The respective contracts allow insured people to choose any car repair shop they want and buy car parts from any suppliers they opt for.
According to CSA, under the law, payments for damaged car parts can be made by insurers directly to car part suppliers.
The Romanian Association of Car Part Suppliers (ADPAR) accused insurers which sell mandatory civil liability car insurance policies of violating damage claim payment regulations, by illegally extending their prerogatives.
“Although the law states damage claims will be paid by insurers to the insured person or to the entity which fixes damages, insurers set other payment rules, which violate norms and impact the car part market. Independent car repair shops are prevented by insurers from buying car parts and reselling them to their clients. Car repair shops’ activity is limited to fixing damages, the association said in a press release Monday.
The association said insurers act as intermediaries and illegally order car parts from suppliers they choose, on behalf of their clients.
Insurers control car part acquisitions through some special informational platforms and buy car parts directly from the suppliers they choose, said the association, adding that, under the law, payments should be made directly to the insured people or to the entity which fixes damages.
The association notified the Competition Council and insurance regulator CSA on the irregularities identified and called on them to start investigations.