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Letter to the Editor
Tuesday January 25
NJ Motor Vehicle Commission Adds Licensed Shops to Website
Thanks to the determined efforts of Alliance of Automotive Service Providers/New Jersey (AASP/NJ) Executive Director Charles Bryant, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ-MVC) has added a list of the state’s licensed collision repair shops to its official website, www.state.nj.us/mvc. This unprecedented act represents a major step in the relationship between the state and its collision repair industry.Bryant, who has been recognized as an industry expert for over 25 years, spent several months working with the NJ-MVC in order to have the agency post the list.
"The main reason we worked to have this done is that in New Jersey, insurers are prohibited from negotiating the settlement of any physical damage claim involving an automobile with an unlicensed auto body repair facility," Bryant said. "They are also prohibited from utilizing an unlicensed facility in the adjustment, negotiation or settlement of such a claim. Insurers are required to make a diligent effort to determine if a shop is licensed. Until now, the insurers could make the argument that it was difficult to follow the rules because of the lack of access to the state list of licensed shops. Now that the NJ-MVC has made the list available on their website, that argument will no longer be valid. It is my opinion, as it states in the regulation, an insurer should not go to any unlicensed shop to inspect a vehicle or utilize the unlicensed shop in the adjustment, negotiation or settlement of a claim."
"This is quite an accomplishment for AASP/NJ," added AASP/NJ President Bob Everett. "This just one example of many of how much Charles has done for the association in his short time as Executive Director. It also shows that the NJ-MVC and the Insurance Department are willing to work with us in order to make this a better industry for all concerned."
The posting of the list also works for consumers and others according to Bryant.
"Consumers can search the list to see if a particular shop is licensed before going to the shop or authorizing any work," he commented. "The law enforcement community can access the website when looking for hit and run vehicles. But again, most importantly, all insurance companies can access the website before going to a shop to inspect a vehicle and negotiate the cost of the repair of a vehicle."
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