Bodywork
MARYLAND INTRODUCES NEW WINDSCREEN CALIBRATION LAW
By Piero Facchin
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed a new auto glass calibration bill, requiring windshield replacement shops to inform customers before making repairs.
Under state law SB 793, which goes into effect on October 1, businesses must inform customers before repairing or replacing the windshield of vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). They must also disclose whether recalibration is required, and provide a written statement that the work will meet or exceed OEM standards.
The new law prohibits repairers from charging customers for calibrations that have not been carried out. It also obliges them to inform customers when calibration has not been carried out correctly. The bill does not specify the context of “correctly”, nor whether it refers to repairers using the correct tools or following OEM procedures.
Moore said a violation of the law would constitute an “unfair, improper or deceptive trade practice” and that penalties could be applied. He did not specify the type of penalty a non-compliant company might risk.
“In general, it’s about 13 to 15 million windshields that are replaced each year and so once I knew I had the data on the number of calibrations required per model year, I could then compare it to the vehicle age distribution data that the National Household Travel Survey publishes,” Nick Dominato, CEO of AutoBolt, told RDN. “It’s a billion-dollar industry—just for windshield calibrations. [. . .] It’s a big number now, but it’s going to grow exponentially over the years as new vehicles come in.”
Maryland is one of many states where lawmakers are looking to educate consumers about the need to recalibrate ADAS, particularly auto glass, to ensure safety systems function properly after repair or replacement.
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