The Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) is gearing up for a major advocacy push as its members prepare to visit Austin and lobby for Senate Bill 369 (SB 369) in the 89th Texas Legislative Session. ABAT is currently planning for a late March visit to the Texas legislature.
This crucial bill, introduced by state Sen. Charles Schwertner, seeks to establish a standardized Right to Appraisal procedure for disputed losses under personal automobile insurance policies. ABAT believes this legislation is critical for ensuring consumers receive fair compensation and safe, quality repairs.
The Importance of the Right to Appraisal
Jill Tuggle.
The Right to Appraisal is a key consumer protection mechanism that allows policyholders to challenge insurers’ repair cost estimates through an independent evaluation process. Insurers could arbitrarily limit repair payments without this safeguard, potentially leading to unsafe or incomplete vehicle repairs.
Jill Tuggle, executive director of ABAT, stressed the broad impact of this bill. “This bill is very important in Texas, most notably for the shops whose clients rely on the appraisal process to receive a safe and proper repair, but it is actually very relevant to all shops and consumers in Texas,” Tuggle said.
“The appraisal process is the only course of action that a consumer has to take in the event of a repair dispute,” she added. “Without this accountability, insurers will surely take advantage of this lack of recourse. It is extremely important that we set proper guardrails for proper indemnification in the name of safety.”
Collision Repairers Rally in Austin
To emphasize the importance of SB 369, ABAT is calling on collision repairers from across Texas to join them at the state capitol. The association plans to visit every legislative office to educate lawmakers on how this bill directly impacts their constituents and the safety of Texas consumers.
“We hope to have 50 to 100 collision repairers there across Texas!” Tuggle said. “We will meet in Austin and visit legislators’ offices to help them understand why this bill is important.”
For shop owners like Brian Brunson, owner of Auto Tech Services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, this is a crucial moment for the industry.
“I’ve been to Austin in the past and will be attending for the next session. It’s critical that we show up and support our efforts together as a group!” Brunson said. “We must join arms together and show how important this issue is to our customers and their families by doing safe, quality repairs and being compensated for doing so.”
Brunson further emphasized the role of insurers in the repair process. “Insurance companies are not responsible for the repairs performed on the vehicle -- the repairer is! Insurance companies are required to indemnify for the cost of the repair.”
The Stakes for Consumers and Repair Shops
Texas collision repairers have long struggled with insurance companies dictating repair costs, sometimes at the expense of quality and safety. The Right to Appraisal provides a crucial avenue for shops and consumers to challenge inadequate repair estimates and ensure vehicles are restored to manufacturer standards.
Shops like Griffin’s Paint & Body in Winnsboro, TX, have seen firsthand the financial impact of invoking the appraisal process. While it typically costs between $800 and $1,500 to initiate, the returns for consumers are significant, often increasing repair estimates by thousands of dollars.
With this new legislative session, ABAT is intensifying its efforts to secure support for SB 369. The association urges all Texas collision repair professionals to participate in this advocacy initiative and help safeguard consumer rights and industry standards.
For more information on how to get involved, visit ABAT’s Right to Appraisal website and join the fight to protect the Right to Appraisal.
Leona Scott