New Year, New (Renewed) Name: Guiding the Way of the Massachusetts Collision Industry in 2026
by Matthew Ciaschini, MABA President
As we welcome 2026, I’m excited to share some big news: AASP of Massachusetts is now the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA). This isn’t just a rebranding; it’s a return to our roots! MABA is a name with history and clout, one that says exactly who we are: Massachusetts collision repair professionals, united.
Our core mission hasn’t changed. We’re still here to advocate for consumers, support repairers and serve as the united voice of our industry. MABA’s legacy stretches back decades, built on shop owners supporting each other. As past president Ed Nalewanski recalled, when shops gathered each month, “we weren’t competitors; we were business owners helping business owners.”
That camaraderie is our foundation. With a proud name and an unwavering mission, MABA will keep being the guide Massachusetts shops can count on.
The Fix in 2026: Putting Customers First
What is “The Fix in 2026”? It’s our commitment to refocus on what truly matters: the customer. The fix for our industry’s challenges lies in putting the customer first and giving them what they deserve, which is the safest, highest-quality repair possible.
Let me be clear: We are not in the insurance business. We’re in the collision repair business. Our customer is the vehicle owner – the person who drives that car, loves that car and relies on that car every day. The insurance company is not the customer. Their role is to indemnify the vehicle owner for their loss, nothing more. Our job is to restore the vehicle to its proper, safe condition in accordance with OEM standards, with the customer’s safety at the forefront every time.
Putting the customer first means doing right by them, always. It means having honest conversations about the repairs their car needs, even when those conversations are difficult. We all know how often insurers try to insert themselves into repair decisions, pressuring shops to cut corners or “negotiate” on critical procedures. But the path forward isn’t found in endless arguments with “appraisers.” The real path forward is through educating our customers. This education empowers them to advocate for themselves and their repair.
When the person who owns the car understands why a particular procedure is necessary for their safety or why we refuse to use knock-off parts, they become our allies. It always starts with the customer. Once they’re fully informed and empowered, they can push back on the insurer, and that’s when the real magic happens. By making it clear that “I work for you, the vehicle owner,” we shift the power dynamic. Suddenly, the insurer’s approval isn’t the ultimate decision-maker of a repair; the customer’s well-being is.
Taking this approach isn’t easy. It takes guts, time and sometimes a willingness to risk losing a job if a vehicle owner won’t stand up for the proper repair. But doing the right thing is always worth it. Shops that build a reputation for putting safety and integrity above all else earn loyal customers, trust in the community and better business success. People recommend the shop that fixes their car properly and treats them like family…not the shop that cuts corners to save an insurer a buck.
That’s “The Fix” our industry needs in 2026: a collective return to true customer service, where service means serving our customers and no one else.
Choosing the Harder Road
Let’s be honest – doing the right thing often means choosing the harder road. Collision repair is not for the faint of heart, especially if you’re determined to do things properly. Modern cars are high-tech machines with advanced materials and safety systems. Repairing them correctly is complex and demanding.
Yet, shops face relentless pressure to prioritize cost or speed over quality. Whether it’s an appraiser questioning your methods, a customer confused about a bill or an insurer flat-out refusing to pay for a necessary procedure. In those moments, it’s tempting to take the easy way out just to keep the peace or make a quick buck.
But remember this: easier doesn’t mean right. Cutting corners to appease an insurer or avoid a tough conversation may seem convenient, but if a vehicle isn’t repaired to exact specifications, its safety features may fail when they’re needed most. The difference between a proper repair and a compromised one could literally be the difference between life and death. That’s the gravity of what we do. That gravity falls squarely on YOU, the repair professional, never the insurer…despite what they may tell you.
Every time you choose to follow OEM procedures, to perform that extra weld test or to double-check that calibration – even when you aren’t sure you’ll be fully reimbursed – you’re choosing safety over convenience. You’re standing by your work and your ethics. This is what doing the right thing looks like. It’s the definition of professionalism in our field. It’s doing the right thing when no one is looking.
It takes resilience. You will face skepticism, frustration or financial hurdles. You will have to explain to an appraiser who’s never fixed a car why a certain operation is necessary. You will have to justify costs to a customer who’s been misled by their insurer’s estimate. These aren’t easy battles. But they are necessary.
But never forget, the collision repair industry is not just a trade; it’s a responsibility. We hold the safety of countless drivers and families in our hands every time we fix a vehicle. When you repair a car properly, you ensure that when a parent drives their children to school or a commuter heads to work, their vehicle will protect them as designed. That responsibility is enormous, but it’s also what makes our work meaningful.
There is honor in standing firm against the tide of “good enough.” There is greatness in the struggle to do things the right way. Through hardship, we achieve greatness. In 2026, let’s embrace the hard path when it’s the right path, knowing we’re saving lives and preserving our craft every day.
Standing Together for a Better Future
I truly believe brighter days lie ahead for Massachusetts collision repairers – if we continue to stand together and speak with a unified voice. Real progress is on the horizon.
We ended last year with a long-awaited sign of change: the Commonwealth established an Auto Body Labor Rate Advisory Board dedicated to reviewing and recommending a fair, reasonable labor reimbursement rate for our work. This victory didn’t happen by accident. It was the direct result of persistent, unified advocacy by this association and its members. It shows that, when we refuse to stay silent about the issues plaguing our industry, we can compel the powers-that-be to listen.
The creation of that Board was a positive step, but let’s be clear that an advisory board alone won’t fix our industry. No outside entity can do that for us. But we can, and we will, by working from the inside out. Meaningful, lasting change will come from us through the collective action of individual shop owners, estimators, administration and technicians doing the right thing and demanding what’s right of those around them.
That’s why your voice matters now more than ever. MABA will keep fighting for you on Beacon Hill, in Board meetings and in the press, but we need you fighting alongside us. Each of us must be an advocate, not only for our own shop but for our industry as a whole.
So, in 2026, I urge every shop owner and technician to advocate for yourself and for each other. If an insurer’s program doesn’t sit right, speak up. If you encounter an unsafe practice, refuse to go along with it. Educate your customers, rally your fellow shop owners, engage with your legislators. Lean on the association for resources and support because that’s what we’re here for.
When we share knowledge and stand united, we all become stronger. The more members join our cause, the louder our voice grows and the more clout we carry to shape a better future for our trade.
Things will get better, I truly believe that. The challenges we face are real, but they’re not insurmountable. We control the outcome. By persistently doing the right thing and speaking as one, we can move the needle. Whether it’s securing legislative gains, improving industry standards or changing one customer’s perspective at a time, every small victory adds up.
There is hope for the road ahead. Together, as the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, we’re going to keep driving forward and guiding this industry in the right direction.
Thank you for being part of this journey. The fact that you’re reading this means you care about our profession and our community. Let’s make 2026 a year of positive change and a turning point we’ll look back on with pride.
“The Fix in 2026” starts with all of us! By putting customers first, doing the right things for the right reasons and standing together, we’ll build a safer, stronger, more prosperous collision repair industry in Massachusetts.
Here’s to a new year, a new (old) name and a bright future. Together, we can achieve anything.
Happy 2026 to all of you! We’ve got your back in every way.
Want more? Check out the February 2026 issue of New England Automotive Report!