What's happening
This bill requires auto repair shops and insurers to follow manufacturer collision repair guidelines unless the vehicle owner provides written authorization to deviate.
Why it matters
Increases Consumer Safety and Accountability. By mandating adherence to manufacturer repair guidelines unless the owner opts out in writing, the bill helps ensure that repairs meet the standards intended for crashworthiness, safety systems, and vehicle performance—potentially reducing risks from improper repairs.
Limits Cost-Cutting at the Expense of Quality. Insurers and repair shops are expressly prohibited from deviating from manufacturer procedures solely to save money, unless the owner knowingly agrees—addressing a common industry practice that can compromise repair integrity.
Clarifies Electronic System Repair Requirements. The bill specifically recognizes manufacturer directives for scanning, calibration, and diagnostic testing of electronic systems as essential steps, reflecting the growing complexity of modern vehicles and helping to ensure safety features like airbags and ADAS function as intended after repairs.
Empowers Vehicle Owners with Informed Choice. By requiring written authorization for any deviation, the law puts decision-making power more firmly in the hands of consumers, increasing transparency and helping them understand the risks or implications of non-standard repairs.
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Who cares
Collision repair shops
They would need written authorization from the vehicle owner or an authorized representative to deviate from manufacturer collision repair guidance.
Auto insurers
They could not directly or indirectly require deviations from manufacturer repair guidance without written owner or representative authorization, and manufacturer-directed electronic scans, calibrations and diagnostic tests would be required parts of repairs.
Owners of collision-damaged vehicles
They or their representatives would control whether to authorize departures from manufacturer repair guidance.
Vehicle and original equipment manufacturers
Their collision repair guidelines, procedures, recommendations and service bulletins would become the default requirements for collision repairs unless an owner or representative authorizes a deviation.
Headline styles
Enforce Auto Repair Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
245
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the insurance law, in relation to requiring compliance with collision repair guidelines and service bulletins issued by vehicle or original equipment manufacturers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no motor vehicle repair shop shall deviate from the collision repair guidelines, procedures, recommendations and service bulletins issued by a vehicle or original equipment manufacturer in the repair of a collision damaged vehicle without the written authorization from the vehicle owner or the vehicle owner's authorized representative.
§ 2. Subsection (n) of section 3411 of the insurance law is relettered subsection (o) and a new subsection (n) is added to read as follows:
(n) No insurer shall directly or indirectly require the deviation from the collision repair guidelines, procedures, recommendations and service bulletins issued by a vehicle or original equipment manufacturer in the repair of a collision damaged vehicle without the written authorization from the vehicle owner or the vehicle owner's representative. If a repair procedure or specification from a vehicle or original equipment manufacturer includes a directive to conduct a scan, calibration, diagnostic test of vehicle electronic systems before or after the commencement of repairs, such directive shall be considered as a required part of the repair procedure.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00835-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.