Minnesota Automotive Repair Licensing Law

Minnesota Code · 8 sections

The following is the full text of Minnesota’s automotive repair licensing law statutes as published in the Minnesota Code. For the official version, see the Minnesota Legislature.

Minn. Stat. § 115.55

115.55 , or in a stormwater or wastewater collection or treatment system except as described in paragraph (c).

(b) For the purposes of this section, "antifreeze" does not include small amounts of antifreeze contained in water used to flush the cooling system of a vehicle after the antifreeze has been drained and does not include deicer that has been used on the exterior of a vehicle.

(c) A person may place waste motor vehicle antifreeze in a wastewater collection or treatment system permitted by the agency, unless prohibited by the operator of the system, if the person:

(1) generates an annual average of less than 50 gallons per month of waste motor vehicle antifreeze; and

(2) keeps records of the amount of waste antifreeze generated. Records must be maintained on site and made available for inspection for a minimum of three years following generation of the waste antifreeze.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), motor oil filters and portions of motor oil filters may be processed at a permitted mixed municipal solid waste resource recovery facility that directly burns the waste if:

(1) the facility is subject to an industrial waste management plan that addresses management of motor oil filters and the owner or operator of the facility can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the facility is in compliance with that plan;

(2) the facility recovers ferrous metal after incineration for recycling as part of its operation; and

(3) the motor oil filters are collected separately from mixed municipal solid waste and are not combined with it except for the purpose of incinerating the waste.

(e) The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, in conjunction with industry organizations representing automotive repair businesses and antifreeze recycling businesses and environmental organizations shall work together to develop and promote opportunities to recycle waste motor vehicle antifreeze and to review the impact of alternative antifreeze disposal or recycling methods on businesses and the environment.

History:

1987 c 348 s 25 ; 1988 c 685 s 17 ; 1991 c 347 art 1 s 18 ; 1993 c 249 s 16 ; 1994 c 585 s 19 ; 1996 c 470 s 9 ; 1997 c 216 s 97 ; 1998 c 379 s 2 ; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 2 s 161 ; 2009 c 109 s 14

Minn. Stat. § 116J.545

116J.545 GETTING TO WORK GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Creation.

The commissioner of employment and economic development shall make grants to nonprofit organizations to establish and operate programs under this section that provide, repair, or maintain motor vehicles to assist eligible individuals to obtain or maintain employment. All grants shall be for two years.

Subd. 2. Qualified grantee.

A grantee must:

(1) qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(2) at the time of application, offer or have the demonstrated capacity to offer a motor vehicle program that provides the services required under subdivision 3.

Subd. 3. Program requirements.

(a) A program must offer one or more of the following services:

(1) provision of new or used motor vehicles by gift, sale, or lease;

(2) motor vehicle repair and maintenance services; or

(3) motor vehicle loans.

(b) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), a program must offer one or more of the following services:

(1) financial literacy education;

(2) education on budgeting for vehicle ownership;

(3) car maintenance and repair instruction;

(4) credit counseling; or

(5) job training related to motor vehicle maintenance and repair.

Subd. 4. Application.

Applications for a grant must be on a form provided by the commissioner and on a schedule set by the commissioner. Applications must, in addition to any other information required by the commissioner, include the following:

(1) a detailed description of all services to be offered;

(2) the area to be served;

(3) the estimated number of program participants to be served by the grant; and

(4) a plan for leveraging resources from partners that may include but are not limited to:

(i) automobile dealers;

(ii) automobile parts dealers;

(iii) independent local mechanics and automobile repair facilities;

(iv) banks and credit unions;

(v) employers;

(vi) employment and training agencies;

(vii) insurance companies and agents;

(viii) local workforce centers; and

(ix) educational institutions, including vocational institutions and jobs or skills training programs.

Subd. 5. Participant eligibility.

