Media coverage

The Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code Administration Committee (CAC) has met significant milestones as it continues its work to review the MVIRI Code of Conduct (Code) in response to the independent review conducted by Dr Michael Schaper.

Claims by Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) members that Suncorp Group customers can wait up to five months to receive assessments for accident damaged vehicles – an issue raised by its media release of 29 February – is not a matter of a few individual claims but a broader systemic issue, severely affecting automotive repairers and consumers.

Will you join us at the APRAA 2024 Conference for an unforgettable experience?
Auto Parts Recyclers Association of Australia (APRAA) and the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), in collaboration with Auto PARTnered Solutions (APS), are thrilled to announce that this year, we will be hosting an automotive recyclers conference.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wish to inform all Accident Towing Operators that VACC recently requested the depot maps for the controlled area to be updated as a result of recent boundary changes.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) body repair members claim the Suncorp Group of companies delay assessing customers’ accident damaged motor vehicles by up to five months.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is asking any of its members who have been experiencing unreasonable motor vehicle assessment delays with various insurers to contact VACC.

 

The Auto Parts Recyclers Association of Australia (APRAA) and the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), in collaboration with Auto PARTnered Solutions (APS), are thrilled to announce that this year, they will be hosting an automotive recyclers conference.

The Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repair Industry (MVIRI) Code of Conduct Committee (CAC) has made significant progress in response to the independent review conducted by Dr Michael Schaper.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division will be held on Wednesday,
29 November 2023 at 12pm. 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division will be held on Wednesday,
15 November 2023 at 12pm.  You can attend in person or via zoom.  Please register your attendance by clicking on one of the links below.

VACC has recently received numerous enquiries detailing the difficulty in gaining access to, and purchase of, OEM parts.  These parts have either been extremely difficult to obtain, rejected, or offered for purchase as a complete unit (i.e. complete differential assembly rather than individual internal components such as a bearing unique to the unit and not available from the aftermarket). To ascertain the severity of this issue, I am seeking your assistance.

 

Further to our recent bulletin on 23 August 2023, the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to inform members that the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is investigating and seeking to get to a workable outcome.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has been in dialogue with various towing operators and other agencies. It has come to our attention that the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has made commentary amongst industry that there may be an issue when using a ‘cradle’ or ‘wheel lift’ behind your tilt tray.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is excited to advise Body Repair Division (BRD) and Towing Operators Division (TOD) members that enrollments are continuing in accredited Electric Vehicle (EV) training.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to inform members that a new policy has been established which covers section 150(1A)(ii) of the Accident Towing Services Act 2007.

VACC is pleased to represent automotive as one of the five industries that comprise the Multi-Industry Collaboration Group (MICG), helping to steer this new project. The ‘Take A Seat With Us’ taster program is a 12-week innovative course created specifically to teach students practical, hands on skills in upholstery/automotive and marine trimming.

We have been informed that as of next Thursday, 22 June 2023 the current depot numbers for Accident allocation are changing.

The old numbers 03 8363 4046 and 03 8763 9046 will become obsolete (within 7 days of 22-6-23) and you will need to use the new numbers.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to update members on the progress of the trial. VACC has been lobbying the Victorian Government to have towing operators included in the protections afforded by Road Rule 79A. In addition to this, VACC is advising Government that towing operators should be able to use magenta or other coloured warning lights at the scene of an accident or at a roadside tow.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is currently in discussion with a car club that wishes to promote the restoration of cars and the engagement of young people in classic car clubs.

Help the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) by taking this survey in reference to the body repair industry.

 

The cost of running a body repair business is increasing and your business insurance is not immune to this. If you have not received an alternative quote recently you are likely overpaying.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to update members on the progress of the trial. VACC has been lobbying the Victorian Government to have towing operators included in the protections afforded by Road Rule 79A. In addition to this, VACC is advising Government that towing operators should be able to use magenta or other coloured warning lights at the scene of an accident or at a roadside tow.

 

As we reflect on the year that was, COVID remained front and centre with our final quarter of 2022 really starting to settle into our ‘new norm living with COVID’. The Chair’s report is focused predominantly on the financial year that has passed; yet it is prudent to speak of items in conjunction with our long-standing policy work to assist in framing our outlook and better map what lies ahead, as we do this painstaking policy work for our future and not to submerge ourselves in the past. Advocacy and policy work is dry and tediously slow but remains the most effective for meaningful and sustainable change to our industry.

