New Jersey Automotive September 2019

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALLIANCE OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS/NEW JERSEY (www.AASPNJ.org) AND THE AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY (www.ARANJ.org)

September 2019 $595

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P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com 2017 - 2019 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Jerry McNee, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / ultimatecollision@att.net COLLISION CHAIRMAN Dennis Cataldo, Jr., D&M Auto Body 732-251-4313 / jr@dandmautobody.com MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN Keith Krehel, Krehel Automotive Repair, Inc. 973-546-2828 / krehelauto@aol.com TREASURER Tom Elder, Compact Kars, Inc. 609-259-6373 / compactkars@aol.com SECRETARY Thomas Greco, Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 973-667-6922 / thomas@grecopublishing.com BOARD John Craggan, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / jcraggan@ultcollision.com Gary Gardella, Jr., County Line Auto Body 732-363-5904 / countylineautobody@gmail.com Dave Laganella, Peters Body and Fender 201-337-1200 / petersbandf@gmail.com Sam Mikhail, Prestige Auto Body 908-789-2020 / mikhail@goldcar.com Ted Rainer, Ocean Bay Auto Body 732-899-7900 / ted@oceanbayautobody.com Anthony Trama, Bloomfield Auto Body 973-748-2608 / anthony@bloomfieldautobody.com BOARD ALLIED Joe Amato, The Amato Agency 732-530-6740 / joesr@amatoagency.com Dave Gruskos, Reliable Automotive Equipment 732-495-7900 / dave@rae1.com Mike Kaufmann, Advantage Dealer Services 973-332-7014 / mkaufmann@advantageds.com

VOLUME 49 NUMBER 9 | September 2019

CONTENTS

10 OUT OF BODY AND (MECHANICAL)

19 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

14 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

52 NJA ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

EXPERIENCES

LOCAL NEWS

26 AASP/NJ Issues Call to Action in Defense of 1963 Consent Decree INDUSTRY ADVICE: ASK MIKE

30 Are Shops Truly Using OEM Repair Procedures?

34 COVER STORYby Joel Gausten

Keeping the Industry Alive: An Association Presidents Roundtable

PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

PUBLISHER Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com

AASP/NJ MEMBER PROFILE

SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lea Velocci / lea@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joel Gausten / joel@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo / alana@grecopublishing.com OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com

23 I-CAR CALENDAR

by Mitchell Portnoi

42 Medical Treatment for Injuries Sustained in an Accident

46 Walter’s Auto Body

by Alana Bonillo

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 50

Wharton Insurance Briefs by Mario DiFilippis

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Charles Bryant • Mario DeFilippis • Jeff McDowell • Mitch Portnoi • Ron Ananian Keith Krehel • Jerry McNee • Bob Dirkes

Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS www.grecopublishing.com NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published monthly and is sent to AASP/NJ and ARANJ members free of charge. Subscriptions are $24 per year. NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc., 244 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ 07110. The editorial contents of NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE are copyright © 2019 by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher and/or editor. Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. Stock Images courtesy of www.istockphoto.com.

Joe Amato, Sr. Ron Ananian Jim Bowers Charles Bryant Don Chard Guy Citro Pete Cook Ed Day Dave Demarest Phil Dolcemascolo Tom Elder Bob Everett

Thomas Greco Dan Hawtin Rich Johnson Wes Kearney Nick Kostakis Jim Kowalak Joe Lubrano Michael Lovullo Jeff McDowell Sam Mikhail Ron Mucklow

George Petrask Russ Robson Jerry Russomano George Threlfall Cynthia Tursi Lee Vetland Paul Vigilant Rich Weber Brian Vesley Glenn Villacari Stan Wilson

New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 7

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OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES

What Am I?

by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER

A few weeks ago, we were on a conference call with some clients in Texas. As I was introducing our people to the clients, I had to laugh. When I said our names - Greco, Figurelli, Velocci, Dominici - I thought to myself, with all of us calling in from New Jersey, we must sound like the heads of the five Mafia families to these people. I did make a reference to the coincidence of all of us being Italian, and that made me think.

For as long as I can remember, I have always identified myself as Italian, not Italian-American. Let’s face it, the term “Italian-American” only became popular once the politically correct culture we live in demanded we had to be identified that way. When I was growing up and someone wanted to know what my ethnicity was, they would ask,“Hey, what are you?” I never, ever said, “I’m Italian-American.” I would say I was Italian. It was pretty frigging obvious I was American. It’s

still pretty frigging obvious I’m American. The more I thought about it, though, I realized I’m actually neither Italian nor Italian-American.

Honestly, the only connection I have to Italy is my grandparents, three of whom I never met. The grandmother I did know died when I was in my 20s, and the only Italian thing I ever noticed about her was her accent. My parents were born in Newark. They never spoke Italian (besides cursing) around the house. Sure, my mom cooked a lot of great Italian food, but that didn’t make her any more Italian than any other mom with an Italian cookbook.

Besides, I’ve never liked Italian food. Of course, I like pizza, but isn’t the way we eat it more American than Italian? I was in Disney World earlier this year, and they had a new Italian restaurant serving pizza. Now in Disney World, they try to be as true to the ethnicity of the food as possible. So,

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10 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

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everyone who worked at the restaurant was from Italy. I walked in and asked for a slice of Sicilian pizza. The cook (or should I say “chef,” since anyone with a pair of tongs is considered a chef these days…when I was a kid, the only chef I knew was Chef Boyardee) looked at me like I was speaking another language. (Actually, I guess I was! LOL) He asked, “What do you mean, Sicilian?” I said, “You know…Sicilian pizza.” He asked, “What is Sicilian pizza?” I started to explain and he just seemed to get more confused, so I just ordered a regular slice and left. While I was eating, I looked it up and found out that Sicilian pizza in Italy is significantly different from Sicilian pizza in the US. Which brings me back to my original premise: Can I really say I’m Italian? Obviously, I like American pizza. And I would much rather eat a hot dog or a hamburger instead of pasta. (Pasta!

Another chic word. What happened to good old macaroni and spaghetti???)

Of course, my favorite movie is The Godfather, so that must count for something? Nah. Goodfellas? Nah. Everyone loves those movies. That doesn’t prove anything.

