New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 11 - INSURANCE
Chapter 3 - AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
Subchapter 36 - AUTOMOBILE PHYSICAL DAMAGE INSURANCE INSPECTION PROCEDURES
Section 11:3-36.6 - Standards and procedures for inspection
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) Inspections shall be made by an authorized representative of the insurer at a time and place reasonably convenient to the insured. A reasonably convenient time shall include, in addition to customary business hours, sufficient early morning, evening and weekend hours. A reasonably convenient place shall not be more than 10 miles from the city or town where automobile is principally garaged.
(b) If the insured acquires an additional or replacement automobile outside of New Jersey, and such automobile will be located outside New Jersey until after the expiration of the deferral period permitted by 11:3-36.5(a) or (b), the insurer shall arrange to conduct the inspection by an authorized representative during the deferral period at a place which shall not be more than 50 miles from the temporary location.
(c) If the insured automobile required to be inspected upon renewal is temporarily located outside of New Jersey when the required notice of inspection is mailed to the insured, and such automobile will continue to be located outside of New Jersey until the expiration of the deferral period required by 11:3-36.5(e)1, the insurer shall arrange to conduct the inspection by an authorized representative before the expiration of the deferral period at a place which shall not be more than 50 miles from the temporary location.
(d) Whenever an insurer requires an automobile to be inspected pursuant to this subchapter, the insurer by itself or through its authorized producer shall provide the insured with a Notice of Inspection in the form set forth in Appendix B or an Acknowledgement of Requirement for Insurance Inspection as set forth in Appendix A. Any form so provided shall not contain the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the automobile to be inspected.
(e) The inspection shall include the following:
(f) The insurer shall utilize authorized representatives and systems to implement the provisions of this subchapter which meet the following standards:
(g) There shall be no direct charge to the insured by the authorized representative or insurer in connection with an inspection.
(h) After the inspection is completed, the report and photographs shall be retained in the insurer's file on the insured for five years.
(i) The insurer shall maintain an up-to-date list of all authorized representatives and inspection sites performing inspections for the insurer. The list shall include the names, addresses and business telephone numbers of all authorized representatives.
(j) The inspection report and photographs shall be used by the insurer to document previous damage, prior condition, options and mileage of the automobile on physical damage claims whenever:
(k) A copy of the inspection report and photographs shall be utilized, and made a part of the insurer's claim file, in the settlement of all total loss claims. The inspection report shall be made a part of the claim file regardless of whether or not the payment is reduced based on the information contained therein.
(l) The documents set forth as Appendices A through D provide minimum standards. Insurers may enhance or alter the form of these documents provided the minimum information requirements are met.