02/26/2026
We have been hearing from a number of our customers that this is has happened to them!
Here’s how collision shop insurance steering works specifically in Minnesota — including the legal rights you (or customers) have under state insurance law:
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🧑⚖️ What Minnesota Law Says
Minnesota has specific statutory protections that limit how insurers handle collision repair claims and prevent unlawful steering:
📍 You Have a Right to Choose Your Repair Shop
• Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 72A.201) explicitly gives vehicle owners the right to select any collision repair facility after an accident. An insurer cannot require you to use a shop they choose. 
📍 Insurers Are Prohibited from Steering and Coercive Tactics
• Another statute — Minn. Stat. § 72B.092 — makes it clear that insurers and their representatives cannot:
• Limit your freedom to choose a shop
• Apply pressure, intimidation, or coercion to influence where you get your vehicle repaired
• Force you to bring your vehicle to a claim center they control
• Require you to use specific vendors for parts or certain materials
• Disparage a shop you choose to push you toward a “preferred” shop
These protections are designed to block the classic “insurance steering” playbook. 
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🛠️ Why Steering Happens (Even Though It’s Illegal)
Insurance companies sometimes:
• Promote preferred or Direct Repair Programs (DRP) shops they work with
• Suggest that using these shops will be easier, faster, or fully guaranteed
• Imply (wrongly) that using a non-preferred shop could increase costs, delay repairs, or void warranties
While insurers can recommend these shops, they cannot force or coerce you into using them under Minnesota law. 
Examples of illegal pressure tactics include:
• “The shop you chose isn’t on our list.”
• “We can’t guarantee the repairs if you use that shop.”
• “Your claim will take longer if you don’t use a preferred shop.”
• “If you don’t use our shop, you may owe the difference.”
These claims are commonly cited by consumers and shops as examples of steering. 
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📌 Your Rights as a Policyholder in MN
Under Minnesota insurance law you are entitled to:
1. Select any collision repair shop you want, period. 
2. Have your vehicle repaired to its pre-accident condition regardless of the shop used. 
3. Choose whether OEM or aftermarket parts are used (except for window glass, which insurers may specify). 
4. Be informed of these rights when you file a claim. The insurer must notify you that you have a choice of repair facility. 
If an insurer tries to pressure you after you’ve selected a shop, that’s prohibited under Minn. Stat. § 72B.092. 
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🧾 What to Do if You’re Being Steered
If you think you’re being improperly steered:
• Document all communications with the insurance company. Note who you spoke with, what was said, and when.
• Firmly state your shop choice in writing (text or email preferred) so there’s a record.
• Remind the insurer of Minnesota law — that you have the right to choose your shop and they cannot coerce you.
• If pressure continues, you can:
• File a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Commerce
• Consult with an attorney familiar with insurance claims and consumer protection
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⚖️ Summary
In Minnesota:
• Insurance steering — i.e., trying to control which shop you use through coercion or threats — is illegal. 
• You have a statutory right to choose any collision repair shop you prefer. 
• Insurers can recommend shops but can’t penalize or intimidate you for choosing your own. 
