Auto repair regulatory updates.

Iowa Environmental Protection Commission ARC 0489D rescinded 567 IAC Chapter 119, Used Oil and Used Oil Filters, effective September 23, 2026. The Commission said Chapter 119 and the other chapters in the filing were duplicative of underlying Iowa Code Chapter 455D provisions and therefore unnecessary.

The Virginia General Assembly amended § 46.2-644.03 in 2026. The current section governs enforcement of vehicle-keeper and mechanic liens, including DMV owner and lienholder searches and notices, vehicle valuation, public-auction notice and certification steps.

BAR lists an approved amendment to section 3340.17.1 concerning decertification of equipment manufacturers, adopted and effective September 3, 2026.

Under Act 153 of 2026, Vermont DMV filed an emergency amendment to 14-050-022 Inspection of Motor Vehicles effective September 1, 2026. DMV reported that the emergency rule moves many inspection items not directly related to safe vehicle operation from automatic rejection to advisory status in an effort to reduce repair costs.

EPA's July 28, 2026 final rule extended selected Workplace Chemical Protection Program deadlines for entities subject to the PCE and carbon tetrachloride TSCA rules. For affected non-federal owners and operators, initial inhalation monitoring moved to June 21, 2027; the ECEL, regulated-area, workplace-information/training and respiratory-protection deadlines moved to September 20, 2027; and the PCE exposure-control-plan deadline moved to December 20, 2027. The extension does not reopen or extend every prohibition in the 2024 PCE rule.

HB 648 (2026 Ky. Acts ch. 83), effective July 15, 2026, rewrote KRS 190.046 for Class 7 and heavier vehicles. Dealers get parts at acquisition cost plus a 30% margin, reimbursement of technician training, diagnostic hardware/software and special-tool costs, and actual labor hours unless proven unreasonable by clear and convincing evidence. Component manufacturers are also bound, and claims cannot be required sooner than 90 days after service. Promotion claims also get a 90-day window.

The Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board adopted Advisory Ruling 2026-1 on July 14, 2026. The ruling explains that repair-shop registration no longer depends on employing a licensed damage appraiser, but insurer-involved appraisals, supplemental appraisals and related activity remain subject to 212 CMR 2.00. A shop may retain a licensed appraiser as a subcontractor, but that appraiser must be directly responsible for preparing and negotiating the appraisal.

Vermont DMV issued a July 10, 2026 update to the Periodic Inspection Manual. The revision changed or clarified criteria and procedures across tires, brakes, steering, suspension, electrical systems, windows, windshields, wipers, exterior body evaluation and other inspection areas.

Massachusetts added General Laws chapter 175 sections 231 and 232 effective July 9, 2026. The new framework creates a permanent auto body labor reimbursement rate advisory board, requires recurring surveys of auto body shops and insurers, and directs the insurance commissioner to hold a rate hearing and establish a minimum statewide or regional auto-body labor reimbursement rate if the survey shows insufficient competition. The first survey must be conducted by January 1, 2027.