HB 946 -- Motor Vehicle Insurance Claims

Sponsor:  Jones (89)

This bill prohibits certain actions by insurers and motor vehicle
repair shops regarding the handling of claims.  An insurer or any
representative of an insurer is prohibited from:

(1)  Limiting the freedom of an insured or claimant to choose a
repair shop;

(2)  Requiring an insured or claimant to use a drive-in claim
center or similar facility solely under the control of the
insurer;

(3)  Boycotting, intimidating, or coercing an insured or claimant
when negotiating repairs;

(4)  Attempting to obtain, except in an emergency, the insured's
or claimant's signature in order to act on his or her behalf;

(5)  Adjusting a damage appraisal when the extent of the damage
is in dispute without a physical inspection of the vehicle;

(6)  Requiring the use of a particular vendor for parts or
materials; and

(7)  Disregarding a repair operation or cost identified by an
estimating system which an insurer and repair facility have
agreed to use in determining the cost of repair.

A repair shop is prohibited from:

(1)  Coercing or intimidating a motor vehicle owner to boycott an
insurer's drive-in claim center;

(2)  Attempting to secure, except in an emergency, the motor
vehicle owner's signature in order to act on his or her behalf;

(3)  Denying reasonable access to the repair shop during normal
business hours for inspecting or reinspecting damaged vehicles;
and

(4)  Charging storage and towing fees in excess of the usual and
customary charge for an undamaged vehicle, unless special
handling is required.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am