In an Australian automotive first, Infinitev has shifted the industry’s take-make-waste approach to hybrid and electric vehicle batteries, replacing it with a service that ensures end-of-life batteries are reused, repurposed, and recycled as part of a sustainable circular economy.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) together with the Department of Transport (DoT) would like to inform you that the Accident Towing Services Amendment Regulations were made official by the Governor in Council on the 25 October 2022.

The costs of running a body repair business are increasing and your business insurance is not immune to this. If you have not received an alternative quote recently you are likely overpaying.

The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) are in the process of developing an information hub aimed at providing ARCtick license holders practical and easy access to information required to perform their jobs.

The Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (TACC) is pleased to announce that The Honourable Elise Archer MP has formally requested the development and mandatory implementation of a code of practice specifically for the Tasmanian motor vehicle insurance and body repair industry.

In a recent article by Bodyshop News the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) CEO Geoff Gwilym asserts that the prevailing challenges faced by the automotive industry represent an opportunity for body shops to raise prices, saying “if there was ever an opportunity for the body repair industry to actually use its power and influence in the market of fixing cars, it’s now.”  The ongoing skills shortage and business closures brought about in part by COVID-19 lockdowns and illness have created a backlog of work, prompting a call to decline poorly paying jobs.

The introduction of the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair information Sharing Scheme on 1 July 2022 saw the establishment of the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority (AASRA), a joint industry-led body, appointed by the Government as the Scheme Adviser. AASRA’s core function is to support the day-to-day operation of the Scheme and to facilitate the vetting of individuials seeking to access security or safety-related repair information in accordance with the Scheme Rules.

Members who supply button batteries or products powered by them must now comply with mandatory button battery safety and information standards or face substantial penalties.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to inform you that effective
1 July 2022, a 12.8% increase has been approved for accident towing services and the service of storing accident-damaged motor vehicles by providers of those services for the 2022–23 financial year.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is excited to advise Body Repair Division (BRD) and Towing Operator Division (TOD) members that enrolments have commenced in accredited Electric Vehicle (EV) training based at Chisholm Institute.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is excited to advise members that enrolments will commence shortly in accredited Electric Vehicle (EV) training for June 2022 initially based at Chisholm Institute.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has been lobbying the Victorian Government to have towing operators included in the protections afforded by Road Rule 79A. In addition to this, VACC is advocating for tow operators to be able to use magenta or other coloured warning lights at the scene of an accident or at a roadside tow.

An important milestone has been reached as we draw closer to the implementation of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Act 2021.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has responded to the Essential Services Commissions’ (ESC) Accident towing fees review 2021 - Draft report which was released on
22 December 2021.

If your business receives, stores, or reprocesses any statutory write-off (SWO) vehicles or repairable write-off (RWO) vehicles (also known as industrial waste) then please continue to read below. You must be authorised to do so – that is, your business premises must be a ‘lawful place’.

If your business receives, stores, or reprocesses any statutory write-off (SWO) vehicles or repairable write-off (RWO) vehicles (also known as industrial waste) then please continue to read below. You must be authorised to do so – that is, your business premises must be a ‘lawful place’.

Further to our Bulletin of 9 August 2021, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) has today released their draft report, which outlines the basis for their draft recommendations to the Minister for Roads on accident towing, storage and salvage fees within Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula (known as the Melbourne controlled area).

Please find attached, the Body Repair Division Chair's report for 2021.

Following an extensive industry stakeholder consultation period, the Australian Government has today published the Competition and Consumer (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Rules 2021 on the Federal Register of Legislation.  You can access the Scheme Rules via the link here or the Act via this link here.

You are invited to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division (BRD) to be held on Wednesday, 17 November at 12noon via Zoom.

