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Sponsor seeks 7‑day rental protection after total loss; insurers say existing rules and processes cover many cases
Summary
Representative Steve Pearson introduced a bill aimed at guaranteeing a seven‑day rental car for motorists not at fault whose vehicle is totaled. The sponsor described a constituent who felt pressured by an at‑fault insurer to surrender a rental immediately. The Insurance Department said administrative rules already require some rental coverage and
Representative Steve Pearson told the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee that House Bill 434 responds to what he described as an unfair practice: an at‑fault insurer pressuring an innocent driver to surrender a rental and accept a quick settlement after being told the vehicle was a total loss.
Pearson recounted a constituent case in which the at‑fault insurer told the claimant to return the rental immediately and said the claimant risked storage charges and other penalties if the rental continued. “Asking for 7 days to provide a rental car is not unreasonable,” Pearson said, describing the bill as a narrow remedy to give drivers a short breathing space to arrange replacement transportation and resolve total‑loss discrepancy questions.
Insurance Department: rules already address…
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