Issues
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new guidance to on-road and off-road vehicle diesel-powered vehicle manufacturers that will give drivers more time to get their engines fixed. Since 2010, the EPA has required the use of diesel exhaust fluid for diesel vehicles to combat smog. When the vehicle needs to be replenished…
The Pennsylvania House’s Transportation Committee voted 26-0 to advance HB 649, which would give drivers more time to complete required repairs and inspections on vehicles deemed to be operating in an unsafe condition. Under current law, a police officer or other qualified employee of the state can determine that the condition of a vehicle makes…
In Rhode Island, insurers can no longer force drivers to accept total loss settlements for vehicles for which the repair costs don’t exceed 80 percent of the vehicle’s pre-collision value (actual cash value/ACV). In other words, the consumer can demand the insurer pay for the repair if the repair is less than 80 percent of…
United States Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced legislation that would make it possible for automotive repairers to receive compensation from the federal government for helping them confront catalytic converter theft. S. 2238, also known as the “PART (Preventing Auto Recycling Theft) Act,” aims to tackle catalytic converter theft in several ways.…
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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy testified before the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in mid July as part of the committee’s departmental oversight responsibilities. During the hearing, Secretary Duffy discussed a wide range of topics, including electric vehicles (EV), autonomous vehicles (AV), and other areas of importance to the independent auto repair community.…
Before returning home for Congress’ August recess, the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee advanced legislation aimed at supporting small businesses in rural areas. S. 1703, also known as the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, would require the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience to take necessary actions to ensure…
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) – an independent federal agency that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services to the U.S. Congress – released a report in which they determined that the federal government lacks clear goals to which the success of its investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure can be measured. It recommends that…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced changes to its exemption approval process for autonomous vehicles (AV), which it intends to implement in the near future. Under current law, NHTSA must provide exemptions for vehicles that don’t comply with certain safety requirements, such as having windshield wipers or steering wheels, in order to…
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee released its highly-anticipated tax legislative package that differs significantly from the version passed in the U.S. House. Below is a comparison of the key provisions relevant to independent auto repairers: House Senate Section 199A Deduction Makes it permanent and increases it from 20% to 23%. Makes it permanent and keeps…