HB1420: HB1420 Insurance; original equipment manufacturer repair procedures for repairs under motor vehicle liability insurance policies; provide

Currently, insurers paying for car repairs after a crash can sometimes require or approve repair methods that differ from what the vehicle's original manufacturer specifies. This bill would change that by adding a new section to Georgia's motor vehicle accident reparations law (O.C.G.A. § 33-34-10). It would require every motor vehicle liability insurance policy to cover repairs performed according to the original equipment manufacturer's repair procedures, meaning the written or published repair standards issued by the company that built the vehicle. Insurers would be barred from making claimants deviate from these procedures, and would have to approve documented manufacturer repair procedures submitted in a repair estimate or request. An insurer could only deny paying for such a procedure if, within three business days, it gives the claimant a written explanation and a notice that the denial could count as an unfair claims practice. Repeated violations would count as unfair claims settlement practices under existing law, and the Insurance Commissioner would write rules to carry out the new section.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 33-34-10) requiring all motor vehicle liability insurance policies to cover repairs performed according to the manufacturer's official repair procedures.
• Prohibits insurers from requiring claimants to skip, alter, or ignore original equipment manufacturer repair procedures when settling a claim.
• Requires insurers to approve documented manufacturer repair procedures submitted in a written estimate or request from a repair facility or claimant.
• Limits insurers' ability to deny payment for a manufacturer repair procedure, requiring a written itemized explanation and a notice within three business days if they do deny it.
• Classifies repeated violations as unfair claims settlement practices under Georgia's existing unfair trade practices law (O.C.G.A. § 33-6-34), which can trigger regulatory penalties.
• Directs the Insurance Commissioner to create rules and regulations to enforce the new repair procedure requirements.

The bill affects Georgia drivers filing insurance claims after a crash, motor vehicle liability insurers operating in the state, and repair facilities such as body shops, garages, and dealerships that submit repair estimates for manufacturer-specified procedures.

If enacted, drivers whose cars need repairs after an accident could more reliably get insurers to pay for manufacturer-recommended repair methods, which are often used for safety features like structural integrity and electronic calibration, rather than cheaper alternative methods insurers might otherwise prefer.

• Section 1 adds failure to follow manufacturer repair procedure requirements under new Code Section 33-34-10 to the list of unfair claims settlement practices in O.C.G.A. § 33-6-34.
• Section 2 creates new Code Section 33-34-10, defining terms like 'claimant,' 'motor vehicle liability insurance,' 'original equipment manufacturer repair procedure,' and 'repair facility.'
• Subsection (b) requires all motor vehicle liability policies to provide for repairs made according to applicable manufacturer repair procedures.
• Subsection (c) bars insurers from requiring claimants to deviate from, deny, omit, or disregard manufacturer repair procedures.
• Subsection (d) requires insurers to approve documented manufacturer procedures and, if denying payment, to provide a written itemized explanation and unfair-practices notice within three business days.
• Subsection (e) makes frequent violations a violation of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act.
• Subsection (f) directs the Insurance Commissioner to issue rules and regulations to implement the section.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)

• auto insurance
• car repair rules
• insurance claims
• consumer protection
• vehicle manufacturer standards