If your body repair business undertakes certain activities in relation to a motor insurance product, you are providing insurance claims handling and settling as a financial service (a ‘claims handling and settling service’). For example, a body repairer who is engaged by an insurer to repair vehicles under the insurer’s liability to the insured, but who does not have authority to reject claims.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to inform the Body Repair Division (BRD) and the Towing Operator Division (TOD) members of new EPA permissions requirements.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) wishes to inform the Body Repair Division (BRD) and the Towing Operator Division (TOD) members of new EPA permissions requirements.

 

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC), in conjunction with other industry bodies, is considering a Workforce Development Program to support the Automotive Trimmers and allied sectors.

Chamber ambassador Shane Jacobson blogs because you should have “choice of repairer” on your vehicle insurance policy.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) welcomed the opportunity to provide the Essential Services Commission (ESC) with a submission in response to the ESC’s Accident towing fees review 2021 Consultation paper.

Repair authority, bona fide, breach of contract, conditions, damages, deliverables, express terms, implied terms, indemnity, KPIs, liability, breach, incentives, obligations, party, pro rata, rights, termination, third party supplier. What am I talking about, you may ask? All the above words are contract terms. You may have heard some, none, or all of them. However, these terms only scratch the surface of terms or conditions used in legal agreements that may not be in the best interest of your body repair business.

VACC members are advise that from 1 July, that vehicle recalls will no longer be published by the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC).

Please be advised that VACC has finalised and submitted a response to the Draft Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2021 and the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) released by the Department of Transport.

If a small business thinks that a term in their contract is unfair, they can challenge it.  Here is what a small business (or beneficiary) can do if they want to challenge a term of their contract:

In addition to last week’s Part 1, Unfair Contract Term bulletin, we now dive into the unfair term laws and what those changes mean for your small business.

Exploring how the law protects small businesses from unfair terms in contracts for financial products and services.

Making 'handling and settling under an insurance claim' a 'financial service' - What does it mean for Body Repairers?

My name is Kathy Zdravevski and I am the new VACC Industry Policy Advisor for the Body Repair Division and Towing Operators Division.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) in collaboration with VACC, is piloting a Small Business Program to support small businesses to prepare for Victoria’s new environment protection laws intended to commence July 2021.

This week the BRD Executive Committee discussed a range of strategies for 2021. These actions are primarily focused around generating a fairer business environment for repairers and particularly where they are in dispute with big business.

You are invited to attend the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division (BRD) to be held on Wednesday, 2 December at 12noon via Zoom.

You are invited to attend the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division (BRD) to be held on Wednesday, 2 December at 12noon via Zoom.

You are invited to attend the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division (BRD) to be held on Wednesday, 2 December at 12noon via Zoom.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) in collaboration with VACC, is piloting a Small Business Program to support small businesses to prepare for Victoria’s new environment protection laws intended to commence July 2021.

Further advice in response to frequently asked question on Automotive Industry reopening
Melbourne will move from “stay home” to “stay safe”, with no more restrictions on the reasons to leave home.

VACC has received calls from distressed members who are now experiencing a sharp downturn in business following an announcement from the Premier regarding Stage 3 restrictions on Monday, 30 March 2020.  The Victorian Premier, The Hon Daniel Andrews MP stated that there were only four reasons to leave your home:

Please be advised that through AMBRA/MTAA, I am speaking with major insurers, individually, about improving the booked repairs available to our members.

VACC are receiving many calls from members regarding the outbreak of the Coronavirus and the impact it is having on the community at large as well as the likely flow on impact to VACC member businesses.

The Federal Government has announced a $17.6 billion economic stimulus package in response to the coronavirus pandemic.  As part of this package, a portion has been dedicated to small business tax relief and apprenticeship payments.

This bulletin examines implications with respect to use of on-board vehicle cameras or dashboard cameras (Dash Cams) by customers of VACC members.  For this purpose, it is relevant to examine surveillance and privacy legislation.

Australian motorists will have genuine choice in who repairs their vehicles now the Australian Government has committed to enshrine in law the mandatory sharing of automotive data between vehicle manufacturers and all automotive repairers.

This is to advise you that the Annual General Meeting of the Body Repair Division, VACC will be held on Thursday, 21 November 2019 at VACC House, Level 7, 464 St Kilda Road, Melbourne commencing at 2pm.

Recent code determinations and consumer access to AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) has changed the car insurance and collision repair business relations for the better.  There is no going back from here.