(a) To be eligible to receive program services, a person must:

(1) have a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level;

(2) be at least 18 years of age;

(3) have a valid driver's license;

(4) provide the grantee with proof of motor vehicle insurance; and

(5) demonstrate to the grantee that a motor vehicle is required by the person to obtain or maintain employment.

(b) This subdivision does not preclude a grantee from imposing additional requirements, not inconsistent with paragraph (a), for the receipt of program services.

Subd. 6. Report to legislature.

By January 15, 2026, and each January 15 in an even-numbered year thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report to the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over workforce and economic development on program outcomes. At a minimum, the report must include:

(1) the total number of program participants;

(2) the number of program participants who received each of the following:

(i) provision of a motor vehicle;

(ii) motor vehicle repair services; and

(iii) motor vehicle loans;

(3) the number of program participants who report that they or their children were able to increase their participation in community activities such as after school programs, other youth programs, church or civic groups, or library services as a result of participation in the program; and

(4) an analysis of the impact of the getting to work grant program on the employment rate and wages of program participants.

History:

2023 c 53 art 15 s 3

Minn. Stat. § 169.51

169.51 .

Subd. 3. Eligibility.

Counties, cities, towns, the State Patrol, and local law enforcement agencies, including law enforcement agencies of a federally recognized Tribe, as defined in United States Code, title 25, section 5304(e), are eligible to apply for grants under this section.

Subd. 4. Application.

(a) The commissioner of public safety must develop application materials and procedures for the Lights On grant program.

(b) The application must describe the type or types of intended vouchers, the amount of money requested, and any other information deemed necessary by the commissioner.

(d) Applicants must describe how grant money will be used to provide and distribute vouchers to drivers.

Subd. 5. Use of grant award.

(a) Applicants must keep records of vouchers distributed and records of all expenses associated with awarded grant money.

(b) Applicants must not use awarded grant money for administrative costs. A nonstate organization that contracts with the commissioner to operate the program must not retain any of the grant money for administrative costs.

Subd. 6. Vouchers.

(a) An applicant must not distribute more than one voucher per motor vehicle in a 90-day period.

(b) A voucher that is distributed to a driver must contain the following information:

(1) the motor vehicle license plate number;

(2) the date of issuance; and

(3) the badge number of the peace officer distributing the voucher.

Subd. 7. Grant criteria.

Preference for grant awards must be given to applicants whose proposals provide resources and vouchers to individuals residing in geographic areas that (1) have higher crash rates or higher numbers of tickets issued for broken or malfunctioning lighting equipment, or (2) are high poverty areas.

Subd. 8. Reporting.

(a) By February 1 each year, grant recipients must submit a report to the commissioner itemizing all expenditures made using grant money during the previous calendar year, the purpose of each expenditure, and the disposition of each contact made with drivers with malfunctioning or broken lighting equipment. The report must be in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.

(b) By March 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. The report must list, for the previous calendar year:

(1) the participating grant recipients and the total number and dollar amount of vouchers that each grant recipient distributed; and

(2) the participating auto repair shops and the total number and dollar amount of vouchers that each received.

Grant recipients and any program organization contracted by the commissioner must provide information as requested by the commissioner to complete the report required under this paragraph.

History:

2024 c 127 art 3 s 60

Minn. Stat. § 169.515

169.515 LIGHTS ON GRANT PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1. Definition.

For purposes of this section, "high poverty area" means a census tract as reported in the most recently completed decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census that has a poverty area rate of at least 20 percent or in which the median family income does not exceed 80 percent of the greater of the statewide or metropolitan median family income.

Subd. 2. Grant program established.

The Lights On grant program is established under this section to provide drivers on Minnesota roads with vouchers of up to $250 to use at participating auto repair shops to repair or replace broken or malfunctioning lighting equipment required under sections

Minn. Stat. § 297A.64

297A.64 . The commissioner shall estimate the amount of sales tax revenue deposited under this paragraph based on the amount of revenue deposited under paragraph (d).

