Illinois Senate Votes Down Bill to Protect Used Car Buyers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 3 -- The Illinois Senate narrowly defeated a bill that would have given Illinois consumers access to critical accident information before they purchase a used car. Senate Bill 1839, known as the Used Car Buyers Right to Know Bill, would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to make police-reported accident records publicly available. The bill had the strong support of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jesse White and a coalition of leading community, labor and business organizations from across the state.

However, the Illinois Auto Dealers Association, a powerful lobby, had come out strongly against the bill and had been fighting the release of this information to consumers for the past two years.

"If the state collects information that can protect Illinois consumers, I feel it's our responsibility to make that information available. I'm disappointed other members of the Senate don't feel the same way," said Senator Kirk Dillard (R-24). "I plan to explore the possibility of having the Governor issue an executive order to make this information publicly available."

Each year, more than 800,000 vehicles are involved in police-reported accidents on Illinois roads. IDOT collects an electronic record of these accidents and the damage the vehicles involved sustain, but this information is never disclosed to Illinois consumers.

In fact, Illinois is only one of two states (the other being Oregon) that does not make this information publicly available. This is true despite the fact that the IDOT has won national awards for the quality of its accident records and the U.S. Department of Transportation uses Illinois data to study crashes across the country.

The Used Car Buyers Right to Know Coalition is comprised of the following groups: AutoCheck, Carfax, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago Teacher's Union, Illinois Coaches Association, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Illinois Drivers Education Association, Illinois Independent Auto Dealers Association, NAACP of Springfield, Rainbow PUSH, SEIU State Council, Springfield Urban League, United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) and the Urban League of Champaign County.