Bill outlining shop-customer responsibilities passed both houses/signed by Governor

Does not apply to collision repair facilities

Governor Ted Kulongoski signed House Bill 2268 on May 26. The new law imposes new requirements on automotive repair facilities and how they must deal with their customers.

It requires vehicle repair shops to prepare estimates of work when repair costs are $200 or more. The estimate must include:

Description of the general nature of the proposed work, divided into tasks – if applicable
A list of the estimated cost of labor and parts or component systems required
The amount of incidental charges and total estimated cost, may be a reasonable range
If a repair shop proposes to disassemble all or a portion of a vehicle in order to evaluate its condition, it must list the estimated time it will take and the total estimated cost of disassembling and reassembling, if the owner or the designee elects not to proceed with the recommended repairs.

The law contains a specific exemption for collision repair facilities and their customers. For the purposes of this new law, the term "Vehicle repair shop” does not include motor vehicle body and frame repair shops, as defined in ORS 746.275.

Under this law the owner of a motor vehicle is permitted to designate another person (other than the shop owner/employee) – in writing, orally or by telephone – to act as the owner's designee, granting them permission to make all repair decisions on the owner's behalf.

Violations of this law will be prosecuted under the unlawful trade practices act.

For the full text of HB 2268: www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb2200.dir/hb2268.a.pdf.