BETHESDA, Md. -

The Auto Care Association welcomed a New Jersey law that the Garden State’s governor recently signed in connection with a new mandate that automakers now have regarding vehicle warranties.

The association recapped that last week New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Senate Bill 1712, which will require OEMs to send a notice to consumers within 90 days of a new-vehicle lease or purchase of their warranty rights under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (MMWA). The bill advanced with both chambers of the New Jersey legislature with broad bipartisan support. The bill passed the Senate 31-0 and passed the Assembly 74-0.

“This is another positive step toward educating consumers nationwide on their warranty rights and their ability to get their car serviced at the facility of their choice,”, Auto Care Association director of state government affairs Tom Tucker said in a news release.

“We will continue to work in the legislative and regulatory arenas to promote the MMWA and what it means for consumers,” Tucker continued.

Auto Care Association pointed out the newly signed bill in New Jersey does not change federal law or the MMWA in any way. Rather, it requires OEMs to notify new-vehicle owners in the state of New Jersey of their existing rights.

In addition, the Auto Care Association noted that manufacturers will have to place the same notice online or in the owner’s manual. This is only the second bill requiring consumer notification of MMWA rights to be passed in the country, according to the Auto Care Association.

“Gaining the right to repair your vehicle at the facility of your choosing without voiding the vehicle warranty was only half the battle in protecting consumer choice,” Auto Care Association president and chief executive officer Bill Hanvey said.

“The Auto Care Association and our allies are dedicated to consumer choice and we are fighting to ensure that the federal rights of consumers are not only acknowledged by the states, but actively protected and defended by them, too,” Hanvey went on to say.