SEMA Action Network legislative update

New Jersey Introduces Bill to Exempt Restoration Shops From Written Estimate Requirement

A SEMA-supported bill (S.B. 1725) has been introduced in the New Jersey Senate to exempt shops in the business of restoring antique or classic motor vehicles from the requirement that they provide a written estimate for anticipated repairs, including the price for parts or labor charges. Under current regulations, an automotive repair dealer who, prior to commencing work for compensation, fails to provide a customer a written estimated price to complete the repair can be found to be in violation of the consumer fraud law.

We Urge You to Contact Senate Transportation Committee Members (List Attached) Immediately To Request Their Support for S.B. 1725

S.B. 1725 defines "antique or classic motor vehicle" as any motor vehicle which is at least 25 years old and which is owned as a collector's item and used solely for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner.

S.B. 1725 would allow restoration shops to accurately inform customers of actual costs and materials, removing vagueness associated with shops attempting to “guess” probable time for unique tasks and probable costs for unique, and in some cases, yet to be fabricated, parts.

S.B. 1725 recognizes that restoration shops constitute a small portion of shops that work on vehicles within the state and fulfill a unique niche that does not conform to that of standard repair shops.

S.B. 1725 acknowledges that restoration shops are not “parts changers” and are thus unable to calculate precise estimates on parts to be used in a custom job. Each job presents new challenges requiring varying amounts of time and different parts. Often, parts must be reworked or altered for different purposes or completely new parts must be fabricated.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee immediately to request their support of S.B. 1725. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.

New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee

To e-mail all members of the Committee, copy and paste the email address block below:

sensacco@njleg.org; sengordon@njleg.org; senholzapfel@njleg.org; sennorcross@njleg.org; senpennacchio@njleg.org

Senator Nicholas J. Sacco (Chair)
Phone: (201) 295-0200
Email: sensacco@njleg.org

Senator Robert M. Gordon (Vice Chair)
Phone: (201) 703-9779
Email: sengordon@njleg.org

Senator James W. Holzapfel
Phone: (732) 840-9028
Email: senholzapfel@njleg.org

Senator Donald Norcross
Phone: (856) 541-1251
Email: sennorcross@njleg.org

Senator Joseph Pennacchio
Phone: (973) 227-4012
Email: senpennacchio@njleg.org