Free Business Essential Workshops for Body Repairers
Mildura - Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Don't miss out - register now!

Recent code determinations and consumer access to AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) has changed the car insurance and collision repair business relations for the better.  There is no going back from here.

Recent code determinations and consumer access to AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) has changed the car insurance and collision repair business relations for the better. There is no going back from here.

Recent code determinations and consumer access to AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) has changed the car insurance and collision repair business relations for the better. There is no going back from here.

 

Recent code determinations and consumer access to AFCA (Australian Financial Complaints Authority) has changed the car insurance and collision repair business relations for the better. There is no going back from here.

Please be aware of the upcoming Capricorn Collision Repair Conference.

VACC encourages its franchisee members to participate in an ACCC Business Stakeholder Survey that will run from April to mid-May 2019.

You may have seen the Government’s media release on Tuesday, 11 February that commits them to supporting appropriate commercial dealing and competition in the new car retail supply chain for the benefit of both small businesses and consumers. This includes considering the design of a mandatory scheme for access to motor vehicle service and repair information.

The final report of the Hayne royal commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, was released on 4 February 2019. The final report includes 76 recommendations, many of which relate to the operations of the retail automotive industry.

VACC members are advised that the Senate Select Committee Inquiry, (the Inquiry) report into Electric Vehicles was released today.  You can view the report by taking this link.  VACC supports the release of the report and looks forward to ongoing dialogue with the Government in the development of sensible policy regarding Electric Vehicles.  

VACC Licensed Motor Car Trader (LMCT) members are advised of an important change in approach and outcomes from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV ) with regards to CAV Compliance Inspection visits.

Specialty Vehicles Australia (SVA), is a special interest group within the General Division of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).  Essentially, SVA represents vehicle builders, suppliers, enthusiast groups and engineering support businesses in Victoria.  The focus of the group is to advance, promote, protect and support this niche industry in Australia and to preserve the interests of members.

With the Victorian State election behind us, the focus is now on the upcoming Federal election where VACC on behalf of the automotive industry is calling on the Federal Government to commit to serious policy reforms across a range of areas including automotive skills shortages.

 

Those who attended the VACC Industry Awards in 2018 will never forget it.  More than 1,000 people attended the black tie gala event where 41 elite automotive businesses from across Victoria were announced as category winners in the country’s most important automotive industry award program.  The best of the best in the business were honoured in VACC’s 100th year – so will you be one of the best in 2019?

With a Federal election looming, VACC has been busy behind the scenes gathering support from both the government and opposition to commit to a key recommendation emanating from the 2017 ACCC New Car Retailing Market Study on access to vehicle manufacturer repair information.

The ACCC in its 18-month investigation into new car retailing industry found instances of misleading or deceptive conduct, or misrepresentations, in relation to the use of independent repairers or non-OEM spare parts. The VACC and Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) in submissions, roundtables and stakeholder forums provided recommendations for an updated industry guide. The ACCC have now released a new version of the Motor Vehicle Sales and Repairs industry guide to the Australian Consumer Law which includes additional guidance material and clarification on consumer guarantees.

The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), State and Territory Members and the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA) today announced the introduction of a new website for motor body repairers nationwide to further enhance transparent relations with the motor vehicle insurance industry.

Progress was made this week when MTAA met with IAG about their Terms of Authority and application of NTAR. The Insurer has agreed to review their standard form contract and report back to MTAA, at or around 30 June 2018.

Members were advised on 22 March 2018 that a Parliamentary Inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of the Franchising and Oil Code of Conduct had been established and that VACC would be entering a submission on behalf of its members.
It is the view of VACC that the Parliamentary Inquiry represents a significant opportunity to present the best case for change.

To maximise your opportunity to secure repair work while protecting your rights to make a claim for remedy against an insurer for breach of the Code, and/or breach of the unfair contract terms legislation, the following steps may be taken:

Your elected Divisional Executive Committees often raise concerns about the lack of TAFE reporting to employers regarding their apprentices. VACC have been working with the relevant training institutions on improving both the standard of training and transparency of apprenticeship reporting back to employers. In 2014, VACC introduced the Workplace Evidence Record in consultation with Auto Skills Australia and pushed for it to become a mandatory tool of employer reporting by TAFE’s. Some institutions have implemented this tool as a communication method while others have implemented their own procedures.

