The Michigan Auto Body Association was founded in 2026 to give collision repair professionals a unified, powerful voice in Lansing — modeled after the most successful state auto body association in the country.
Michigan is the birthplace of the American automobile. Generations of skilled workers have built, maintained, and repaired vehicles in this state. Yet when it comes to the collision repair industry — the professionals who restore damaged vehicles to safe, pre-collision condition — Michigan has lacked an organized voice in the state legislature.
The Michigan Auto Body Association was founded to change that. We are a statewide professional association committed to a rigid code of ethics, dedicated to ensuring the integrity of the collision repair industry and serving Michigan's motoring public through honesty, quality, and service.
MABA is proudly modeled after the Auto Body Association of Rhode Island (ABARI), which for over 25 years has been the most effective state-level collision repair advocacy organization in the nation. Through persistent, organized lobbying, ABARI has secured landmark legislation including:
Mandatory annual labor rate surveys based on actual shop rates. Anti-steering protections ensuring consumer choice. Requirements that insurers pay for OEM-recommended repair procedures. Sublet service and markup reimbursement codified into law. Direct payment provisions from insurers to the consumer's chosen shop. Unfair claims practice enforcement with real consequences.
These are not aspirational goals — they are laws on the books in Rhode Island today. MABA's mission is to bring these same protections to Michigan's collision repair shops and the consumers they serve.
Michigan currently has over 3,800 licensed collision repair facilities, yet the industry has essentially zero organized lobbying presence in Lansing. Meanwhile, the insurance industry spends millions annually on lobbyists who work to suppress labor rates, steer consumers away from independent shops, deny payment for manufacturer-recommended repair procedures, and avoid accountability for unfair claims practices.
The result? Michigan shops are closing, skilled technicians are leaving the industry, consumers are unknowingly driving unsafe vehicles, and the insurance lobby faces no organized opposition when new laws are written.
MABA exists to change the balance of power. Through organized advocacy, professional standards, consumer education, and legislative action, we will ensure that the people who repair Michigan's vehicles have a seat at the table.
MABA members commit to the highest standards of professional conduct. We believe that ethical practices, quality workmanship, and honest communication are the foundation of public trust. Our members pledge to:
Perform all repairs in accordance with manufacturer procedures and industry best practices. Provide honest, transparent estimates and communicate clearly with customers. Never compromise vehicle safety to reduce costs. Support consumer choice and oppose insurance steering. Maintain current training and I-CAR certification. Treat every customer's vehicle as if it were their own family's.
Whether you're a shop owner, a technician, a supplier, or a Michigan consumer who believes in safe repairs and fair practices — there's a place for you in MABA. We are building something historic, and we need your support to make it happen.
Join the founding generation of MABA and help build an organization that will protect Michigan's collision repair industry for decades to come.
Become a Founding Member →