The Nevada State Assembly is considering Senate Bill 360, the Salvaged Vehicles Act, which changes provisions governing the sale and title of salvage vehicles. The Nevada Senate passed S.B. 360 earlier this year and if the Assembly amends the bill, it would return to the state Senate
Specifically, this bill:
• Authorizes a person other than an auto wrecker, dealer of new or used motor vehicles or rebuilder to obtain an identifying card and bid to purchase a vehicle other than a nonrepairable vehicle from the operator of a salvage pool;
• Imposes a fee for the issuance of such a card;
• Prohibits a person who obtains such a card from purchasing from the operator of a salvage pool more than three vehicles in any calendar year; and
• Increases the period within which an insurance company or its authorized agent must submit an application for a salvage title or nonrepairable vehicle certificate for a salvage vehicle.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) said it opposes this bill because it is anti-consumer and not in the best interests of the collision repair industry. It is asking repairers to oppose the legislation by contacting elected officials.
“This legislation is not helpful to the collision repair industry or to consumers,” says Bob Redding, ASA’s Washington, D.C., representative. “If it becomes law, the price of a salvage vehicle could increase, pushing more vehicles into the salvage pool, thus fewer repairs. If passed, we will see more vehicles taken out of the marketplace, which is not good for collision repairers.”
Redding said the bill also could put drivers at risk.
“There is a risk of vehicles being placed on the road that should not be, without significant inspection and repair,” he says. “Generally, our state inspection laws are not sufficient to protect the motoring public from these types of transactions. Those in less-developed countries will have even fewer consumer protections.”
To see the text of Nevada Senate Bill 360, visit ASA’s legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com. To send a letter to your Nevada legislators, visit www.TakingTheHill.com and click on “View Current Alerts.”