How about travel? Do I crave visiting the old country and

the long line of Grecos of Italy? (According to Wikipedia, the Greco Mafia family is historic and one of the most influential Mafia clans in Sicily and Calabria…pretty sure that’s where my ancestors are from. Who knew?) Eh, not really. The Coliseum? The Leaning Tower of Pisa? Hell no. Nothing about those things interests me. That’s ancient history. I’d much rather see Las Vegas or Hollywood.

Look, I love and am as proud as anyone can be of my Italian heritage. And if you enjoy your heritage and wear it proudly now and forever, more power to you. But when do we stop tying our identities to things that we are 100 years removed from? Whether you’re Italian-American, IrishAmerican, African-American, Asian-American, etc… at what point do we remove these labels from ourselves or our children or our grandchildren? I mean, if you’re born here, aren’t you really just American?

So what am I? When all is said and done, you can call me an American.

An American just like his parents, and proud as hell to have had grandparents who were Italian.

NJA

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“Unfair and PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

In this month’s issue, you’ll read AASP/NJ’s response to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plans to possibly terminate the 1963 Consent Decree. If you are unfamiliar with the Decree, it is important that you read up on it and

Unreasonable”

learn about what it aims to do on behalf of the collision repair industry and the customers we serve.

Although the Consent Decree has existed for several decades, it has largely been swept under the rug by the

insurance industry. The reason for that is simple: It puts insurers’ feet to the fire when they don’t do the right things. A lot of people in our industry are unaware of it – and it has been largely unenforced up to this point – but the fact remains that our industry is better off having it exist than allowing it to disappear. If the Decree officially goes away, it’s going to become the Wild West even more out there.

As a shop owner, I understand how difficult it is to keep up with everything going on in our industry and find the time to utilize every opportunity we have to better our businesses. I know members who work seven days a week just to keep the lights on. When an insurer comes in and throws its weight around, some shops are simply too busy to fight back and instead just go along with what they’re told. This is a busy and demanding profession, but each and every one of us must find the time to research proper procedures, learn about things like the Consent Decree and take a stronger stand against outside entities controlling how we conduct ourselves.

Insurers rule by intimidation, and it works. A lot of shops are concerned over what the insurance company sees, feels and thinks about them. Every time an insurer says no to something, somebody in the industry walks away from the fight. This practice needs to end.

Unless we actively support the Consent Decree and everything that’s in place to protect us, the industry standard will soon have nothing to do with safe and proper repairs. We will no longer have any say in what is “fair and reasonable.” If we don’t take our shot and push back with everything we have, then “unfair and unreasonable” will become reality. We can’t allow that to happen to our customers.

NJA

14 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

by JERRY MCNEE

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Mazda of Lodi 130 Route 46 East Lodi, NJ 07644 Phone: 866-716-0511 Fax: 973-594-4933 www.mazdaoflodi.com

Wayne Mazda 1244 Route 23 North Wayne, NJ 07470 Phone: 973-646-0333 Fax: 973-694-1700 www.waynemazdafactoryparts.com

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No!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

by CHARLES BRYANT

The AASP/NJ Hot Line has been ringing off the hook. Collision shop owners are reporting various improper activities on the part of insurers that, for the most part, have not been shared with us in the past. Many of the reports indicate that certain insurers have decided to dictate what they are going to pay for collision repairs rather than negotiate the cost with the shop chosen by the insured or claimant.

To add insult to injury, many insurers are reportedly attempting to tell shops where they have to buy parts and threatening to limit payment for these parts to the amounts they could have been purchased for at the carriers’ preferred vendors.

I answer questions pertaining to situations like this on a daily basis.

However, sometimes it seems like the answers that would solve many of the problems facing the industry often fall on deaf ears. I often tell AASP/NJ members to charge the customer and let them take it up with the insurer that either refuses to pay for something or unreasonably limits the payment to an amount that will not allow for a fair and reasonable profit.

Almost every time I say this, I usually hear the same response: “Oh, I can’t do that to my customer.” So, what do you think the shop owners do? They eat it.

They give up and take a loss or walk away from getting paid for services rendered in good faith. Trust me when I tell you that insurance companies are gambling on the shop owners to do just that.

With that said, let me explain why it is so important for shops to consider the advice given on how to deal with an unreasonable insurer. In simple terms, the insurer can tell the shop owner anything it wants or refuse to pay for an item that definitely needs to be replaced rather than be repaired. The insurer can refuse to pay a fair and reasonable Labor

Rate and cover the full cost of paint and materials; if the shop just rolls over and accepts it, the insurer has not done anything that would make it liable. This is because the shop owner making the argument on behalf of the insured is not a party to the insurance contract. On the other hand, if the insured, who is a party to the insurance contract, pays the difference and then goes to the insurer and demands to be indemnified for their loss, that is another story. The argument is stronger when it comes from the person who paid for a policy.

The problem is that too many shop owners want to be the hero and not charge their customer for parts or services that they have supplied in good

faith if the insurer refuses to pay. As a result, insurers are now walking into collision shops and dictating the Labor Rate and what they will or won’t pay.

Years ago, shops could get away with saying, “If I am not getting paid for something, I’m not going to do it.” With modern vehicles equipped with ADAS features that require the scanning and recalibration of certain components, shops can no longer take this stand due to the liability.

I know many of the collision shop owners are asking, “What is the answer?”

My reply is simple. Just say NO! “No, I will not accept a Labor Rate that is less than a bicycle shop’s. No, I will not

continued on page 23

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE continued from page 19

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perform services that I am not going to be paid for. No, I will not accept an amount for the paint and materials that is less than what I had to pay for them.”

Shop owners must learn how to educate their customers on what to expect when it comes time for an insurer to pay for a safe and proper repair. There are so many things taking place between shop owners and insurance companies that absolutely should not be happening.

There are governing rules that are either unknown or not understood by shop owners. A good example is the rules that govern the use of aftermarket parts in New Jersey. How many owners are aware that an insurer cannot insist on the use of these parts unless they are warrantied by the manufacturer – not the distributor or the insurer attempting to limit the payment to an amount that will only cover the cost of these parts?

