Minnesota Statutes

Minn. Stat. § 65B.15 (2026)

Cancellation Or Reduction In Limits During Policy Period

✓ current as of May 2026

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Subdivision 1.Grounds and notice.

No cancellation or reduction in the limits of liability of coverage during the policy period of any policy shall be effective unless notice thereof is given and unless based on one or more reasons stated in the policy which shall be limited to the following:

1. nonpayment of premium; or

2. the policy was obtained through a material misrepresentation; or

3. any insured made a false or fraudulent claim or knowingly aided or abetted another in the presentation of such a claim; or

4. the named insured failed to disclose fully motor vehicle accidents and moving traffic violations of the named insured for the preceding 36 months if called for in the written application; or

5. the named insured failed to disclose in the written application any requested information necessary for the acceptance or proper rating of the risk; or

6. the named insured knowingly failed to give any required written notice of loss or notice of lawsuit commenced against the named insured, or, when requested, refused to cooperate in the investigation of a claim or defense of a lawsuit; or

7. the named insured or any other operator who either resides in the same household, or customarily operates an automobile insured under such policy, unless the other operator is identified as a named insured in another policy as an insured:

(a) has, within the 36 months prior to the notice of cancellation, had that person's driver's license under suspension or revocation because the person committed a moving traffic violation or because the person refused to be tested under section 169A.20, subdivision 1; or

(b) is or becomes subject to epilepsy or heart attacks, and such individual does not produce a written opinion from a physician testifying to that person's medical ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, such opinion to be based upon a reasonable medical probability; or

(c) has an accident record, conviction record (criminal or traffic), physical condition or mental condition, any one or all of which are such that the person's operation of an automobile might endanger the public safety; or

(d) has been convicted, or forfeited bail, during the 24 months immediately preceding the notice of cancellation for criminal negligence in the use or operation of an automobile, or assault arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle, or operating a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition or while under the influence of drugs; or leaving the scene of an accident without stopping to report; or making false statements in an application for a driver's license, or theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle; or

(e) has been convicted of, or forfeited bail for, one or more violations within the 18 months immediately preceding the notice of cancellation, of any law, ordinance, or rule which justify a revocation of a driver's license; or

8. the insured automobile is:

(a) so mechanically defective that its operation might endanger public safety; or

(b) used in carrying passengers for hire or compensation, provided however that the use of an automobile for a car pool or a private passenger vehicle used by a volunteer driver, as defined under section 65B.472, subdivision 1, paragraph (h), shall not be considered use of an automobile for hire or compensation; or

(d) an authorized emergency vehicle; or

(e) subject to an inspection law and has not been inspected or, if inspected, has failed to qualify within the period specified under such inspection law; or

(f) substantially changed in type or condition during the policy period, increasing the risk substantially, such as conversion to a commercial type vehicle, a dragster, sports car or so as to give clear evidence of a use other than the original use.

Subd. 2.Nonapplication.

This section shall not apply to any policy of automobile liability insurance which has been in effect less than 60 days at the time notice of cancellation is mailed or delivered by the insurer unless it is a renewal policy.

Subd. 3.

[Repealed, 1984 c 592 s 94]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases, 1977–2016 · leading case: Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Neuman, 338 N.W.2d 37 (Minn. 1983).

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Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Neuman, 338 N.W.2d 37 (Minn. 1983). · cites it 38× “I concur in the court's opinion that the policy period for a policy of automobile insurance issued for a term of less than 6 months is 6 months and that cancellation under Minn.Stat. § 65B.15 (1982) is required to terminate coverage within the 6-month term.”

Frey v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 743 N.W.2d 337 (Minn. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 20× “See Minn.Stat. § 65B.15 (2006). But section 65B.”

Milbank Mut. Ins. Co. v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 332 N.W.2d 160 (Minn. 1983). · cites it 2× “463 (current version at Minn.Stat. § 65B.15 (1982)). In 1974 the legislature enacted the Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act, Minn.”

Rieschl v. Travelers Ins. Co., 313 N.W.2d 615 (Minn. 1981). · cites it 4× “1 (1980), which provides in part as follows: No cancellation or reduction in the limits of liability of coverage during the policy period of any policy shall be effective unless notice thereof is given and unless based on one or more reasons stated in the policy which shall be…”

Evans v. Gov't Employees Ins. Co., 257 N.W.2d 689 (Minn. 1977). · cites it 2× “In this respect, it differs from § 65B.15, subd. 1, which provides that “[n]o cancellation * * * shall be effective unless notice thereof is given and unless based on one or more reasons stated in the policy which shall be limited to the following * * See, also, Minn.”

Royal Ins. Co. v. W. Cas. Ins. Co., 444 N.W.2d 846 (Minn. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “Minn.Stat. § 65B.15, subd. 1(1) (1982). If a policy has a term of less than six months, notice of cancellation must be given to terminate the policy.”

Am. Fam. Ins. Grp. v. Howe, 584 F. Supp. 369 (D.S.D. 1984). “automobiles based upon race or physical handicap; (3) Minn.Stat. 65B.15 (1982)— placed limitations on the ability of insurers to cancel or reduce policy limits during the policy period; (4) Minn.”

Ophus v. Tri-State Ins. Co. of Minnesota, 392 N.W.2d 653 (Minn. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “In this respect, it differs from Section 65B.15, subd. 1, which provides that ‘[n]o cancellation * * * shall be effective unless notice thereof is given and unless based on one or more reasons stated in the policy which shall be limited to the following * * V See also, Minn.”

Jorgensen v. Knutson, 643 N.W.2d 615 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “The statute governing cancellation provides: No notice of cancellation * * * of an automobile insurance policy under section 65B.15 shall be effective unless * * * the notice is mailed or delivered by the insurer to the named insured[.”

In Re Sentry Ins. Payback Prog. Filing, 447 N.W.2d 454 (Minn. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 4× “Minn. Stat. § 65B.15, subd. 1(6). The Department also offered testimony that in most other policies, there are no negative consequences to filing claims below $300 or $500; it is only when claims above this amount are filed that the insured’s premium will be increased…”

Robert P. Lindstrom v. Progressive Direct Ins. Co. (Minn. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “Minn. Stat. § 65B.15, subd. 1 (2014). For cancellation based on nonpayment of premium to be effective, the insurer must give ten- days’ notice and specify the reason for cancellation.”

Pierce v. MSI Ins. Co., 406 N.W.2d 328 (Minn. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “Minn.Stat. § 65B.15, subd. 1 (1986) provides: No cancellation or reduction in the limits of liability of coverage during the policy period of any policy shall be effective unless notice thereof is given and unless based on one or more [of the following reasons:] 1.”

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