SB 207 -- DAMAGE CLAIMS ON RENTAL VEHICLES

SPONSOR:  Mathewson (Byrd)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Transportation and Motor Vehicles by a vote of 20 to 0.

This bill requires that all damage claims by a rental company
must be reasonably and rationally related to the actual loss
incurred.  Rental companies must not assert a claim for damages
which exceeds:  (1)  the actual cash value of the vehicle less
any proceeds from the disposal of the vehicle or (2)  the actual
cost to repair the vehicle including all discounts or price
reductions, whichever is less.  A renter will be presumed to have
no liability for loss due to theft if an authorized driver has
possession of the key or establishes the key was not in the
ignition and the authorized driver promptly files a police report
on the theft.  The bill also adds repair facilities to the type
of entities which may make estimates for damage claims.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill allows for a fairer
business practice and allows damaged vehicles to be repaired more
quickly and probably more cheaply.

Testifying for the bill was Senator Mathewson.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:13 am