OEM Position Statements on Structural Repair in 2026: What Canadian Shops Need to Document on Every Claim

Key findings

1. 1I-CAR's 2026 Repairers Realm course on mixed attachment methods and steel sectioning recertification updates the technical baseline for structural welding, riveting, and adhesive bonding decisions.
2. 2Stellantis published new position statements in February 2026 reinforcing one-time-use part requirements and limiting bumper repairs - both of which directly affect line-item approval on Canadian estimates.
3. 3Manitoba Public Insurance's LVAA framework and SGI's accreditation program both reference OEM repair procedures as the technical authority for structural work; absence of the cited procedure is the most common single source of supplement friction.
4. 4Mercedes-Benz vehicles are now searchable in I-CAR's RTS OEM Calibration Requirements Search, closing a long-standing gap in calibration documentation for European platforms common on Canadian roads.
5. 5The most expensive position-statement failures are not technical - they are administrative: missing PDFs, expired procedure prints, and undated screenshots that cannot be defended on audit.

Body

1. What an OEM position statement actually is - and why it sits above the estimating system

An OEM position statement is a written, publicly published document from the vehicle manufacturer stating the required repair method, prohibited method, or mandatory inspection for a specific condition or component. It is not a recommendation. On Canadian carrier programs - MPI's Light Vehicle Accreditation Agreement (LVAA), SGI's accreditation framework, and ICBC's c.a.r.shop network - and on US DRP programs from State Farm, GEICO, and Progressive, the OEM procedure is treated as the technical source of truth that overrides the estimating system's default logic.

Position statements typically address structural sectioning locations, one-time-use fasteners, prohibited heat application, required calibration after specific operations, scanning requirements, aftermarket parts use, and refinish procedures. They are issued individually by each manufacturer and are not aggregated in any estimating system. The shop is responsible for finding, citing, and attaching them per VIN.

2. What changed in 2026: I-CAR mixed attachment methods, Stellantis one-time-use, Mercedes-Benz calibration search

Three updates in early 2026 materially change how structural repairs should be documented. First, I-CAR's Repairers Realm released a new course - Mixed Attachment Methods and Steel Sectioning Recertification - that updates the technical baseline technicians must demonstrate for welded, riveted, bonded, and combination joints in modern mixed-material structures. Second, Stellantis issued new position statements in February 2026 reinforcing one-time-use part requirements and tightening guidance on bumper repair limits. Third, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are now searchable in the I-CAR RTS OEM Calibration Requirements Search, giving Canadian shops a documented, citable source for calibration triggers on a brand that previously required direct manufacturer portal access.

3. How structural sectioning decisions must be documented on the estimate

Every structural sectioning decision - rail, rocker, A/B/C pillar, floor pan - requires the cited OEM procedure attached to the file. The documentation chain is: identify the damaged section, locate the OEM procedure for that specific VIN and trim, confirm the sectioning location is permitted (or required to be at a factory seam), confirm the attachment method (weld type, rivet spec, adhesive), and attach the procedure PDF or print to the estimate with a date stamp.

I-CAR's updated mixed attachment methods curriculum reflects the reality that 2024-2026 model-year vehicles routinely combine GMA welding, squeeze-type resistance spot welding, self-piercing rivets, flow-form rivets, and structural adhesives in the same joint. The OEM procedure specifies which combination is required - the technician's judgment is not the controlling input. On MPI and SGI files, sectioning a structural component without the procedure on file is one of the most common sources of audit findings.

Minimum documentation set for a structural sectioning operation

• VIN-decoded OEM procedure print, dated within 30 days of the repair.
• Specific section identifier (e.g., rail section diagram, pillar zone reference).
• Attachment method spec sheet (weld type, rivet part number, adhesive part number and cure time).
• Required corrosion protection procedure and product reference.
• Pre- and post-repair scan reports with DTC documentation.
• Calibration trigger check from the I-CAR RTS Calibration Requirements Search.

4. One-time-use parts: the Stellantis position statement and what it means for line-item approval

Stellantis's February 2026 position statement on one-time-use parts removes ambiguity about which fasteners, bolts, and components cannot be reused once removed. For shops writing on FCA/Stellantis vehicles - Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler - this means specific line items for replacement parts must be on the estimate at write-up, not added at supplement. The same principle applies across most OEMs: Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz all publish similar lists for their platforms.

5. Where shops typically lose ground on position statement compliance

The failure mode is almost never technical - it is administrative. Shops lose ground when the work was done correctly but the documentation cannot be produced on audit, or when the position statement was not consulted at write-up and the supplement gets resisted later.

1. 1The procedure is printed but not VIN-specific. Generic make/model prints do not satisfy LVAA documentation expectations.
2. 2The print is undated or older than 30 days. OEMs revise procedures continuously; an old print may not reflect the current required method.
3. 3Calibration triggers were not checked against the I-CAR RTS database before the estimate was sent.
4. 4One-time-use parts were missed at write-up, generating a supplement that the carrier auditor flags as determinable at teardown.
5. 5The position statement PDF is referenced but not attached to the estimate file in CCC ONE or Mitchell Connect.
6. 6Structural sectioning was performed at a location not specified in the OEM procedure, with no documented rationale.
7. 7Pre- and post-repair scan reports are stored separately and not linked to the procedure file.