I have yet to talk to an owner who knew this. So, the next time an insurer continued on page 52

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AASP/NJ Issues Call to Action in Defense of 1963 Consent Decree LOCAL NEWS

There is a proposal by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to terminate a Consent Decree that was enacted in 1963 that legally instructed 265 insurers and various other entities not to conspire to unreasonably restrain trade and commerce in the collision repair market. The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) is taking action in defense of the Consent Decree.

“The 1963 Consent Decree is a critical document that adds teeth to the collision industry’s side when it deals with insurers,” comments AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee. “The Department of Justice should be endorsing and promoting it on behalf of consumers - not considering erasing it from history. AASP/NJ stands behind the Consent Decree and all efforts to keep it in place.”

The insurers and co-conspirators were permanently barred from (among other things) placing into effect any plan, program or practice that has the purpose or effect of: (1) sponsoring, endorsing or otherwise recommending any appraiser of damage to automotive vehicles; (2) directing, advising or otherwise suggesting that any person or firm do business or refuse to do business with (a)

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26 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

any appraiser of damage to automotive vehicles with respect to the appraisal of such damage, or (b) any independent or dealer franchised automotive repair shop with respect to the repair of damage to automotive vehicles;

(3) exercising any control over the activities of any appraiser of damage to automotive vehicles; (4) allocating or dividing customers, territories, markets or business among any appraisers of damage to automotive vehicles; or (5) fixing, establishing, maintaining or otherwise controlling the prices to be paid for the appraisal of damage to automotive vehicles, or to be charged by independent or dealer franchised automotive repair shops for the repair of damage to automotive vehicles or for replacement parts or labor in connection therewith, whether by coercion, boycott or intimidation or by the use of flat rate or parts manuals or otherwise.

Although the Consent Decree has never been fully enforced, it has been extremely useful in numerous lawsuits to support the fact that the practices referenced above are in fact illegal. The Consent Decree essentially states that three insurance trade associations and their members (more than 250 at the time) agreed to forever refrain from several practices, including setting prices and steering. The termination or elimination of the Consent Decree could have a devastating effect on the collision industry.

“The collision repair industry benefits greatly from anything that protects its customers and sets limits to what insurers can and can’t do during the vehicle repair process,” adds AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant. “Our industry can’t afford to lose something as vital as the 1963 Consent Decree.”

The DOJ has set a deadline of October 2 for interested parties to provide public comment on the proposal. The collision industry needs to act fast to tell the DOJ why the 1963 Consent Decree should not be terminated.

AASP/NJ has created a special web link to an online petition to assist members in quickly submitting their comments and telling the DOJ just how important it is to maintain and enforce the Consent Decree rather than terminate it.

Go to http://chng.it/fRgfbdZLnW to sign the petition and submit your comments. Time is of the essence!

For more information on AASP/NJ, please visit aaspnj.org.

NJA

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INDUSTRY ADVICE

ASK MIKE Are Shops Truly Using OEM Repair Procedures?

Do you have a question for Mike? Contact New Jersey Automotive Editorial Director Joel Gausten at joel@grecopublishing.com or (973) 600-9288, and we’ll ask him in a future issue.

This month, we “ASK MIKE” to share some of his thoughts on whether shops are correctly and consistently researching and using OEM repair procedures. We at New Jersey Automotive hope you find this following exchange useful, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have a question for Mike on this or any industry-related matter that he can answer in a subsequent issue.

New Jersey Automotive: Based on your experiences working with shops all over the country, how would you gauge shops’ knowledge of and ability to seek out OEM repair procedures?

Mike Anderson: Obviously, we survey that in our ‘Who Pays for What?’ surveys through Collision Advice. We ask people, ‘How do you research OEM procedures, and what percentage of the time do you do it?’ Currently, less than 40 percent of shops say they research OEM repair procedures every time.

That’s very concerning to me, because it needs to be every time. Things change; I know one vehicle manufacturer that changed something as recently as two weeks ago. Just because you fixed a car a month ago doesn’t mean things haven’t changed. As an industry professional, I’m very concerned that people are not researching it every single time.

The second thing we’re seeing is an increase in shops going directly to the OEM websites versus using third-party software. I think some third-party solutions are better than others. I think shops still need to be cautious to make sure that these third-party providers are updating their information whenever the OEMs make a change. I know of one specific example where the shop researched something on a vehicle through one of the third-party solutions, and it showed a procedure from 2016. But when you went to the OEM website, they updated that information in November 2018. That thirdparty supplier of OEM repair information did not have the most recent information. I’m not saying that third-party solutions are bad; I’m just saying make sure that they’re credible.

These things are important, but what’s even more important to me is that there’s a difference between researching an OEM repair procedure and actually doing that

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Mike Anderson is an Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and the former owner of Wagonwork Collision Centers, two highly acclaimed shops located in Alexandria, VA. He has served as a member of many industry organizations throughout his career, including the WMABA Board of Directors, the Mitchell Advisory Board, the MOTOR Advisory Board, the ASE Test Review Committee, the National Auto Body Council, the Collision Industry Conference and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists.

Additionally, he is a past Virginia SkillsUSA chairman, serves as a facilitator for Axalta Coating Systems’ highly recognized Business Council 20 Groups in both the US and Canada and facilitates numerous courses for Axalta Coating Systems’ Educational Series. He currently offers expert industry consulting via his latest venture, Collision Advice (collisionadvice.com).

procedure. One of the challenges for shops is the time it takes to do this. I consider myself to be an above-average user of OEM repair information, and I can tell you that I recently spent three hours researching how to replace a quarter panel. It can be very time-consuming, and some shops put pressure on their employees to write a certain amount of volume in sales.

Estimators are trying to keep their bosses happy, so they sometimes end up sacrificing looking up the OEM repair procedures to comply with their boss’ requirements. I think that’s a mistake. Shop owners and managers need to realize that their estimators can’t handle the sales volume they used to many years ago because of the time it takes to research these procedures. The vehicles we’re working on today are so complex that it’s absolutely important to research the OEM repair procedures every single time.

I realize that the OEMs often have things in their procedures that we in the industry might think are extreme or unnecessary, but I think it’s wrong when we start secondguessing the engineers who designed the vehicles and know what has to be done. We can’t limit ourselves to thinking that we’re smarter than an engineer, and we need to repair vehicles to the OEM recommendations and requirements until those OEMs tell us otherwise. This doesn’t just affect estimators; technicians also need access to OEM repair information, and they need to be trained on it.

