Bill > SB356

This bill revises Montana's insurance laws to further protect consumers and automobile body repair businesses during insurance claims for vehicle damage. Specifically, the bill prohibits insurance companies from requiring claimants to use specific repair businesses, intimidating or coercing claimants about repair choices, or disregarding manufacturer repair instructions or safety inspection recommendations. The legislation ensures that insurance companies cannot limit the number of repair businesses in their direct repair programs unreasonably and must provide claimants with a comprehensive list of nearby, qualified repair shops upon request. The bill mandates that claimants have sole discretion in choosing a repair location, and insurers must pay reasonable market-rate costs for repairs, less any policy deductible. Additionally, the law makes it unlawful for repair businesses to charge insured customers more than uninsured customers and clarifies that insurers are not liable for repair work performed by a shop of the claimant's choosing. The bill becomes effective immediately upon passage and applies to insurance claims made on or after its effective date, with the goal of protecting consumer choice and ensuring high-quality, manufacturer-recommended vehicle repairs.

Business and Industry

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0689