An Act to Ensure Accountability for Repairs Conducted by
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1467
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: COLLAMORE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1801, 29-A MRSA §1812

Legislative Document
No. 1467
H.P. 959
House of Representatives, April 3, 2025
An Act to Ensure Accountability for Repairs Conducted by 
Independent Repair Facilities on Motor Vehicles Under Warranty
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLAMORE of Pittsfield.
Cosponsored by Representatives: QUINT of Hodgdon, ROBERTS of South Berwick.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §1801, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Consumer.  "Consumer" has the same meaning as in Title 10, section 1161, 
subsection 1.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1801, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B.  Independent repair facility.  "Independent repair facility" means a repair facility 
that is not affiliated with a manufacturer or manufacturer's authorized dealer except a 
manufacturer's authorized dealer or other entity within the network of repair facilities 
certified by the manufacturer if the dealer or other entity is engaged in repair of a motor 
vehicle that is not affiliated with the manufacturer.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §1801, sub-§2-C is enacted to read:
2-C.  Manufacturer.  "Manufacturer" has the same meaning as in Title 10, section 
1161, subsection 2.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §1801, sub-§2-D is enacted to read:
2-D.  Manufacturer's warranty.  "Manufacturer's warranty" means an express 
warranty provided by a manufacturer for a motor vehicle manufactured by the manufacturer 
at the time of the sale of the motor vehicle.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §1812 is enacted to read:
§1812.  Liability for improper repairs by independent repair facilities
1. Liability for improper repairs. If an independent repair facility performs a repair 
on a motor vehicle covered by a manufacturer's warranty and the repair fails to meet 
industry standards or results in further damage or defect to the motor vehicle, the 
independent repair facility is responsible for:
A. Reimbursing the consumer for any additional costs incurred by the consumer in 
correcting the improper repair; and
B. Reimbursing a motor vehicle dealership or the manufacturer for any costs incurred 
by the motor vehicle dealership or the manufacturer in correcting the improper repair.
2. Burden of proof. A motor vehicle dealership or manufacturer has the burden of 
proof supported by sufficient evidence in establishing that an independent repair facility 
improperly repaired a motor vehicle under subsection 1.
3. Disclosure to consumers. An independent repair facility performing a repair on a 
consumer's motor vehicle under a manufacturer's warranty shall, prior to performing the 
repair, disclose to the consumer in writing that:
A. The independent repair facility is not affiliated with the manufacturer or a motor 
vehicle dealership; and
B. An improper repair under subsection 1 may result in an additional expense or 
warranty conflict.
4. Exceptions.  This section does not apply if:
A. An improper repair under subsection 1 was the result of inaccurate or incomplete 
information provided by the consumer, the manufacturer or a motor vehicle dealership; 
or
B. The repair was necessitated by misuse or neglect of the motor vehicle by the 
consumer.
5. Unfair trade practice. The failure of an independent repair facility to reimburse a 
consumer, motor vehicle dealership or manufacturer under subsection 1 constitutes an 
unfair trade practice under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act.
6. Rules.  The Secretary of State shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules under Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill requires independent motor vehicle repair facilities to cover consumer, motor 
vehicle manufacturer and motor vehicle dealership costs in correcting improper  repairs 
performed by those facilities on motor vehicles that are covered by manufacturer's 
warranties. The bill provides that such a facility that fails to reimburse the costs to correct 
an improper repair commits an unfair trade practice under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices 
Act.