Brownsdale Auto Body Inc.

08/22/2026

BROWNSDALE AUTO BODY WILL BE CLOSED TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

In loving memory and respect for my mother,
Sally Gerhart,

A longtime resident of Brownsdale
and a truly gifted artist.

On this day, we will celebrate her life
as she goes to meet the Great Artist in the sky.

Thank you for your kindness, understanding,
and support during this difficult time.

Brian Gerhart
& Brownsdale Auto Body

08/14/2026

THE WORK NOBODY SEES STILL MATTERS.

This radiator support belongs to a nearly new vehicle. Its owner made his expectations clear: he does not want visible signs that the vehicle was ever repaired.

Challenge accepted.

We spent hours preparing and refinishing this support to restore its appearance and protection as closely as possible to the original OEM condition.

Once the vehicle is assembled, most of this work will never be seen again. It would be easy for someone to say, “Why spend the time? Nobody will ever see it.”

That is not our standard.

When a house is built, the drywall eventually covers the insulation. Will anyone see behind those walls again? Probably not. But a builder with integrity still installs the insulation correctly because it belongs there and because the quality of the finished home depends on it.

Collision repair is no different.

The preparation, coatings, corrosion protection, seam sealer, cavity protection, and finish quality still matter even when everything will eventually be covered.

No uncontrolled overspray.
No cheap aerosol shortcuts.
No “good enough because nobody will see it.”

Will every necessary operation be easy to explain, approve, or get paid for? No. I will be honest: sometimes it becomes a fight.

But our repair standards are determined by the vehicle, the required procedures, and our responsibility for the finished repair not by whether the work will remain visible after assembly.

Some people may think I am crazy for caring this much. That is fine.

Integrity means doing the job correctly even when nobody will ever see the work again. It means too much to me to operate any other way.

That is how I run Brownsdale Auto Body, and that is how I will continue operating until the day I close the doors.

Brian Gerhart

07/31/2026

Know Your Rights Rental Cars Matter Too
Support our locals.

Most people know they have the right to choose their repair shop in Minnesota.

What many people don't realize is they also have the right to choose their rental vehicle company.

Today alone, we had two customers tell us they were directed toward a large national rental company when they would have preferred to support a local independent business instead.

On behalf of one of our customers, and strictly as a courtesy, I sent the insurance company the applicable Minnesota statutory language regarding the customer's right to select the rental company of their choice. The reservation was then changed to the company the customer preferred.

Later that same day, another customer called with a similar concern. He plans to cancel his existing reservation and switch to the rental company he wants to use.

Here in our area, we've had the pleasure of working with Kuehn Motor Company Rental in Austin. They're a locally owned business that has always treated our customers well, and we appreciate the service they provide.

The point of this post isn't about one rental company versus another. It's about consumer choice.

Ask questions. Know your rights. If you prefer to support a local business, don't be afraid to say so.

The same principle applies throughout the claims process: your choices matter.

Please continue supporting the local businesses that support our communities.

Brian Gerhart
Brownsdale Auto Body, Inc.

07/31/2026

A week ago, I shared a post called "Some Calls Stay With You."

It was about one of our longtime senior customers. He was overwhelmed, frustrated, and simply wanted someone to help him through the claims process.

Today, I finally have some good news.

After a month of emails, phone calls, and follow-ups, we finally got answers and can move forward with repairing his vehicle.

What saddens me isn't that claims take work. They do. Everyone has responsibilities. Body shops have obligations to our customers, to the vehicle manufacturers, to safety, to the quality of our repairs, and to the warranties that stand behind our work. Insurance companies have responsibilities too.

The difficult part is when the customer gets caught in the middle.

This wasn't this gentleman's fault. He certainly had the option of using his own insurance company, but he didn't feel he should have to when someone else caused the accident.

That's when he asked me a simple question:

"Why should I have to use my own insurance company when it wasn't my fault?"

That's a fair question, and one he deserved an answer to.

This morning, on his behalf and strictly as a courtesy, I sent a demand letter citing the applicable Minnesota claims-handling requirements. Shortly afterward, the phone started ringing, emails began coming in, and we were finally able to get this claim moving. That's all this customer wanted an answer and a path forward.

Along the way, I was asked to accept an electronic agreement before documents could be exchanged. I respectfully declined. Brownsdale Auto Body is not under contract with that insurance company, and we weren't looking to create one. We were simply helping our customer communicate and document the claim.

I'm sure this claim consumed far more time than anyone intended for the adjuster, for us, and most importantly, for our customer. Nobody wins when a claim drags on.

If there's one message I'd leave you with, it's this:

Choose a repair shop that will stand beside you, not just repair your vehicle. Ask questions. Stay involved in your claim. Understand your options. Work with people who will explain the process and advocate for your interests.

For nearly four decades, that's been our commitment.

No customer should ever feel like they're facing the claims process alone.

We're glad this gentleman called us.

We had his back then.

We have his back now.

Brian Gerhart
Brownsdale Auto Body, Inc.

Send a message to learn more

07/24/2026

Some phone calls stay with you.

Friday morning, my phone rang.

It was a longtime customer of mine. A senior citizen. Someone I've known for many years. In fact, I was repairing his vehicles years before I ever opened Brownsdale Auto Body in 1988.

He was shaken.

He said, "Brian, the insurance company called me. They told me they don't go by your estimate... they go by theirs."

You could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

After all these years, hearing something like that never gets any easier.

Our senior citizens shouldn't have to deal with that kind of stress. They shouldn't be caught in the middle after they've already chosen the repair shop they trust.

I took the time to explain what had happened and what his rights were. By the end of our conversation, he understood why something about that phone call didn't feel right.

I'm just so glad he called me instead of becoming scared or feeling like he had nowhere else to turn.

