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Length of Rental Decreases Year-Over-Year For First Time Since Start of Pandemic Enterprise released Length of Rental (LOR) data for the second quarter of 2023, showing a 0.3-day decrease— from 17.7 days to 17.4—compared to the same quarter last year, the first dip in LOR year-over-year since the initial stages of the pandemic.
It was also a 1.5-day decrease from the first quarter of this year, when LOR was 18.7 days, which fits historical seasonal trending of a decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter. While positive, these results continue to reflect the new normal, as the LOR for the second quarter in 2021 was 13.2 days. Alaska recorded the highest overall LOR in Q2 at 22.7 days, followed by Georgia (20.5), Colorado (20.2) and Louisiana (20.1). Hawaii had the lowest LOR with 13.1 days. North Dakota and Iowa were next-lowest at 13.3 days each, with DC (13.5) and Nebraska (13.9) completing the states under 14 days. Interestingly, the gap between the highest—Alaska—and lowest—Hawaii—
LORs was 9.6 days, compared to a gap of 9.0 days in Q2 2022. In the contiguous 48, the gap was 7.2 days between Georgia (20.5) and Iowa and North Dakota (both 13.1). In Q2 2022, this gap was 8.9 days between Louisiana and North Dakota.
Only three states saw a yearover-year increase of a day or more: Minnesota (+1.4), New Mexico (+1.2), and Montana (+1.0). Eighteen additional states saw increases while five other states were flat. Notably, 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., saw decreases. Rhode Island (-2.0), DC (-1.9) and Louisiana (-1.8) had the largest decreases. John Yoswick, editor of the weekly CRASH Network newsletter, said: “We’re seeing a number of trends that could account for some—though not a lot—of decline in LOR, at least for now. Shops’ backlog of work tends to drop in the spring, and this year was no exception. The national l CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
42 YEARS
Vol. 14 / Issue 6 / September 2023
REGIONAL NEWS
Nassau County, NY, Collision Repair Shops, Owner Convicted of Tax Fraud Jose Cardona, 45, of Oceanside, NY, was sentenced Aug. 2 for felony tax fraud related to his ownership and operation of two Nassau County collision repair shops, New York State officials announced. In Nassau County State Supreme Court, Cardona was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation, after having already paid more than $700,000 in restitution. Cardona’s two businesses previously pleaded guilty to felony tax fraud charges, and his wife, Veronica Cardona, 44, also of Oceanside, previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor false filing charge related to a fraudulent personal income tax return. Cardona was the owner and
operator of two collision centers: No Limit Auto Body, Inc., also known as Perry’s Hub Auto Care, located at 10 Jerusalem Ave. in Hempstead, NY, and Henry Street Auto Body, Inc., also known as No Limit Auto Body II, located at 110 Henry St. in Freeport, NY. A joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Auto Insurance Fraud Unit and the Department of Taxation and Finance (Tax Department) revealed Cardona and No Limit Auto Body collected but failed to remit to New York state more than $584,000 in sales taxes between June 2010 and May 2016, and that Cardona and Henry Street Auto Body collected but failed to l CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
REGIONAL NEWS
New Auto Repair Shop in Allentown, PA, Different than Typical Garage By Justin Backover WFMZ News
Tucked away right off Union Boulevard in Allentown, PA, is a new auto repair shop. It’s actually a new start-up, called Car-Up. “Our shop will come to your home or work, pick your car up, service it and bring it back to you when it’s done,” said founder Larry Seibel. He’s called the Lehigh Valley home for two decades and has spent his career starting tech companies.
Car-Up works through an app. Once you input your make and model, you can select the service you want or describe the issue you’re having. Then, you schedule a time and Car-up picks up your vehicle. You can also schedule a tow if needed. “Like every good idea, my wife came up with it,” Seibel said. “A lot of people don’t really trust what’s happening with their car. So, when you go the repair shop, people try to sell you service and they don’t really l CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6
Columnist Mike Anderson: Technical and Financial Considerations Related to Your Paint Department
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Columnist Abby Andrews: SCRS Executive Director Responds to Criticism of Right to Repair Pact Signed with Automakers
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Columnist Stacey Phillips: Body Shop Owners Discuss Mentorship Programs Initiated with Support from Toby Chess, Part 2
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