The statute’s current provisions on auto claims are additionally value noting for context. Virginia already requires that motorized vehicle injury value determinations be based mostly on a private inspection by a consultant of the restore facility or a consultant of the insurer making the appraisal, although insurers are permitted to organize an preliminary restore appraisal from images, movies, or electronically transmitted digital imagery. Insurers can’t, nonetheless, require a automobile proprietor to submit images, movies, or electronically transmitted digital imagery as a situation of an appraisal. When after market elements are utilized in a restore estimate, insurers should disclose that in writing and state that elements used within the restore by apart from the unique producer are required to be at the very least equal in like variety and high quality when it comes to match, high quality, and efficiency to the unique producer elements they’re changing. The statute defines an after market half as an car half not made by the unique tools producer that could be a sheet metallic or plastic half typically constituting the outside of a motorized vehicle, together with internal and outer panels. The regulation additionally prohibits fee to an insurer or its consultant by a restore facility, or acceptance by an insurer or its consultant from a restore facility, of any kickback, rebate, fee, factor of worth, or different consideration in reference to appraisal companies.