I see a lot of social media groups where people exchange ideas. I think that’s great, but just because somebody puts something on Facebook or YouTube doesn’t make it accurate and true. You still have to do your own homework and research what they say on those online platforms.

NJA: Those are all great points. It’s obvious that OEM repair information should be looked up every time a vehicle shows up at a shop. But in terms of procedures, what are some examples of things that technicians and estimators are missing the boat on because they’re not regularly looking up the OEM procedures on these items?

MA: Torque specifications is one thing that comes to mind.

There are very specific torque specifications for suspension

continued on page 39

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COVER STORY By Joel Gausten

Keeping the Industry Alive

PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND THE COLLISION INDUSTRY

MASSACHUSETTS

An Association Presidents Roundtable New Jersey Automotive gathered together AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee, Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) President Burl Richards, AASP/Massachusetts President Molly Brodeur, Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) President Torchy Chandler, AASP-Minnesota President Carl Thomas and Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd. (WACTAL) President Larry Terrien for a frank and in-depth discussion on what they each see as the biggest problems facing the field and how being involved in a state group can improve conditions for everyone.

New Jersey Automotive: What is the primary focus of your association on behalf of your membership?

Jerry McNee: Support, education, collaboration and sharing information.

There is definitely strength in numbers, and we achieve that through the training programs that we sponsor and put together, among other things. We give back to the industry. At the end of the day, we all volunteer to look out for the good for our community and our customers.

Without AASP/NJ, we wouldn’t fare as well as an industry.

Burl Richards: Education is the first thing that comes to mind. We do that on various levels. We educate shops by providing them with industry leaders and

34 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

OEM information and stress the need for proper and safe repairs. I believe that if they do that, it takes care of a lot of our industry’s issues. If every shop was looking up all the OEM procedures and focused on fixing the vehicle properly, this industry would change overnight. They would find out quickly that fixing a car properly takes a large investment. All of these shops that supposedly don’t ask for processes and procedures would have a different outlook and attitude.

Secondly, we educate legislators on the issues we’re dealing with. Of course, we can’t have any success with that unless we’re also educating the consumer.

Torchy Chandler: The main objectives for WMABA are preventative advocacy, educating our members and industry at

large and disseminating priority or actionable information. We keep on top of local legislative and regulatory discussions and work alongside our affiliate associations on initiatives that benefit the entire industry.

Molly Brodeur: Our primary focus is education. We strive through our monthly membership meetings, our weekly tip emails, our bi-monthly newsletter and our monthly publication, New England Automotive Report, to educate our membership on a

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variety of topics that impact their businesses every day. Whether it be estimating tips and tools, negotiation skills, the technology evolution or total loss settlements, we are constantly adding to our members’ wheelhouse so they can effect change in their businesses.

Carl Thomas: Our primary focus is all about providing the best possible outcome for businesses, whether they are collision repair or mechanical. We’re here to ensure the success, profitability and longevity of our industry.

Larry Terrien: Our mission is to help provide a future for the collision repair industry. We do this by providing many member benefits, such as business insurance, a personal concierge program that directs customers to member shops, several retail discount programs, credit card processing, web design/hosting, a customer service survey [CSS] program, consumer brochures/ signage, conferences/trade shows, a scholarship program and lobbying efforts.

NJA: What are some of the biggest issues impacting your members at the state level, and how has your association worked to identify and address them?

JM: We’ve tried to set up meetings with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for body shop licensing and with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, legislators and lobbyists on other issues. The insurance companies are chipping away at these

entities to get what they want, so we need to be doing the same. To do this, we need more involvement from our members. That piggybacks off your previous question; we want to give back to the community and our members, but we need them to give back to us.

Without our presence at the table, insurers create a one-sided version of what is going on.

BR: Quite honestly, underindemnification by insurers for safe and proper repairs is the biggest issue.

Unfortunately, it’s all based on the ‘prevailing’ rate because of the language in the insurance policies. The Texas Department of Insurance won’t follow up and do its job. This leads to the fact that we need specific legislation that identifies that issue. The shops that are trying to get things done are being under-indemnified. I get calls all the time from members who say, ‘This insurance company is refusing to pay for this.’ Members are looking for help with how to deal with this and other problems.

TC: Insurer relations issues come up weekly, if not daily. We assist with useful information or contacts at higher-thanlocal levels. Many times, this will also involve the consumer. There are changes in technology for vehicles that happen daily, and helping reporters stay on top of that is a high priority.

Helping to offset the cost of doing business is also a focus of ours, and utilizing benefit programs is one way our shops can take advantage of their membership.

MB: The biggest issue affecting members at the state level is the Labor Rate. With the lowest reimbursement rate in the country, our members are challenged to invest in their businesses and properly train and retain technicians. This year, in partnership with National AutoBody Research, we’ve launched the first Variable Rate Survey in Massachusetts. Members have responded quickly, and we are closing

in on reaching our goal of 313 completed surveys, which will give it ‘bulletproof’ status with a 95 percent confidence level and a five percent margin of error. As we have over the last 12 years, we continue to lobby this issue at the State House with the filing of our Labor Rate Bill.

CT: Staffing is the largest issue in this industry right now. Trying to find quality technicians is a struggle – which I’m sure is the case in any trade. We have a lack of people getting involved in the industry. Addressing that will be the biggest thing for the sustainability and success of our businesses. AASP-MN started the Minnesota Careers in Automotive Repair and Service [MNCARS] initiative, which aims to get younger people – and everybody else – involved in the industry. We have a lot of different points of contact, including car shows, schools, trade seminars and anything else that might help get more people involved in understanding what this industry has and what we can provide.

LT: One of our most recent efforts was successfully passing legislation that specifically allows us to replace information labels on vehicles that contain the VIN. Before this legislation, this was a grey area that was sporadically enforced by law enforcement depending on their interpretation of the existing statutes.

NJA: What are some issues occurring nationally that are of particular interest/concern to your association and membership?

JM: The biggest thing is performing safe and proper repairs. Some of the shops in this country have had enough.

