Washington: NAMIC Distributes Fact Sheet on Auto Glass Repair Bill

NAMIC, through its retained counsel in Washington, distributed a fact sheet in opposition to HB 3053, the auto glass repair bill, last Thursday to members of the Washington Legislature.

The bill would impose serious restrictions on a carrier's ability to assist its insureds in selecting an auto glass repair shop and prohibit an insurer from recommending an auto glass repair shop to a consumer who initially states that he/she is thinking of going to a specific auto glass repair shop.

"HB 3053 is a perfect example of special-interest legislation designed to promote the business desires of a certain group of auto glass repair shops at the expense of the insurance consumer," said Christian J. Rataj, NAMIC's Western state affairs manager.

In NAMIC's fact sheet, Rataj points out that HB 3053 will:

Hinder insurers in their efforts to assist consumers in processing their auto glass claims;
Expose consumers to more “shoddy” auto glass repair work;
Interfere with the contractual and professional relationship between a consumer and his/her carrier; and
Eventually drive up insurance rates for all consumers.

"Washington already has laws in place to protect consumers' freedom of choice in selecting repair shops to fix their vehicle," Rataj said. "Under current state law, insurance carriers cannot force an insured to have their auto glass repair work done at a specific shop. HB 3053 does not add any new consumer protections."

Direct questions to NAMIC State Affairs Manager Christian J. Rataj.

Posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Friday, February 01, 2008 2:34:16 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.