Volkswagen Owners Club Forum |VW Golf / Jetta /Passat /Beetle/EOS/Rabbit/GTI /CC/Bus/Touareg/Tiguan/TDI - Diminished Value / Total Loss / Insurance Claims / Wrecks http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/ en Mon, 20 May 2013 08:51:42 GMT vBulletin 60 http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/images/misc/rss.png Volkswagen Owners Club Forum |VW Golf / Jetta /Passat /Beetle/EOS/Rabbit/GTI /CC/Bus/Touareg/Tiguan/TDI - Diminished Value / Total Loss / Insurance Claims / Wrecks http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/ <![CDATA[Had a wreck? Here's some laws you need to know.]]> http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/showthread.php/32845-Had-a-wreck-Here-s-some-laws-you-need-to-know.?goto=newpost Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:49:26 GMT I've attached a PDF I found online with the laws for your state if you've been in a wreck. This will give you an idea of what you can ask for when you're getting your car repaired. You may be able to request at least certified parts instead of "USED SALVAGE YARD PARTS" (LKQ) in many states. This PDF appears to have been put together in 2004, so some laws may have changed since this, but hopefully this will at least give you an idea of what you may be able to ask for.

If you have any questions, please post them here and I'll try my best to answer them. -ken

Here's an except for New York and North Carolina:

New York
Crash Parts – In New York, the vehicle owner has the right to know that non-OEM parts will
be used in the repair, and see a listing of those parts on an estimate, prior to work
taking place.
The vehicle owner must give his consent before an insurer can specify non-OEM
parts from more than three different suppliers for any one repair.
All insurer-specified non-OEM parts must equal or exceed OEM parts in terms
of fit, form, finish, quality and performance, and be warranted by the
manufacturer at least to the extent and duration of the OEM part.
Insurers are required to specify only certified non-OEM parts, if certified parts
are available. If a certified part is not available, the vehicle owner must receive a
written warranty from the non-OEM manufacturer, for at least as long as he
owns the vehicle, stating that the part equals or exceeds the OEM part in terms of
fit, form, finish, quality and performance. In addition, the insurer must cause the
vehicle to be restored to its prior condition consistent with the non-OEM
warranty, at no additional cost to the owner and within a reasonable time, if the
manufacturer fails to honor its warranty.
Steering – In New York, the vehicle owner has the right to choose any repair shop for the
repair of that vehicle, while the insurer is prohibited from recommending or
suggesting a particular shop unless expressly requested by the vehicle owner,
except in claims involving window glass only.
If the vehicle owner does utilize a repair shop recommended by the insurer, for a
sum estimated by the insurer to be reasonable, the insurer must cause the vehicle
to be restored to its prior condition, at no additional cost to the owner and within
a reasonable time, if the recommended shop fails to make a safe and proper
repair.

North Carolina
Crash Parts – In North Carolina, the vehicle owner has the right to know that non-OEM parts
will be used in the repair, and see a listing of those parts on an estimate, prior to
work taking place.
All insurer-specified non-OEM parts must at least equal OEM parts in terms of
fit, quality, performance and warranty. Insurers specifying the use of non-OEM
parts must also include in the estimate the cost of any modifications which may
be needed to make the repair.
Steering – In North Carolina, the vehicle owner has the right to choose any shop for the
repair of that vehicle, and no insurer or insurer representative shall recommend a
particular shop without clearly informing the owner of his right to use the shop
of his choice.


Insurers are prohibited from causing any undue delay in the settlement of a
property damage claim based on the vehicle owner’s choice of repair shop.
Insurers are prohibited from requiring the vehicle owner to use a drive-in claim
service operated by the insurer.
Insurers that require the vehicle owner to obtain more than two estimates must
bear the cost, if any, of those additional estimates.
An insurer that has a financial interest in a repair shop must disclose that to the
vehicle owner at the time any shop recommendation is made.
Attached Files
]]> Diminished Value / Total Loss / Insurance Claims / Wrecks kennix http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/showthread.php/32845-Had-a-wreck-Here-s-some-laws-you-need-to-know.