They’re being bullied, but I see more of them taking a stand for what’s right for the consumer. It’s a fine line between taking a stand and being profitable and just rolling over, but the best shops are looking to do repairs correctly. The shop is liable for the repairs – nobody else.

New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 35

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COVER STORY

BR: The biggest national issue I see is that not all parts are of like kind and quality. There is a difference between an OEM part and an aftermarket part.

From ABAT learning what other associations are doing in other states on this and other matters, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel if someone else has done something that has been successful. I think being out there with other associations like the Society of Collision Repair Specialists [SCRS] that are really on top of the collision industry on a daily basis has really helped us learn what’s going on.

TC: Everything nationally becomes local before we know it! We attend all the national meetings to get the latest developments around the industry as well as advocate our association’s position to the highest of company or entity representatives. Changes in scanning and diagnostics are of great interest to us, as are any changes in OEM certification programs. We all know our industry can change in the blink of an eye.

MB: We are actively monitoring various legislative efforts across the county that aim to establish OEMrecommended/required procedures as the standard of repair, as we feel these efforts have the potential to better ensure the safety of collision repair consumers. Also, we’ve been following ongoing national discussions at the Collision Industry Conference [CIC] and elsewhere in regard to the classifications and definitions of ‘OptOE,’ ‘Alt-OE’ and ‘Surplus OE’ parts.

Anything that adds ambiguity and potential liability to the parts-selection process is of great concern to us.

CT: That’s a vast question. I’m sure that the workforce issue is applicable to any state. I highly doubt there are shops in Arkansas or Washington that are saying, ‘We have so many technicians that I don’t know which one to hire.’ Obviously, Right to Repair

36 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

continues to be a major fight for us, and we have a lobbyist who works with us in our state to try to help improve that situation.

LT: The rapidly evolving technology of the automobile and the need for scans and calibrations is probably the most obvious one. In many cases, it is difficult to get insurance companies to pay for scans, even though almost all manufacturers have position papers on the importance of them. Shortpays, Labor Rate discrepancies and steering are just some of the many other insurance company issues that we deal with.

NJA: What are some of your association’s biggest goals for the rest of 2019 and beyond?

JM: One goal is to keep addressing the paint and materials accounting issue. We worked hard to get the use of a paint and materials cost accounting system in place, but some shops let that lapse and insurers stood back and said, ‘They’re not asking for it, so we’re not paying.’

We’d like to see more shops use the P-Pages to write their estimates for proper compensation and get involved with the Variable Rate System to see what others are getting paid. Shops have a lot more rights than they truly understand when it comes to repairing cars. Without getting educated or seeking explanations, a lot of them don’t know how much ammunition they really have.

BR: We want to continue educating legislators and doing things to prepare ourselves for the next legislative session so that we can hopefully get some things changed.

TC: We want to bring the best education the industry has to offer with our Collision Professional Repairer Education Program [Collision P.R.E.P.] at AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show in 2020!

We want to see measurable changes in getting new people into our industry. We want to affect our repairers’ ‘HR’ by working on apprentice programs and the cost of employees.

MB: It’s two-fold. We are hyperfocused on addressing the Labor Rate issue, and our goal is to begin utilizing the survey to effect change at the state and shop level. The second tier is continuing to grow membership. The more shops we can bring into the fold, the better educated our industry as a whole will become. And of course, as the saying goes, there is strength in numbers. The more shops and technicians AASP/MA represents, the louder our voice becomes.

CT: Our biggest goals revolve around individual participation and getting more of our members to attend events, including our Leadership Conference every April. We’ll be working harder to get people more involved in what we do on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Another goal is to continue to provide benefits to our members, and a lot of that will come from face-to-face interaction that can help us grow and further develop our membership.

LT: One of the goals is to get more shops involved in the association.

Now more than ever, it is vitally important for shops to get involved and to take advantage of all of the benefits that WACTAL has to offer.

NJA: What is the best way for a member of your association to get the most out of being involved in the group?

JM: Attend and support AASP/NJ seminars and classes. Ask questions.

None of us are enemies. People use the word ‘competitors,’ but we’re not.

There’s enough work for everybody out there. I encourage members to

continued on page 39

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COVER STORY cont’d from page 36 pick up the phone and communicate. If they have a question, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask it. I’ve been in business for 32 of the 42 years I’ve been in this industry, and I don’t know everything. I’m still learning every day. You have to be willing to pick up the phone, come to the meetings, bring questions, help support each other and look out for the industry.

This ‘what’s in it for me?’ approach isn’t working.

BR: Come to our local association meetings. We have approximately three meetings a year and our Trade Show.

Also, network with other ABAT members – whether it be through an email or a phone call. Participate in our ABAT events, because our Board members put in a lot of time and effort getting these meetings together. If they would just participate in the events we offer, I think their issues would take care of themselves.

TC: Go to meetings, understand the benefits, be involved, get on a committee or, better yet, run for the Board. We are not a club; we are just a group of people trying to make positive strides for everyone. There’s no special magic there – just your average Joes doing their best. My dad always told me, “You get what you give,” so get involved.

MB: Attend meetings! Our meetings are held all around the state, and our executive director, Lucky Papageorg, has done an amazing job of presenting timely, educational and informational sessions. This adds to the camaraderie and relationships that develop from attending the meetings and interacting with fellow shop owners.

CT: This is an easy question! Get involved. There are really two primary reasons why people get involved in AASP-MN. One would be the vendor

discounts we offer, including health insurance and uniform discounts. The second and more important reason is to become more active in your industry and everything we provide to it. Our Leadership Conference is fantastic. The best way to get the most out of it is to put even a little bit into it. Show up for events and get to know other people. We’re all dealing with the same issues. The networking side of AASP-MN has been the best thing for me and really the reason why I’m in the position I am with the group right now.

LT: One of the best ways for shops to get the most out of their membership is to utilize the benefits that we offer. The meetings are always open to all members, and this is probably the best way for them to get involved and participate in giving the Board direction.

NJA

INDUSTRY ADVICE cont’d from page 30

components, seatbelt hardware and other things. There is certain hardware that needs to be torqued to certain specifications when you install it. Some vehicle manufacturers use what are called ‘torque-to-yield fasteners;’ you torque the bolt to a specific specification, then you go to a specified degree provided by the OEM past that and it stretches the thread. I know of several vehicle manufacturers that require you to remove the steering column and measure it after the vehicle’s been in a collision to ensure that the steering column did not collapse.

