Bill requiring independent appraisals stalls in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Senate has declined to take up auto body legislation that would have required consumers to have an independent appraisal for car repair work that exceeded $2,000. The bill was supported by the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island and opposed by the insurance industry.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) fought the bill, saying it would make the car repair process more costly and time-consuming for owners.

“These days even a minor fender bender is likely to meet the $2,000 threshold, so consumers would have been forced to deal with unnecessary delays in getting their vehicles repaired,” says Frank O’Brien, vice president and regional manager for PCI. “This bill would have contributed to the high cost of auto body repairs and with Rhode Island being the most expensive state in the nation to get a car repaired, it would have been more bad news for consumers.”