2006 Minnesota Statutes

72B.092 MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE ADJUSTMENTS; PROHIBITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Prohibitions on insurer. No adjuster or insurer, director, officer, broker,
agent, attorney-in-fact, employee, or other representative of an insurer shall in collision cases:
(a) limit the freedom of an insured or claimant to choose the shop;
(b) require that an insured or claimant present the claim or the automobile for loss adjustment
or inspection at a "drive-in" claim center or any other similar facility solely under the control
of the insurer;
(c) engage in boycotts, intimidation or coercive tactics in negotiating repairs to damaged
motor vehicles which they insure or are liable to claimants to have repaired; or
(d) attempt to secure, except in an emergency, the insured's or claimant's signature
authorizing the party securing the signature to act in behalf of the insured or claimant in selection
of a repair shop facility.
    Subd. 2. Boycotts. No motor vehicle repair shop shall in any way coerce, or intimidate a
motor vehicle owner to boycott an insurer's "drive-in" claim center or similar facility.
    Subd. 3. Owner's signature. No motor vehicle repair shop shall attempt to secure, except in
an emergency, the vehicle owner's signature authorizing the party securing the signature to act in
behalf of the owner in selection of a repair shop.
    Subd. 4. Access to repair shop. An insurer's representative shall not be unreasonably denied
access to a motor vehicle repair shop during normal business hours for the purpose of inspecting
or reinspecting damaged vehicles.
    Subd. 5. Storage and towing charges. When a damaged vehicle is towed to a motor vehicle
repair shop, the storage and towing charges shall not exceed the usual and customary charges for
the towing and storage of undamaged vehicles in the area except if the vehicle, due to its damaged
condition, requires special handling in the towing or storage, an added charge may be made.
History: 1980 c 456 s 3; 1986 c 444