As an estimator, what I encourage people to do is research the torque specifications and put it on the estimate as a line item. When the technician gets the estimate, they know what the torque specifications are for each bolt or component. I learned this from Alex Kuang, owner of Redwood Auto Body in California.

NJA New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 39

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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE

by Mitchell Portnoi, Esq.

Medical Treatment for Injuries Sustained in an

Accident

42 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

I try to write articles based on the work I’m encountering at any given time. I currently represent a woman who slipped/tripped in a big-box store. The hows or whys are irrelevant here. She needed significant treatment, some of which was not supported by her current private medical insurance. So, who then is responsible for those medical bills?

She did not injure herself while working, so workers’ compensation is unavailable to her. The treating doctors were not a part of her private insurance network, so the insurer would not pay her medical expenses. Is the Defendant (big-box store) responsible? The Defendant has attempted to reduce their responsibility by arguing that the Plaintiff could have received treatment through her private insurance, but since she elected not to, she is restricted by the “Collateral Source Rule.” This Rule essentially prohibits a double recovery by disallowing any bills to be a part of the case if the Plaintiff was already paid by her private insurance.

In this case, the payment was not made, so the argument failed. The Defendant then attempted to argue that the Plaintiff failed to “mitigate their damages.” In other words, she failed to utilize her available insurance to treat with doctors within the plan and therefore limit the amount of damages being blamed upon the Defendant. This argument also failed, as the Trial Court held that the failure to mitigate did not necessitate the choice of doctors within a specified plan. Additional facts also supported that the Plaintiff had a payback provision in her private insurance plan (an employee retirement income security act [ERISA] policy), which also supported the Plaintiff’s position.

In general, clients usually enter my office believing that if a Defendant causes them injury, then it should be the Defendant’s responsibility to pay for the medical treatment involved. In New continued on page 47

NJA0919.qxp_NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE 8/30/19 1:14 PM Page 43

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER WAY TO BUY THE WORLD’S BEST ENGINEERED PARTS. THEY’RE CALLED “ORIGINAL BMW PARTS” FOR GOOD REASON. FOR UNCOMPROMISING PRECISION AND INCOMPARABLE QUALITY, YOUR BMW CENTER IS YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR EVERYTHING BMW.

For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers: BMW of Springfield 391-399 Route 22 E. Springfield, NJ 07081 Toll Free: 800-648-0053 Fax: 973-467-2185 bmwofspringfieldnj.com

Paul Miller BMW 1515 Route 23 South Wayne, NJ 07470 PH: 973-696-6060 Fax: 973-696-8274 paulmillerbmw.com

BMW of Bridgewater 655 Route 202/206 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 PH: 908-287-1800 FAX:908-722-1729 bridgewaterbmw.com

Flemington BMW 216 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 08822 PH: 877-657-2787 Fax: 908-782-1795 njparts.com/bmw

Park Ave BMW 530 Huyler Street South Hackensack, NJ 07606 PH: 201-843-8112 FAX:201-291-2376 parkavebmw.com

Circle BMW 500 Route 36 Eatontown, NJ 07724 Parts Direct: 732-440-1235 Fax: 732-440-1239 wholesale@circlebmw.com circlebmw.com

Wide World BMW 125 East Route 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 PH: 877-817-3895 Fax: 845-425-5080 wideworldofcarsbmw.com

BMW of Bloomfield 425 Bloomfield Avenue Bloomfield, NJ 07003 Parts Direct: 973-748-8373 psantos@dchusa.com

New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 43

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Flemington Volkswagen 213 ROUTE 202/31 FLEMINGTON, NJ 08822 TOLL FREE: 877-657-2787 FAX: 908-782-1795 rmuir@flemington.com www.NJPARTS.com

Douglas Motors 491 MORRIS AVE. SUMMIT, NJ 07901 PHONE: 908-277-1100 FAX: 908-273-6196 TOLL FREE: 800-672-1172 www.douglasvw.com email: douglasparts@douglasautonet.com

Paul Miller VW of Bernardsville 118 MORRISTOWN ROAD BERNARDSVILLE, NJ 07924 TOLL FREE: 877-318-6557 LOCAL: 908-766-1600 FAX: 908-766-6171

44 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

Trend Motors 221 ROUTE 46 WEST ROCKAWAY, NJ 07866 888-267-2821 FAX: 973-625-4985 www.trendmotors.com email:dreinacher@trendmotors.com

Crestmont Volkswagen 730 ROUTE 23 NORTH POMPTON PLAINS, NJ 07444 TOLL FREE: 800-839-6444 FAX: 973-839-8146 www.crestmontvw.com email:vwparts@crestmont23.com

NJA0919.qxp_NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE 8/30/19 1:14 PM Page 45

KEEP IT GENUINE

INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS

Using Genuine GM Parts for collision repairs is better for your customers, and better for your business. Contact the following dealers for all your Genuine GM Parts needs: MAXON BUICK GMC 2301 Route 22 West Union, NJ 07083 Phone: 800-964-7281 Fax: 908-851-5631 maxonwholesaleparts@gmail.com

www.maxonbuickgmc.com

FLEMINGTON CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC 211 Highway 202 Flemington, NJ 08822 Phone: 877-657-2787 Fax: 908-782-1795 www.njparts.com

FRED BEANS PARTS 131 Doyle Street Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: 877-942-3267 orders@fredbeans.com www.fbparts.com

BAY RIDGE CHEVROLET OF BROOKLYN 1575 86th Street Brooklyn, NY 11228 Phone: 833-244-3475 Fax: 718-392-6570 www.bayridgechevy.com

NU CAR CHEVROLET 172 North Dupont Highway New Castle, DE 19720 Phone: 800-633-6606 Fax: 800-346-5285 parts@nucar.com www.nucar.com

New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 45

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AASP/NJ MEMBER PROFILE By Alana Bonillo

Walter’s Auto Body

Wayne Wagner has been around cars his whole life.