(g) Each month the commissioner must deposit an amount equal to the estimated revenues derived from the taxes imposed under section 297A.62, subdivision 1 , on the sale and purchase of motor vehicle repair and replacement parts in the state treasury and credit:

(1) a percentage to the highway user tax distribution fund as follows:

(i) 43.5 percent in each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025;

(ii) 43 percent in fiscal year 2026;

(iii) 41 percent in fiscal year 2027;

(iv) 36 percent in fiscal year 2028;

(v) 30 percent in fiscal year 2029;

(vi) 36 percent in each of fiscal years 2030 to 2034;

(vii) 38.5 percent in fiscal year 2035;

(viii) 41 percent in fiscal year 2036; and

(ix) 43.5 percent in fiscal year 2037 and thereafter;

(2) a percentage to the transportation advancement account under section

Minn. Stat. § 297B.01

297B.01 .

"Motor vehicle repair materials" means items, other than motor vehicle repair paint or motor vehicle parts, that become a part of a repaired motor vehicle or are consumed in repairing the motor vehicle at retail, and include abrasives, battery water, body filler or putty, bolts and nuts, brake fluid, buffing pads, chamois, cleaning compounds, degreasing compounds, glaze, grease, grinding discs, hydraulic jack oil, lubricants, masking tape, oxygen and acetylene, polishes, rags, razor blades, sandpaper, sanding discs, scuff pads, sealer, solder, solvents, striping tape, tack cloth, thinner, waxes, and welding rods. Motor vehicle repair materials do not include items that are not used directly on the motor vehicle, such as floor dry that is used to clean the shop, or cleaning compounds and rags that are used to clean tools, equipment, or the shop and are not used to clean the motor vehicle.

Subd. 50. Digital audio works.

"Digital audio works" means works that result from a fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds, that are transferred electronically. Digital audio works includes such items as the following which may either be prerecorded or live: songs, music, readings of books or other written materials, speeches, ring tones, or other sound recordings. Digital audio works does not include audio greeting cards sent by electronic mail. Unless the context provides otherwise, in this chapter digital audio works includes the digital code, or a subscription to or access to a digital code, for receiving, accessing, or otherwise obtaining digital audio works.

Subd. 51. Digital audiovisual works.

"Digital audiovisual works" means a series of related images which, when shown in succession, impart an impression of motion, together with accompanying sounds, if any, that are transferred electronically. Digital audiovisual works includes such items as motion pictures, movies, musical videos, news and entertainment, and live events. Digital audiovisual works does not include video greeting cards sent by electronic mail. Unless the context provides otherwise, in this chapter digital audiovisual works includes the digital code, or a subscription to or access to a digital code, for receiving, accessing, or otherwise obtaining digital audiovisual works.

Subd. 52. Digital books.

"Digital books" means any literary works, other than digital audiovisual works or digital audio works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia so long as the product is generally recognized in the ordinary and usual sense as a "book." It includes works of fiction and nonfiction and short stories. It does not include periodicals, magazines, newspapers, or other news or information products, chat rooms, or weblogs. Unless the context provides otherwise, in this chapter digital books includes the digital code, or a subscription to or access to a digital code, for receiving, accessing, or otherwise obtaining digital books.

Subd. 53. Digital code.

"Digital code" means a code which provides a purchaser with a right to obtain one or more specified digital products or other digital products. A digital code may be transferred electronically, such as through electronic mail, or it may be transferred on a tangible medium, such as on a plastic card, a piece of paper or invoice, or imprinted on another product. A digital code is not a code that represents a stored monetary value that is deducted from a total as it is used by the purchaser, and it is not a code that represents a redeemable card, gift card, or gift certificate that entitles the holder to select a digital product of an indicated cash value. The end user of a digital code is any purchaser except one who receives the contractual right to redistribute a digital product which is the subject of the transaction.

Subd. 54. Other digital products.

"Other digital products" means the following items when transferred electronically:

(1) greeting cards; and

(2) online video or electronic games.

