Montana Auto Insurance Claims
Reader’s Question:
What was Montana’s recently changed insurance laws for auto accident claims?
Billings, MT
The Montana Legislature passed Senate Bill 204 in 2007, a law changing the requirements for car repair estimates. Effective October 1, 2007, any insurance company that issues or renews a car insurance policy in Montana will no longer be able to ask a claimant to go to a particular auto repair shop for the purpose of getting an estimate of damages resulting from a car accident.
This was, for press purposes, referred to as an anti-steering law.
Montanans with auto insurance can now choose their own car repair shop after an accident. Insurance providers still have the right to an independent appraisal after the motor vehicle owner receives their own estimate from a car repair shop of their choice.