With Rhode Island legislature leading the way with HB 5892.  Insurers would have to physically inspect all vehicles  where damage exceeds $1500. Insurers who rely on desk review companies to redline or rewrite estimates without inspecting the damage would be mandated to send out an auto damage appraiser to inspect in person.

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The specific bill language states it would be “Unfair claims practices violation” if:

Failure to have an appraisal performed by a licensed appraiser where the motor 

vehicle has sustained damage estimated to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).  

Click here for a link to the bill.

According to a release yesterday, both CCC and Mitchell officially terminated their merger plans. Click here for the story.

In the UK, the government is helping Jaguar produce a “Green” SUV. With an approximate 37 million dollars contribution, the UK hopes to keep it’s vehicle industry alive. Click here for the story.

With a tough economy, this article points out a rise in auto claims resulting from “moral hazard”. This is when an owner does something intentionally to his or her property to result in a claim and therefore collect money. Setting vehicles on fire, faking a theft and such, are just a few examples. Click on this for more.