Following on from the bulletin sent on 31 January 2017 titled 'VACC BRD gets real about the true costs and charges of motor vehicle body repair', the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) Limited and its affiliated organisation, the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA), today made available a new cost calculator tool. This tool will assist motor body repair businesses transparently identify their costs and a charge out hourly rate for their business.

VACC is experiencing a marked increase in member dissatisfaction with Assessors who are not behaving according to the principles, intent and practices outlined in the Motor Vehicle Insurance & Repairer's Code of Conduct (the Code).

The VACC Industry Awards showcase the fantastic talent within the automotive industry, recognising their hard work and achievements. If ever there was a time to win an award, it's in our centennial year.

Major changes are occurring across the smash repair industry, at the centre of these changes is how reviews of repairers estimates are being conducted by insurers.
For members wanting to take charge of their own business, and substantiate their claims that the Estimates they submit to insurers are based on real-time calculations, then members may wish to consider the use of the AudaNet Private system.

Please find a copy of a coupon VACC will be advertising, as part of a campaign, in response to RACV Insurance removing choice of repairer from their policies as a standard cover from 15 October 2017.

VACC is experiencing a marked increase in member dissatisfaction with Assessors who are not behaving according to the principles, intent and practices outlined in the Motor Vehicle Insurance & Repairer's Code of Conduct (the Code).

Please be advised that today the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, The Hon. Michael Sukkar MP, issued a compulsory recall for all vehicles fitted with defective Takata airbags. The ACCC advises that there are approximately 2.3 million vehicles in Australia presently equipped with the Affected Takata Airbag Inflators.

Victoria Police has informed VACC of an increase in burglaries and theft of motor vehicles across the whole of Monash police service area. In particular from car dealerships as well as more recently auto mechanic workshops. The offenders are breaking in and ransacking premises until they find the keys of the vehicles and are then stealing the vehicles along with the hard drives from CCTV cameras.

Maximise your opportunity to secure repair work while protecting your rights to make a claim for remedy against an insurer for breach of the Code and/or breach of the unfair contract terms legislation.

If you are experiencing franchising issues, VACC is here to help with a new online tool for dealer members.

A VACC member business was fined $40,000 with an additional $3,500 related court costs for failure to provide a safe system of work.

Insurers requirements Under the Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repairers Code of Conduct, are that they must abide by the conditions listed in this article.

Recently the legislated amendments to the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 (Victoria) (OHS Act) were introduced under the WorkSafe Legislation Amendment Act 2017. 

VACC is asking members if they want to ‘opt-in’ to this campaign and have their business listed on the VACC website as a participating repairer. The scheme which will run for 12 months is equally available to independent repairers and IAG partner repairers.

In the last few weeks VACC has received several calls from members who are not non-authorised repairers relating to restricted access to theft relevant parts from Mercedes Benz authorised parts suppliers. In 2016 Mercedes Benz Australia released a nationwide policy that restricted authorised dealers to sell theft relevant parts to the aftermarket. In response to member feedback, VACC successfully lobbied Mercedes Benz Australia late last year to reverse their policy. 

QBE will expand its accredited smash repairer network following its launch in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra at the start of last month. The company is calling on body repair businesses to express interest in the first stage of a process to extend the network to locations in metropolitan and regional Australia.

Trying to keep abreast of changes occurring across motor vehicle insurance brands and knowing what is contained in PDS documents is impossible.
VACC now understand that there are as many as 104 different motor vehicle insurance brands operating in the Victorian motor vehicle insurance-body repairer markets.

This report outlines the current state of the insurer-repairer market in Victoria.

Many body repairers have contacted me over the past week in regards to Real Time Real Money (RTRM) estimates/quotations and in particular the behaviour of insurers towards and in particular a sudden shift in insurer’s assessor's behaviour.

Many body repairers have contacted me over the past week in regards to Real Time Real Money (RTRM) estimates/quotations and in particular the behaviour of insurers towards and in particular a sudden shift in insurer’s assessor's behaviour.

