Senate advances bill backed by R.I. auto-body shops
The
For what it's worth: Ruggerio received nine
"More than a decade of special interest bills promoted by the
"Now ABARI [
But the state's auto body shop owners contend that they are the ones looking out for the consumer. Their lobbyist is former Rep.
This year's arguments center around replacement parts, which typically fall into two categories: those supplied by the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) for each vehicle under their own name; and those described as "after-market" parts that may or may not have been produced by the same manufacturer in the same factory.
The summary of the bill (S2679) says: "Insurance companies may not mandate the use of aftermarket parts without consent of the vehicle owner in the repair of motor vehicles which are less than 48 months beyond the date of manufacture." (Current law: 30 months). The original bill also placed limits on what an insurance company could require.
A reworked version surfaced just before the vote. It bans mandates on repair procedures "that are not in compliance with the recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer" even when OEM parts are used. But
Providence Auto Body spelled out its views in a 2015 blog post titled: "
"The insurance companies want you to use aftermarket parts after your accident because it's cheaper for them," the post said. "The law in
Continuing, the post says the
The opponents contend that "original" parts are, as a rule, more expensive, and not necessarily superior.
"By offering lower-cost alternatives to OEM parts, aftermarket parts manufacturers have forced OEMs to reduce prices. As a result the cost of all cosmetic crash repair parts is less than if aftermarket parts were absent from the marketplace," the
"If this bill were to pass, this would include everything from windshield wipers to oil filters," added
According to LKQ, passage would allow motor vehicle manufacturers to dictate the use of "more expensive car company parts" which, in turn, will jack up premiums.
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