Subd. 55. Specified digital products.

"Specified digital products" means digital audio works, digital audiovisual works, and digital books that are transferred electronically to a customer.

Subd. 56. Transferred electronically.

"Transferred electronically" means obtained by the purchaser by means other than tangible storage media. For purposes of this subdivision, it is not necessary that a copy of the product be physically transferred to the purchaser. A product will be considered to have been transferred electronically to a purchaser if the purchaser has access to the product.

Subd. 57.

[Repealed, 2014 c 150 art 2 s 5 ]

Subd. 58. Real property.

(a) "Real property" includes:

(1) the land itself;

(2) buildings and structures constructed or erected on the land and intended to be permanent; and

(3) improvements and fixtures if incorporated into and intended to be of a permanent benefit to a building or structure given its present use, and that cannot be removed without causing substantial damage to the building or structure.

(b) Real property does not include tools, implements, machinery, and equipment attached or installed into real property for use in the business or production activity conducted thereon, that qualify for exemption under section

Minn. Stat. § 72B.091

72B.091 DAMAGE APPRAISALS; ADJUSTMENTS; DUTIES OF APPRAISERS, ADJUSTERS, AND INSURERS.

Subdivision 1. Appraiser's identification.

Each appraiser while engaged in appraisal duties shall carry appraiser identification and shall display it upon request to an owner whose vehicle is being inspected, to the repair shop representative involved, or to any commissioner of commerce's representative.

Subd. 2. Appraisal; copies and content.

The appraiser shall provide one legible copy of the appraisal to the vehicle owner and one legible copy of the appraisal to the repair shop designated by the owner if requested by the repair shop. The motor vehicle repair shop shall provide the vehicle owner and the insurance company or companies involved in the loss one legible copy of the appraisal. This appraisal shall include an itemized listing of those parts to be repaired and those parts to be replaced by new, used, rebuilt, reconditioned or replated parts. The appraisal shall contain the name of the insurance company ordering it, if any, the insurance company's address and telephone number, its file number, the appraiser's name, telephone number, and the proper identification of the vehicle being inspected. The appraisal shall indicate all significant old and unrelated damages and shall include an itemized listing of all damages, specifying those parts to be repaired and those parts to be replaced by new, used, rebuilt, reconditioned, or replated parts. The appraisal must disclose to the vehicle owner any parts to be used, other than window glass, which are not original equipment parts or which are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty on such parts.

Subd. 3. No specified repairer.

No appraiser, adjuster, or that person's employer shall require that repairs be made in any specified repair facility.

Subd. 4. Reinspections.

Each appraiser shall promptly reinspect damaged vehicles when supplementary allowances are requested by the repair shop or when the amount or extent of damages is in dispute. Reinspection of any damage on a damaged vehicle may be waived if authorized by the insurer by any oral or written communication.

Subd. 5. Auto salvage.

No appraiser or adjuster for personal gain shall receive or trade in auto salvage if the salvage is obtained as a result of that person's appraisals.

History:

1980 c 456 s 2 ; 1983 c 289 s 114 subd 1; 1984 c 655 art 1 s 92 ; 1986 c 444 ; 1987 c 64 s 2

Minn. Stat. § 72B.092

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:

(1) limit the freedom of an insured or claimant to choose the shop;

(2) 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;

(3) 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;

(4) 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;

(5) adjust a damage appraisal of a repair shop when the extent of damage is in dispute without conducting a physical inspection of the vehicle;

(6) specify the use of a particular vendor for the procurement of parts or other materials necessary for the satisfactory repair of the vehicle. This clause does not require the insurer to pay more than a reasonable market price for parts of like kind and quality in adjusting a claim; or

(7) unilaterally and arbitrarily disregard a repair operation or cost identified by an estimating system, which an insurer and collision repair facility have agreed to utilize in determining the cost of repair.

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 ; 2007 c 80 s 1 ; 2008 c 284 s 1

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)