The owner of Walter’s Auto Body in Sayreville and longtime AASP/NJ member grew up working at his father’s Jeep and Chrysler dealerships and Honda motorcycle franchise. The experience led him down his own path in the collision repair world and even introduced him to his longtime business partner.

When his father entered semiretirement by leasing his Chrysler dealership back to the manufacturer, Wagner teamed up with Pete Carnucci, his dad’s former body shop manager.

The two men purchased Walter’s Auto Body, which had been in operation for 10 years by a previous owner. Carnucci ran the body shop operations, while Wagner – who had recently earned a

business administration degree – took over the office side of the things. Sadly, Carnucci passed away from lung cancer in 2001. Wagner has continued on alone since. “[Pete] was such a great guy,” he recalls.

Walter’s Auto Body has been in business for almost 50 years now, with the majority of the shop’s business coming from repeat customers. The facility also has a strong presence within the Sayreville community, as Wagner grew up in the area and services vehicles for the local fire department.

He attributes the shop’s success to his strict focus on quality.

“We have a control program; when the cars are completed, they are inspected by at least one or two people.

We try to avoid anything being overlooked at all costs.”

As a result, the shop has earned five-star ratings on Google and Facebook and plenty of positive online reviews. Wagner is also fortunate to

have many longtime employees, including his paint manager of over 30 years and his shop foreman over two decades.

“When you get good people and they are happy, they tend to stay. That’s what I strive for.”

It’s also important to have a good way of recruiting new talent, which can be difficult in this industry. Wagner serves on the Advisory Committee for Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, and Walter’s Auto Body keep its doors open to co-op students.

Wagner’s son, Mike, has recently been assisting with office duties in the shop and helping his father with auctions and used car sales. Wagner doesn’t believe Mike will follow in his footsteps, as the young man is currently a pre-med student.

With almost 40 years in the industry under his belt, Wagner has seen a lot of changes, including the rise of electronics and how automobiles are repaired as a result.

“It used to just be fixing a metal part and painting it; now, the electronic aspect is a big part of cars. We keep abreast and follow the manufacturer guidelines, spending a lot of time researching and scanning. Things have changed a lot.”

Wagner became involved with the local auto body association shortly after he and Carnucci first went into the business. He has many fond memories of the earlier days and all the social activities that got the whole group together. He particularly remembers

Remembering Eddie Lubrano, Jr. New Jersey Automotive is saddened to report that Eddie Lubrano, Jr., the brother of Joe Lubrano of J&E Auto Body (Clark), passed away on August 18.

Eddie was the co-owner of J&E Auto Body for the past 45 years and an all-around great guy. Joe is a past president of the Central Jersey Auto Body Association and a past AASP/NJ Board member. He was a much-valued, longtime regular member of AASP/NJ and other prior associations as well as a great friend to many in the collision industry. Eddie will be dearly missed.

AASP/NJ and New Jersey Automotive extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

46 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

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long-serving AASP/NJ Board member and industry legend Lee Vetland, who passed away this year.

“Everyone is getting older, and we don’t get to see each other as much as we used to.”

As for the future, Walter’s is maxed out of space at its current location, but Wagner says he may eventually get a second location to house the business’ used car sales and/or for specialty items like wheels and accessories.

NJA

LEGAL PERSPECTIVE cont’d from page 42

Jersey (at least at this time), that is usually not the case. For as long as I have been a lawyer (now almost 35 years), New Jersey has had personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for motor vehicle accidents. PIP coverage is essentially one’s own insurance company paying for either all of the medical coverage or up to the policy limits of coverage. This is what is known as “no-fault” coverage. Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, one’s own carrier (PIP carrier) pays for their own medical care. Similarly, in a workers’ compensation matter, the employer’s workers’ compensation carrier pays for all medical care even if another party may be responsible for causing the accident or occurrence.

In essence, I attempt to counsel clients to seek the path of least resistance. If they have health insurance and are in need of treatment, they should seek out their private health policy and get all the treatment they need. If they have a motor vehicle accident, they should utilize PIP first and then follow up with private health insurance. As a last resort, if neither of these are available, then it is occasionally possible to pay medical bills out of the results of a lawsuit.

However, that is often more difficult than it may seem.

If you have any questions, please call me at (973) 228-9900 ext. 217.

NJA New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 47

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Unsurpassed Quality. Genuine Hyundai Parts.

HYUNDAI IS PROUD OF ITS REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE. SO ARE THE DEALERS AND BODY SHOPS WHO RELY ON GENUINE HYUNDAI PARTS. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU GET THE RIGHT HYUNDAI PART, ASK FOR A HYUNDAI WHOLESALE PARTS SPECIALIST. For Genuine Hyundai parts, contact an Authorized Hyundai Dealer.

MAXON HYUNDAI 2329 ROUTE 22 WEST UNION, NJ 07083 TOLL FREE: 800-964-7281 FAX: 908-851-5631

LIBERTY HYUNDAI 371 ROUTE 17 NORTH MAHWAH, NJ 07430 201-529-3600 FAX: 201-529-3051

48 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

WAYNE HYUNDAI 1244 ROUTE 23 NORTH WAYNE, NJ 07470 PH: 973-646-0333 FAX: 973-694-1700 waynehyundai.com

NJA0919.qxp_NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE 8/30/19 1:14 PM Page 49

Superior customer service starts with Town Audi and Audi Genuine Parts.

• Our expert parts staff is ready to serve you with over $500,000 in inventory and a fleet of trucks to help ensure same-day delivery on most orders • We respect your time, and offer a quick and accurate order process to help meet your needs • Proudly serving the Tri-State area with Audi Genuine Parts since 1970 • Same-day delivery on stocked items, next-day availability on most non-stocked items

Town Audi 400 South Dean Street Englewood, NJ 07631 Parts Direct: 888.779.6792 Fax: 201.541.0314

Email: audiparts@townmotors.com

Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-7pm

Saturday: 8am-5pm

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With our comprehensive inventory of Porsche Genuine Parts & Service, you will guarantee your customer optimal safety and reliability and ensure their Porsche remains what it is: an original.

Maintain Originality.

Town Porsche 105 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631 201-227-6505 town-motorcar.porschedealer.com

© 2019 Porsche Cars North America Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.