As part of testing the voluntary Motor Vehicle Insurance & Repairer Industry Code of Conduct (the “Code") VACC has reviewed over 200 Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) cases submitted by our members over the past 18 months or so.

VACC is pleased to inform members that AMBRA chairman, Mr Jeff Williams, has made the following announcement regarding the new Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) online forms (i.e. the IDR builders) which aims to make pursuing Code of Conduct breaches both faster and easier.

After much discussion through meetings with IAG in Melbourne and Sydney a revised Terms of Authority, which will come into effect from 1 July 2017, has been published and distributed by IAG, the new revised terms represents rebalanced approach for the industry from the proposed 1 March 2017 TOA. VACC do ask repairers to read and understand the terms you are agreeing to once you accept the repair authority. 

The Victorian Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 (WIRC) provides for the indexation of weekly payments, weekly pensions for dependants and certain other amounts stipulated under that Act on 1 July each year.

A new fairer Motor Vehicle Insurance and Repairers Code of Conduct came into effect on 1 May 2017, and VACC has developed a new national Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) tool kit for members. The design of the tool kit with much contribution from members captures the range of insurer breaches and allows for the tracking of disputes, which in turn assists with further improvement and new industry strategies.

The Body Repair Division has been listening to the needs of its members and a number of significant issues were brought to the attention of the Australian Motor Body Repairers’ Association (AMBRA), the National Industry Sector Committee of the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA).

An apprentice technician was conducting a service on a vehicle that was located on the ground, parked in a hoist bay. When the apprentice started the vehicle, he unknowingly bumped the gear lever into drive.  The technician then revved the vehicle and the vehicle moved forward quickly.  At the time of the vehicle moving forward unintentionally, another apprentice technician was reviewing a repair order at the workbench in front of the uncontrolled vehicle.  The apprentice was struck by the vehicle and pinned against the workbench. 

Victorian Police are investigating a hit run motor vehicle collision that occurred on 08/04/2017 at approximately 11:00 pm on Anderson Road, Albion.

In respect to motor vehicle insurance company auditors entering body repairer sites, you need to be aware as the owner/manager of the business that there are OHS legal duties that employers must comply with to ensure the health and safety of any person onsite.

VACC advises members to exercise caution before signing any IAG Term of Authority.

The body repair industry has for some time been moving towards an open and transparent process where the time to repair is based on commonly accepted practices, and therefore the cost to repair is also more transparent. 

Over the last year there have been three incidents where trade Utes have fallen off vehicle hoists.  With this style of vehicle being heavier, longer and fitted with heavy metal tool boxes containing plant and tools, the risk of falling from the hoist has increased. 

VACC has added a further pre-built IDR builder to the members kit.

Here is a brief snapshot of the Insurance Council of Australia's findings from their February 2017 Consumer Research on General Insurance Product Disclosures.

Based on feedback we have updated the Timeliness breach IDR template

The vehicle assessment timeliness breach IDR template is updated. It is now even easier to use.

VACC/TACC are initiating discussion with The Suncorp Group today about assessment delays.

Panel and Paint Magazine are conducting a national survey into the state of the body repair industry. The purpose is to see how the industry is travelling - attitudes to the business and confidence in the future.

Are you currently experiencing unusual assessment delays or Insurer steering of your customer? If so, why not consider lodging an Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) submission. It takes only a few minutes to complete.

Do you have a problem with an Insurer?

VACC has prepared a set of pre-built IDR templates for specific breaches which seem to be occurring frequently across our membership.

In last Saturday’s Herald Sun (2 July, 2016: Page 21), Insurance Giant, Suncorp Group, blamed higher repair costs for the changes in excess fees and premium hikes.

The body repair industry has for some time been moving towards an open and transparent process where
the time to repair is based on commonly accepted practices, and therefore the cost to repair is also more
transparent. There has been a mutual commitment to a set of guiding principles through a Motor Vehicle
Insurance and Industry Code of Conduct (The Code) that commenced on 1 January 2016.

The body repair industry has for some time been moving towards an open and transparent process where
the time to repair is based on commonly accepted practices, and therefore the cost to repair is also more
transparent. There has been a mutual commitment to a set of guiding principles through a Motor Vehicle
Insurance and Industry Code of Conduct (The Code) that commenced on 1 January 2016.