AB 121: FAIRNESS IN AUTO COLLISION REPAIR!

PREPARED FOR: ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION

DATE:                    April 8, 2009

Assembly Bill 121 is about fairness in the marketplace.  It is an important piece of consumer protection legislation.  When AB 121 becomes law, it will provide fairness for consumers with damaged automobiles and fairness for owners of independent auto collision repair businesses.  Consumers and independent body shops need and deserve the protection provided by AB 121. 

AB 121 creates competition by restricting an insurer’s ability to dictate who will perform motor vehicle repairs in the aftermath of a collision.  Competition has been the backbone of our nation’s economic strength throughout our history.  Consumers deserve a choice.  Businesses deserve a right to compete.  AB 121 provides both the choice for consumers and the right of independently owned body shops to compete in the marketplace. 

This battle is, of course, really big business versus really small business.  Big Insurance has been able to restrain trade by forbidding their customers from having any options for automobile repair.  Your hometown independently owned body shop is currently left out of the process by many insurance giants.  That isn’t fair for the consumer and it isn’t right in what is supposed to be a competitive marketplace.  

back to top