SAVANNAH. GA.–A state legislator from Michigan proposed at ameeting here of his colleagues from other states that they pass amodel measure to regulate insurance for rental cars.

State Rep. Alan Sanborn, R-Redmond, called for the legislationat the spring meeting of the National Conference of InsuranceLegislators, reacting, he said to pressure put on customers topurchase unnecessary rental car insurance.

“This is one of those opportunities that we as legislators getto do something that is a great consumer protection,” he said.

Overzealous salesmen at rental car counters encourage customersto buy what Sen. Sanborn termed “unnecessary” insurance such ascollision coverage.

“If you have collision on your car, you already have that (forrental cars), but you are getting these overzealous salesmen whotwist and misrepresent and intimidate you into buying this veryexpensive insurance,” he said.

Sen. Sanborn said he has not worked out the details of how themodel law would be crafted.

He presented legislation from New York that requires privatepassenger motor liability policies to also cover rental cars as a“placeholder” while his proposal is worked out over the next fewmonths.

But he expressed concern that such an approach might shift toomuch of the responsibility onto the insurer.

“The thrust of the legislation is we want to ensure rental carcompanies are not incentivizing pushy salesmen to sell productsthat people don't need,” he said.

Mr. Sanborn said he will have a fully developed proposal fordiscussion by the time the organization meets this summer inSeattle.