At the request of the Montana Collision Repair Specialists (MCRS) Board, the association met with members of the State Auditor’s office, the agency responsible for insurance regulations -- to discuss enforcement of anti-steering legislation that became law October 1. Also in attendance was Senator Don Ryan of Great Falls, who sponsored the bill and saw it through to an overwhelming majority win.

Before the meeting, MCRS conveyed to the Auditor’s office its concerns that certain insurance companies have shown a flagrant lack of regard for the new rules. In support of these claims, MCRS produced consumer complaints from as recently as last week.

In response, the Auditor’s office sent an Advisory Memorandum from State Auditor John Morrison to all P&C insurers doing business in Montana on November 7, which reads in part: 

Re:  SB 204:Prohibits an insurer from requiring motor vehicle repair estimates or repairs from certain business by claimants.  (claimant also being insured) (Amends Mont.Code Ann. 33-18-224)

Effective October 1, 2007, any property and casualty (P&C) carrier that issues or renews an automobile policy of insurance in Montana will no longer be able to ask a claimant  or insured to go to a particular repair shop for the purpose of obtaining an estimate of damages resulting from an auto accident…The above referenced change in law now prohibits a P&C insurer or its representatives from asking the insured or claimant to go to  a specific shop, even for the initial estimate…With this change, the insured or claimant now has the right to decide where to take the vehicle for the initial estimate and for subsequent repairs of that vehicle.  

To read the complete Advisory Memorandum and the law, go to www.gomcrs.com.   

Future plans
By the end of this year, the Auditor’s office will be producing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for television and radio to advise the public that they can go to the repair shop of their choice for the estimate. If the law is being broken and consumers are being sent to a shop not of their choice for an estimate, the Auditor’s office encourages consumers and shops to go to www.mt.gov.com and file a complaint.

The Montana Collision Repair Specialists is an affiliate of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists.  Their mission is to: Provide management and technical training to enhance the professional ability of each individual and improve the quality of the collision repair industry in the State of Montana.