March 5, 2013—Vermont state Rep. Bill Botzow (D-1) recently introduced House Bill 362, a piece of legislation that proposes regulating the use of aftermarket parts in automobile repairs covered by insurance, according to the Automotive Service Association (ASA).
The ASA said the proposed bill includes the following provisions:
Insurers cannot require the use of aftermarket parts in the repair of vehicles unless the aftermarket part is equal to the original part in terms of fit, quality and performance. An insurer that requires the use of aftermarket parts is liable for the cost of any modifications that are necessary to make a repair.
Insurers are required to identify and disclose all aftermarket parts installed on a vehicle in writing on the repair estimate. If aftermarket parts are installed, the insurer must disclose the information in bold-faced, capitalized, 12-point font.
All aftermarket parts manufactured after Jan. 1, 2014 are required to carry permanent identification to identify the manufacturer.
Aftermarket parts cannot be required by an insurer to repair automobiles that are less than two years old and have fewer than 30,000 miles on the odometer.
The bill has been referred to Vermont’s House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. To view the full text of the bill, visit the ASA's legislative website TakingTheHill.com.