OEM Position Statements: Your Strongest Supplement Proof

An OEM position statement is a written policy document published directly by a vehicle manufacturer that states its official stance on a specific repair procedure, such as scanning, calibration, sectioning, or parts usage. When you attach the correct statement to a supplement line, you replace opinion with the manufacturer's own written requirement, and that is the single hardest thing for an adjuster to argue against.

What Exactly Is an OEM Position Statement?

Position statements are short, formal documents released by manufacturers like Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and others. They exist because collision repairers, insurers, and body shops kept asking the same question over and over: "Does this vehicle need X procedure after this type of damage?" Rather than answer every shop individually, OEMs publish a standing policy that applies to every repair meeting the stated criteria.

They typically cover:

• Whether a procedure is required (not optional) after certain repairs
• The conditions that trigger the requirement (collision, replacement of a specific part, disturbance of a system)
• Any tools, calibration targets, or environmental conditions needed to do it correctly
• Liability language noting that skipping the procedure can affect vehicle safety systems

Because these are official manufacturer publications, not shop opinions or third-party recommendations, insurers cannot simply dismiss them as "industry practice" or "not standard." This is exactly why position statements carry more weight in a supplement fight than almost any other document you can attach, including your own supplement audit checklist notes or shop procedures.

Where to Find Them for Free

Most OEMs make position statements publicly available, and several industry organizations aggregate them in one place. You do not need a paid subscription to build a solid library:

• OEM1Stop.com: A free, searchable database that pulls position statements directly from participating manufacturers, organized by make and topic.
• Manufacturer collision repair websites: Ford, GM (through ACDelco/GM Genuine Parts), Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and others host repair and position statement pages directly.
• I-CAR RTS (Repairability Technical Support): Sometimes references or links to the underlying OEM statement.
• ASA (Automotive Service Association) and SCRS (Society of Collision Repair Specialists): Both maintain resource pages that compile links by manufacturer.

Build a simple folder system by make and topic (scans, calibration, sectioning, parts) so your estimators can pull the right PDF in under a minute during a live supplement conversation. The five minutes you spend organizing this library will save hours over a single fiscal quarter.

The Top Categories That Win Fights

Not every position statement gets used equally. Four categories account for the vast majority of successful supplement overturns.

1. Diagnostic Scanning

Nearly every major OEM now has a position statement requiring pre and post repair scans on vehicles involved in a collision, regardless of visible damage. If an adjuster is pushing back on scan time, this is the fastest win available. For the full playbook on getting scans paid, see Insurance Won't Pay for Diagnostic Scans? Do This.

2. ADAS and System Calibrations

Cameras, radar sensors, and other ADAS components almost always require calibration after certain repairs, windshield replacement, bumper removal, or any work near the sensor's mounting location. OEM statements specify the exact trigger conditions, which is critical because adjusters often argue calibration "wasn't needed" simply because the part looked fine. For a deeper dive on documenting this class of repair, read EV and ADAS Repair Documentation for Collision Claims.

3. Sectioning Procedures

Many OEMs explicitly prohibit sectioning in certain locations on certain models, or require specific tools and joining methods. When an insurer's estimate calls for a repair method the manufacturer has banned, the position statement doesn't just support your supplement, it removes the adjuster's ability to approve the original line as written.

4. Parts Usage (OEM vs. Aftermarket vs. Recycled)

Some manufacturers publish statements limiting the use of aftermarket or recycled parts on structural, safety, or ADAS-related components. These are especially useful when a carrier tries to substitute a non-OEM part that could affect calibration accuracy or crash performance.

Exactly How to Attach and Cite a Position Statement

Having the right PDF isn't enough. Adjusters process dozens of supplements a week, and a buried attachment gets skimmed or ignored. The goal is to make the citation impossible to miss.

Step 1: Pull the specific statement, not a general one. Match the make, model year range, and exact procedure. A generic "OEM scanning is often required" statement is weaker than one that names the specific model and system.

Step 2: Attach the PDF directly to the supplement, not just the estimate file. Label the attachment clearly, for example "2021_Toyota_RAV4_PreScan_PositionStatement.pdf," so it's identifiable at a glance in the claim portal.

Step 3: Cite it by name, date, and section directly in the line note. Do not assume the adjuster will open and read the attachment unless you tell them exactly why it matters and where to look.

Step 4: Use language that ties the citation to a requirement, not a preference. Words like "required per manufacturer" carry more weight than "recommended" or "suggested by industry standard."

Template Sentence for Supplement Notes

Use this structure directly in your line note or supplement narrative:

"Per [Manufacturer] Position Statement, dated [MM/YYYY], titled '[exact title]' (attached), [procedure] is required following [triggering repair/damage], and is not optional or condition-dependent. See attached PDF, page [X], for full manufacturer language."

Example in practice:

"Per Honda Position Statement, dated 03/2022, titled 'Pre and Post-Repair Scanning,' pre and post-repair diagnostic scans are required on all vehicles involved in a collision repair, regardless of visible damage or DTC presence. See attached PDF, page 1, for full manufacturer language."

This structure does three things at once: it names the source, states the requirement in the manufacturer's own words, and points the adjuster directly to the proof. When an adjuster writes "not necessary" on a line backed by this kind of citation, they are no longer disagreeing with your shop, they are disagreeing with the OEM in writing, which is a much harder position to defend up their own chain of approval.

Building This Into Your Supplement Workflow

The shops that win the most supplement dollars treat position statements as a standing part of the estimate process, not a last resort pulled out only after a denial. Pair a strong OEM citation with the photo and paperwork habits that hold up under review, and you dramatically reduce the number of denials that ever reach a second round. If your team is still seeing frequent pushback, it's worth reviewing the most common reasons adjusters deny supplements and checking whether a missing OEM citation is the root cause.

Maintaining an organized, up to date OEM position statement library by make and category is one of the highest leverage, lowest cost investments a shop can make in its supplement process. It costs nothing but time, and it turns your strongest arguments into documents no adjuster can simply overrule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are OEM position statements legally binding for insurance companies?

No, they are not laws or regulations, but they are the manufacturer's official safety and repair policy. Insurers are not legally required to pay based on them, but denying a line that directly contradicts a documented OEM requirement creates significant liability exposure for the carrier, which is why citing them is so effective in practice.

Do all manufacturers publish position statements?

Most major manufacturers publish at least some position statements, particularly around scanning and calibration, but coverage varies by make and topic. If you cannot find a specific statement for your situation, check OEM1Stop.com first, then contact the manufacturer's collision repair program directly.

How often do OEM position statements get updated?

They are updated periodically as vehicle technology changes, sometimes annually or whenever a new model introduces a new system. Always confirm you are citing the most current version before attaching it to a supplement, since an outdated statement can weaken your argument.

Can I use a position statement from one model to justify a repair on a different model from the same brand?

Generally no. Adjusters will often challenge citations that don't exactly match the model and year in question, so always pull the statement specific to the vehicle on the claim whenever one exists.