Relating to standards for settlement of certain motor vehicle insurance claims

This bill enacts former Iowa administrative code provisions relating to standards for settlement of certain motor vehicle insurance claims. The bill requires a property insurer to estimate the cost of repairs for a motor vehicle and pay a claim based only on the cost of aftermarket crash parts available from a distributor of each such part that is located within 100 miles of the repair facility when a first-party, partial-loss claim relating to the motor vehicle is settled based on a written estimate prepared by or for the insurer that includes payment for aftermarket crash parts. The bill requires the insurer to pay the cost of any modifications which may become necessary when repairs are made using aftermarket crash parts or parts salvaged from the crashed vehicle. When a third-party, partial-loss claim relating to a motor vehicle is settled based on a written estimate prepared by or for the insurer, the bill requires the liability insurer to estimate the cost of repairs and pay the claim based only on the cost of new original equipment manufacturer parts unless the owner of the motor vehicle gives express consent to use aftermarket crash parts or parts salvaged from the crashed vehicle and the insurer expressly agrees to pay the cost of any modifications which may become necessary when repairs are made using aftermarket crash parts or parts salvaged from the crashed vehicle, and expressly agrees to defend and indemnify the owner of the motor vehicle and the repair facility against any claims related to such repairs.7, and if the person has a license to operate the person’s business, the license is subject to suspension or revocation.