North Carolina Senate Bill Dilutes Vehicle Safety Inspection Program

North Carolina state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Dist. 33, has introduced legislation that would harm the North Carolina state safety inspection program by exempting new vehicles from testing for their first six years. North Carolina Senate Bill 123, titled "Eliminate Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections," was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce.

North Carolina state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Dist. 33, has introduced legislation that would harm the North Carolina state safety inspection program by exempting new vehicles from testing for their first six years. North Carolina Senate Bill 123, titled “Eliminate Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections,” was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) opposes these changes to the North Carolina Vehicle Safety Inspection Program. Such a bill would mean that a car could have 90,000 miles or more (based on the average annual mileage of 15,000) before its first vehicle safety inspection. The bill’s effect would be to create less-safe highways in North Carolina – due to a potential for more accidents leading to more injuries and possibly more deaths.

ASA asks North Carolina repairers to contact their legislators and express their opposition to Senate Bill 123. Repairers can go to ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com and send a pre-written opposition letter.

To view full text of the bill, visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA’s headquarters is in Bedford, TX.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to http://www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at http://www.TakingTheHill.com.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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