WSIADA Working to Defeat Legislative House Bill 1184: Express Warranty

The Association has been aware of the Washington Attorney General’s attempt to introduce a bill in this year’s Legislative session that would require Washington State Independent Auto Dealers to require a warranty on any vehicle sold that had between 3,000 and 125,000 miles on it based off a local news report in May 2022. This bill is listed as HB 1184 and sponsored by Representatives David Hackney (11th District), Davina Duerr (1st District) and Gerry Pollet (46th District).

The news report was concerning a $13,000 vehicle purchased by a consumer that had engine failure within two weeks of purchase that caused $6000 in repairs and the dealership declined to help the consumer by waiving the As-Is No Warranty Buyers Guide and Implied Warranty documentation at the customer.

Once the customer went to the news reporter, the dealership did an about face by taking back the vehicle but that was not the end of the story for the reporter who went to the Attorney General’s office.

The original bill literature, submitted to the legislation, is full of issues that would impact current Consumer Protection Act and Implied Warranty Negotiation laws among other established laws on Washington State RCWs for independent auto dealers to the point it will shut down most in a few months of enactment.

The Washington State Independent Auto Dealers Association is working to defeat this bill. This is why Washington State dealerships pay for their active memberships to demand representation from their Association and we will.

Some dealerships decide against membership with the WSIADA with comments such as ‘its too expensive’, and ‘don’t use the benefits’ but are the first to come screaming at the staff about what this Association is doing against these types of bills that will negatively impact, even shut down, dealerships in our state.

Is it really not worth the membership fee to know there is an entity supporting your business to continue without support? No business can survive without support in any industry.

In addition to the many benefits, this Association has a PAC (Political Action Committee) fund and a lobbyist who has actual experience as a Washington State Senator and knows how to navigate the legislation process. n