49 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

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ARANJ Officers

President Rodney Krawczyk - Ace Auto Wreckers (732) 254-9816 aceautonj@comcast.net

1st Vice President Ian Szoboszlay - Ocean County Auto (732) 349-0332 ian@cosmosautoparts.com 2nd Vice President Darryl Carmen - Lentini Auto Salvage (908) 782-6838 darryl@las-parts.com 3rd Vice President Mike Ronayne - Tilghmans Auto Parts (609) 723-7469 tilghmans@snip.net

Past President Bob Dirkes - Dirkes Used Auto Parts (609) 625-1718 dirkesauto@gmail.com

ARANJ Board of Directors David Yeager - EL & M Auto (609) 561-2266 elandmauto@aol.com

Ed Silipena - American II Autos (609) 965-6700 esilipena@yahoo.com

Norm Vachon - Port Murray Auto (908) 689-3152 portmurrayauto@yahoo.com Dylan Rinkens - East Brunswick Auto (732) 254-6501 ebautonj@comcast.net

50 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

ARANJ

The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey

Wharton Insurance Briefs

We’ve recently received numerous problems with workers’ compensation annual audits. There are several classifications of insurance that can apply to your operations, such as auto dismantling, scrap dealer, clerical, sales, auto repair and store auto part sales/counterperson. It is very important that you have each employee classified properly and understand the workers’ compensation guidelines. The biggest problem noted is the classification of a counterperson versus a clerical person. Technically, if there is no physical separation between the counterperson and a clerical (internet sales, bookkeeper and so on) person, they will classify the clerical person ($0.19 rate) as a counterperson ($5.10) rate – an extreme difference.

Proper classification, physical separation and understanding the guidelines are all important items to have prepared prior to your appointment with the insurance company’s auditor. You should contact your insurance agent prior to your audit and review the job duties of each of your employees for proper classification.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Mario DeFilippis, AAI Vice President 800-221-0003 (ext. 1320) (908) 513-8588 (cell) mdefilippis@whartoninsurance.com

NJA

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Diagnostically speaking, there is no substitute.

Porsche technology.

Porsche Genuine Service & Parts.

Contact one of these authorized dealers.

Town Porsche 105 Grand Avenue Englewood, NJ 201-227-6505 Fax 201-227-6553 town-motorcar.porschedealer.com

Flemington Porsche 213 Route 202/31 Flemington, NJ 800-216-5124 Fax 908-782-9397 flemingtonporsche.com

Porsche Princeton 3333 Route 1 Lawrenceville, NJ 609-945-1500 Fax 609-945-1501 princetonporsche.com

Š 2019 Porsche Cars North America Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.

51 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

Paul Miller Porsche 3419 Route 46 East Parsippany, NJ 973-227-3000 Fax 973-575-8396 paulmillerporsche.com

Porsche Monmouth 280 Route 36 East West Long Branch, NJ 732-935-7600 Fax 732-935-7602 porschemonmouth.com

Manhattan Motorcars 711 11th Avenue New York, NY 877-661-1586 Fax 646-473-0798 manhattanmotorcarsporsche.com

NJA0919.qxp_NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE 8/30/19 1:14 PM Page 52

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE continued from page 23 insists on the use of aftermarket parts, the shop’s response should be, “Okay, provide me with the warranty from the aftermarket part as per the regulation governing their use, and we will consider it. Otherwise, the answer is no, we will not use aftermarket parts that are not in compliance with the regulations.”

I would strongly suggest that members keep a close eye on my messages in this magazine moving forward, because I intend to point out

many more rules that can help them deal with the daily disputes that they are facing when attempting to get paid for safe and proper repairs. I would also request that members report any misconduct by insurers so we can document these occurrences. For now, my suggestion would be to just say NO to an insurer when it attempts to get you to perform repairs in an improper manner or for an amount less than what can be considered fair and reasonable. NJA

For Genuine Subaru Body Parts, contact these Authorized Subaru Dealers.

Flemington Subaru 167 Route 31 Flemington, NJ 08822 Toll Free: 877-657-2787 Fax: 908-782-1795 bseymour@flemington.com www.njparts.com

Liberty Subaru 55 Kinderkamack Road Emerson, NJ 07630 Phone: 201-261-7495 Fax: 201-261-3261 Toll Free: 888-782-9493 parts@libertysubaru.com www.libertysubaru.com

52 | New Jersey Automotive | September 2019

Paul Miller Subaru 3469 Route 46 Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: 973-658-5714 Fax: 973-402-9591 mdaltilio@paulmiler.com www.paulmillersubaru.com/parts

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 1-800-NEW-PARTS ................................12-13 Accudraft ................................................37 Acme Nissan ..........................................4 Amato Agency ........................................38 American Honda Motor Co. ......................24 Audi Group ..............................................28-29 Axalta......................................................22 BMW Group ............................................43 BMW of Springfield..................................32 Bram Auto Group ....................................IBC Classic Audi ............................................15 Empire Auto Parts ....................................47 Fenix Parts ..............................................14 Flemington Audi ......................................5 Flemington Group ....................................54 Fred Beans..............................................41 Fred Beans Parts ....................................21 Glen Toyota..............................................OBC GM Group................................................45 Hyundai Group ........................................48 Innovative Solutions & Technology / Pro Spot ..................................................IFC Jaguar Land Rover Parsippany ................10 Kemperle ................................................33 Klean Frame ............................................39 Lynnes Nissan East..................................10 Maxon Buick-GMC ..................................25 Maxon Hyundai........................................25 Maxon Mazda..........................................23 Mazda Group ..........................................18 Mike Kaufmann Dealer Group ..................50 MINI Group ..............................................40 Mopar Group ..........................................53 NUCAR ....................................................16-17 Paul Miller Subaru ..................................26 Performance Ford Lincoln ........................11 Porsche Group ........................................51 PPG ........................................................3 PPGMS....................................................42 Reliable Automotive Equipment ................20 Sherwin-Williams ....................................27 Subaru Group ..........................................52 Town Motors............................................49 Toyota Group ..........................................11 Tri-State Luxury Collection........................8-9 USI of North America................................6 Valtek......................................................47 VW Group................................................44 Westbury Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram SRT 31 Wheel Collision Center ............................19

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New Jersey Automotive | September 2019 | 53

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