Here's what people need to understand.

When I write an estimate, I'm not trying to make it bigger.

I'm trying to make it safe.

In this case, the vehicle requires a replacement door because of where the airbag sensor is mounted. I'm not going to repair a door that should be replaced just because someone wants a less expensive repair.

I couldn't live with that.

No customer should ever feel alone.

If you've ever received a phone call that leaves you confused, pressured, or wondering who to believe...

Please call me.

I'll explain your options, document what happened, and help you understand the process.

Whether you've been my customer for 30 years or you're walking through my door for the very first time...

No customer should ever feel alone.

Today, I stand beside this gentleman.

I've got his back.

I've been standing beside my customers for going on 40 years in business, and many years before that, when I was learning this trade in my dad's driveway, then working at a local Autobody Shop. .

I stood beside them then.

I stand beside them today.

And as long as I can lace up my work boots every morning...

I'll keep standing beside them.

Because that's not just what I do.

That's who I am.

Brian Gerhart
Brownsdale Auto Body, Inc.

Send a message to learn more

07/23/2026

This picture takes me back.

Before this photo was taken, I was already painting bicycles and snowmobiles for my buddies around town. I was only 13 years old, and I was hooked on auto body repair before I was even old enough to drive.

This was one of the first cars I ever repaired, and I still didn't have my driver's license. Looking back, it's kind of funny to think I was repairing cars before I was legally allowed to drive one.

People often ask where I went to vocational school.

My vocational school was my dad's driveway.

That's where it all began. From there, I kept learning every day through hard work, trial and error, and from some incredible mentors who were willing to share their knowledge. They helped shape the technician, business owner, and person I've become.

I'm not saying that's the path everyone should take. Formal education is valuable, and our industry needs more training opportunities. But for me, this was where my journey started.

In 1988, I opened Brownsdale Auto Body with one simple goal: repair vehicles the right way and treat people the way I'd want to be treated.

Going on 40 years later, that goal hasn't changed.

I still get excited when a customer picks up their vehicle and smiles. If the day ever comes that I don't look forward to that smile or that handshake, it'll be time for me to retire.

I'm not there yet.

Along the way, we've met thousands of incredible people. There's an old saying: "We meet by accident." In our business, that's often literally true. But many of those accidents have turned into lifelong friendships.

The other day I noticed our Brownsdale Auto Body page has grown to more than 1,200 followers.

For a little body shop in a small rural town, that's something I never imagined. Some of you are longtime customers. Some are industry friends. Some are neighbors. And many of you I've never met in person.

Thank you.

Over the years, customers have told me their coworkers or friends asked them, "Why are you taking your vehicle all the way to Brownsdale?"

Sometimes I'll ask them, "So... what did you tell them?"

More often than not, they just smile and say,

"Because I wouldn't go anywhere else."

There's no greater compliment than that.

Looking at this old photo reminds me that none of this started in a fancy building. It started in my dad's driveway with a 13-year-old kid who simply loved auto body repair.

Looking back... I wouldn't change a thing.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Brian Gerhart
Brownsdale Auto Body, Inc.

07/22/2026

We Started Small. We Stayed Small. We're Content.

Some people measure success by how big they become. I've learned to measure it a little differently.

We started small. We stayed small. We're content.

We've built a good team, earned the trust of our customers, and after nearly 40 years, I wouldn't trade that for anything.

We're not a direct repair shop. We don't work for insurance companies we work for our customers. That's the business we've chosen, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

To everyone who has trusted us from Brownsdale, from neighboring towns, and from miles away thank you.

People often ask, "How far do your customers come from?" My answer is simple: we work for the people who truly care about having their vehicles repaired the right way. They come from miles around. Every time someone makes that drive, it reminds me how much trust they've placed in our little shop.

When I opened Brownsdale Auto Body nearly 40 years ago, I never imagined we'd have customers traveling from so far away. We never expected this kind of support, and we'll never take it for granted.

Thank you for believing in the underdog... and the crew he chose to stand beside him. We appreciate every one of you.

Brian Gerhart
Brownsdale Auto Body, Inc.

07/13/2026

Just a reminder.

I keep this on my desk where I see it every day.

“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”

As a humble independent shop owner, I think of the old Dunkin’ Donuts commercial where the guy gets out of bed every morning, yawns, and says, “Time to make the donuts.”

That’s what it’s like owning a small business. You get up every day, put your boots on the ground, and do the work.

Let’s make today count.

07/04/2026

07/02/2026

Reflections,

I sometimes think back to my days on the State Farm Service First and later Select Service programs.

The turning point for me was when the focus shifted toward lowest parts selection and program expectations. I realized the direction no longer aligned with how I wanted to operate my business. That's when I made the decision to leave, and I've never looked back.

One conversation has always stuck with me. Because we're in a rural community, we have provided in-house rentals and courtesy vehicles when we could. I remember being told that State Farm customers without rental coverage should not be given courtesy vehicles because it could create expectations for other customers. Whether that guidance was local or broader, it was another reminder that I wanted the freedom to make those decisions myself based on my customers' needs not a program's expectations.

Over the years, I've had opportunities to return to a DRP program. Financially, it may have made some things easier, and some customers might initially feel more comfortable seeing a program logo on the wall.

But I've chosen a different path.

I'd rather answer to my customer than to a performance program. That isn't a criticism of shops that participate every business owner has to choose what works for them. It simply wasn't the right fit for me.

For me, independence means I can make repair decisions, business decisions, and customer service decisions based on what I believe is right, not what a program expects. That's why I've remained an independent shop.
Some call me a crusader. Some call me an outlier. Either way, I'll wear both titles proudly

Brian Gerhart CPOC

CPOC (Crusader of Principle. Outlier by Choice.)