WASHINGTON, D.C., February 14, 2024 – The Automotive Service Association (ASA), the only national trade association governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals and dedicated exclusively to their interests, calls on the Oklahoma Legislature to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 1853. This legislation would make it harder for auto repair businesses to return a vehicle to safe operating condition by imposing a litany of price mandates and other unfair rules.

Some of the most egregious provisions include:

• Charges assessed by a tower or wrecker must be passed on to the responsible party without a repairer charging a markup even though the repairer assumes risk and labor costs for intaking the vehicle.
• Repairers cannot charge storage fees for a vehicle that a shop has finished repairing.
• Repairers cannot charge storage fees for a total-loss vehicle until the insurance company determines the vehicle to be a total-loss, and only from the moment of such determination can storage fees begin to accrue.
• Repairers cannot charge more than $39/day for indoor and $24/day for outdoor storage fees for vehicles less than 20 feet long.
• Vehicle disassembly cannot exceed 4-hours to complete nor cost more than $60/hour.
• Administrative activities cannot take more than 4-hours to complete nor cost more than $60/hour. “Administrative” charges include parts identification, COVID or bio-cleaning, pre-repair diagnostic scans, researching and creating a repair plan, securing removed parts, moving vehicles from different locations, etc.

Scott Benavidez, ASA’s Board of Directors Chairman, commented:

“Every aspect of SB 1853 is problematic for independent auto repairers. Technicians are trained to treat each vehicle differently to ensure it is returned to its owner in a condition safe for operation. By contrast, this bill tells repairers to lump all vehicles together and treat them the same.

One reason many repairers have had to increase storage fees in recent years is because insurance companies are taking longer to complete their claims process, leaving vehicles in my shop for extended periods of time. These vehicles take up valuable space in my shop and can prevent me from providing service to other customers. Additionally, I am responsible if something happens to a vehicle while it is in my shop. Telling a repairer they can only charge $24 each day to store a vehicle is offensive.”

ASA encourages automotive repair professionals in Oklahoma to join the repair community’s efforts to stop this bill from becoming law. Auto repairers in Oklahoma can educate their elected officials on the harms posed by SB 1853 by writing a letter to them using ASA’s easy-to-use Taking the Hill advocacy platform. The link to take action is here: https://www.votervoice.net/ASASHOP/Campaigns/111794/Respond

 ASA is the largest and oldest national organization committed to protecting the automotive repair industry with ONE VOICE. Our members own and operate automotive mechanical and collision repair facilities responsible for the majority of all, post warranty, repair services in the United States. ASA advocates for the interests of its members and their customers in Washington, D.C. The education, resources, and services ASA provides empowers its members in all 50 states to remain trusted stewards of mobility in their communities. www.ASAShop.org