The Auto Body Association of Rhode Island (ABARI) is a statewide professional association committed to a rigid code of ethics to ensure the integrity of the collision repair industry and to serve the motoring public through honesty, quality and service. The members of ABARI are licensed and fully-insured collision repair experts. ABARI's activities include legislation, professional development and consumer advocacy.

ABARI is dedicated to helping automobile owners get their vehicles restored to their pre-collision condition to protect their safety and their financial investment. This web site is one tool that ABARI uses to inform you of your rights and what is at stake as insurance companies try to control the care of your vehicle the way they control your health care.

Attention Body Shop Owners!
ABARI Successful in Appeal of DBR'S Labor Rate Survey Court Decision
In December, ABARI appealed the DBR's decision regarding labor rate surveys to the Rhode Island Superior Court. On August 13, 2008, Justice Vogel issued a decision, which reversed the DBR's previous order. The Judge stated that all insurers must conduct labor rate surveys, and must set a prevailing labor rate based upon only the information obtained from the questionnaires received from auto body shops. ABARI is very excited about this victory for the industry. View ABARI president John Petrarca's cover letter and entire court decision

ABARI will be holding a meeting in October to update all members on our legislative accomplishments this year and other matters. If you wish to join ABARI or have any questions, please contact us at 467-7575

Meeting Sept 9, 08 at 9:00 AM - Location: Davies Vocational School
Topic: Understanding P- Pages
DBR Insurance Bulletin 2008-10 Labor Rate Survey

Florida insurance commissioner suspends Allstate's new policy sales Learn More

What Should You Do In Case of an Accident?-Once your personal safety, passengers and other interested party's are assured you should contact the local or state police. You need to remain composed and attempt to collect the names and insurance information for all interested party's. There may be witnesses also get there names and contact information.

The next step is to attend to your damaged vehicle. The repair physical you chose makes a big difference. The R. I. state law promotes the owner has a choice in the repair shop they use this is to minimize the steering and referral practices of Insurance company's. A.B.A.R.I members are comprised of quality repairers and can help you from the reporting of the incident and the repairing of your vehicle and all necessity's involved. The A.B.A.R.I. member shops also are committed to customers satisfaction and the association will commit to customer satisfaction in consumer disputes either with your repair of the insurer.

The reporting of your loss to the necessary insurance company's is a tedious and time consuming process many of the A.B.A.R.I. repairers will perform this for you. This will insure that the claim is processed promptly and all pertinent questions are answered and properly arrange for the vehicle inspection. The inspection should be done at your chosen repairer and be seen at that facility so that a complete and through estimate can be done and any dismantling and or lift time needed. This will expedite the process.

See the Interactive R.I. Body Shop Locator Map for an A.B.A.R.I. member near you.
August Court Decision Labor Rate Survey