6. How RocketPros aligns to OEM position statement compliance

RocketPros does not replace the OEM procedure or the carrier program rules. It runs alongside CCC ONE or Mitchell Connect and surfaces the signals that determine whether a structural repair file will hold up on audit. On a structural claim, RocketPros checks whether a position statement reference and a calibration trigger check are present on the estimate at write-up, whether one-time-use parts have been added for the operations on the file, and whether pre- and post-repair scan documentation is attached. The published OEM procedure remains the source of truth - RocketPros makes compliance with that procedure mechanical at the estimating stage rather than reactive at supplement.

The same logic applies to the 2026 updates: when Stellantis adds a position statement, when I-CAR updates the calibration requirements database, or when Mercedes-Benz coverage expands in RTS, the shop still owns the responsibility of citing the document. RocketPros surfaces whether the citation is on the file before the estimate is sent to the MPI, SGI, ICBC, or DRP adjuster.

7. The carrier perspective: why MPI, SGI, and US DRPs lean on OEM procedures

From the carrier program-management side, OEM position statements solve a specific problem: they remove technical judgment from the line-item approval conversation. If the procedure requires a specific structural sectioning location, a specific weld type, or a specific calibration after a windshield R&R, the adjuster does not need to negotiate the method - the published document governs. MPI's LVAA and SGI's accreditation framework both reference OEM procedures as the technical authority; ICBC's c.a.r.shop program operates on the same principle. US DRP programs - State Farm Select Service, GEICO ARX, Progressive Service Center - have all moved toward the same posture in recent years.

For carriers, the operational benefit is fewer disputes, fewer reinspections, and a defensible technical record per claim. For shops, the operational benefit is the same defensible record - provided the documentation actually makes it onto the file at write-up. The cost of attaching a position statement at write-up is minutes; the cost of defending a supplement without one is days of cycle time and erosion of the DRP scorecard.

8. A practical 2026 checklist for Canadian shops writing structural claims

• Decode the VIN and pull the OEM repair procedure for the specific platform and trim at the start of write-up.
• Run the I-CAR RTS Calibration Requirements Search for the VIN; document calibration triggers on the estimate.
• Pull the current OEM position statement for any structural operation (sectioning, replacement, heat application).
• Check the OEM's one-time-use parts list and add replacement parts to the estimate before sending it to the carrier.
• Attach all position statement PDFs and procedure prints to the file in CCC ONE or Mitchell Connect with date stamps.
• Confirm technician certification currency against the updated I-CAR steel sectioning and mixed attachment methods curriculum.
• Document pre- and post-repair scans with DTC reports linked to the procedure file.

Frequently asked

Citations

1. [1]I-CAR Repairers Realm - New In 2026: Mixed Attachment Methods and Steel Sectioning Recertification - course announcement and curriculum reference.https://rts.i-car.com/crn-581.html
2. [2]Repairer Driven News - New Stellantis position statements focus on one-time-use parts, bumper repairs (February 2026).https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2026/02/18/new-stellantis-position-statements-focus-on-one-time-use-parts-bumper-repairs/
3. [3]I-CAR Repairability Technical Support (RTS) - OEM Calibration Requirements Search, including Mercedes-Benz coverage update.https://rts.i-car.com
4. [4]Nissan Position Statement on OEM Repair Procedures and Guidelines - foundational OEM position statement reference.https://collision.nissanusa.com/nissan-position-statement-oem-repair-procedures-and-guidelines-2020.pdf
5. [5]Manitoba Public Insurance - Body Shop and Glass Information portal and Light Vehicle Accreditation Agreement (LVAA) documentation.https://www.mpi.mb.ca/
6. [6]Saskatchewan Government Insurance - Auto body accreditation program and repair standards documentation.https://www.sgi.sk.ca/
7. [7]Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - c.a.r.shop Valet network repair standards.https://www.icbc.com/
8. [8]Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) - OEM repair procedure adoption and position statement guidance.https://www.scrs.com
9. [9]CCC Intelligent Solutions, Crash Course Report - severity and documentation trend data referenced in carrier program decisions.https://cccis.com
10. [10]Mitchell International, Industry Trends Report - estimating and supplement frequency data referenced for documentation discipline.https://www.mitchell.com
11. [11]Insurance Bureau of Canada - auto insurance industry reference and claims framework documentation.https://www.ibc.ca
12. [12]Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) - industry training and accreditation framework references.https://www.ccif.ca

What this looks like inside RocketPros

The audit logic, scoring, and documentation patterns in this paper map directly to four RocketPros modules. If you want this applied to your shop's real estimates, start with the module that fits the workflow you're trying to fix.

• RPS ComplianceTrack MPI, SGI, and DRP program risk before it affects scorecards.
• Estimate AnalysisCatch missed labor, materials, parts, and documentation gaps before submission.
• AutomationRead saved Mitchell, CCC, and Audatex files without manual upload.
• ADAS CalibrationSurface calibration triggers tied to sensors and OEM procedures.

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