacturers’ parts. Legislators ultimately could not reach agreement on this issue.

Topics Legislation

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