Modern vehicles are complicated in ways that weren't true ten years ago. After a collision — even a relatively minor one — manufacturers often specify that certain safety systems need to be inspected and recalibrated before the car is safe to drive. We're talking about collision-avoidance sensors, lane departure cameras, airbag systems, and structural components designed to absorb impact in specific ways.
The problem is that insurance companies have historically been reluctant to pay for those manufacturer-required inspections. Montana just passed a law that says they have to.
What SB 356 Does
Senate Bill 356, sponsored by Sen. Barry Usher (R), passed the Montana Senate and requires insurance companies to cover OEM-recommended safety inspections following collision repairs. If the vehicle's manufacturer specifies that an inspection or calibration should take place after a collision, the insurer must cover it. Full stop.
This sounds like a narrow technical requirement, but the real-world implications are significant. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) — the cameras and radar sensors that power automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance — require precise calibration to function correctly. A sensor that's slightly off after a fender bender might not trigger a warning light, but it also might not detect a pedestrian at the speed it was designed to detect them.
Why Automakers and Shops Backed It
The bill had notable support from Ford, General Motors, and the Montana Collision Repair Association. That alignment isn't surprising — automakers publish OEM repair procedures specifically to ensure vehicles are returned to the safety standards they were designed to meet. When insurers decline to pay for those procedures, shops are put in an impossible position: follow the manufacturer's specs and fight with the insurer, or skip the steps and get paid.
The Montana Collision Repair Association has been pushing for this kind of protection because their members feel the pressure directly. Independent collision shops following OEM procedures to the letter lose jobs to cheaper competitors who skip those steps. This bill removes some of that competitive disadvantage.
The Broader Pattern
Montana isn't alone in wrestling with this. Several states have considered or passed similar legislation as ADAS technology has become standard on new vehicles. The core issue — that insurance companies sometimes decline to cover repairs their policyholders are entitled to — is a national problem. Montana's approach of tying coverage requirements directly to manufacturer documentation is a clean solution.
For consumers, the implication is straightforward: if your car has any form of driver assistance technology (and if it was built after about 2018, it probably does), a collision that damages the front bumper area, windshield, or body pillars may affect sensors that need professional recalibration. That's not optional maintenance. It's a safety requirement.
What This Means for Montana Car Owners
If you're in Montana and you've had a collision repaired, ask your shop directly: "Did you perform all OEM-recommended safety inspections and calibrations?" Ask for documentation. If your insurer denied coverage for those steps, SB 356 gives you a clearer basis to push back.
For consumers outside Montana, this bill is worth watching. If your insurer declines to cover manufacturer-specified post-collision inspections, ask them to put that denial in writing. Then contact your state insurance commissioner. Regulatory pressure is how these requirements get expanded nationally.
For more on your rights when dealing with collision repairs and insurance companies, visit our consumer protection guide.