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Are All Motor Vehicles the Same Under Minnesota No-Fault Law?

Posted by: euser
December 22, 2006
Topic: Minnesota No-Fault

In a word, no. Minn. Stat. § 65B.43, Subd. 2 provides the following definition of "motor vehicle":

"Motor vehicle" means every vehicle, other than a motorcycle or other vehicle with fewer than four wheels, which (a) is required to be registered pursuant to chapter 168, and (b) is designed to be self-propelled by an engine or motor for use primarily upon public roads, highways or streets in the transportation of persons or property, and includes a trailer with one or more wheels, when the trailer is connected to or being towed by a motor vehicle.

It is clear from the statute that motorcycle are not motor vehicles under the no-fault law. In addition, a motor vehicle not required to be registered in the state does not all under the no-fault law. For example, vehicles owned by the federal government and state and local vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, and clearly-marked police cars are not required to be registered under chapter 168. For a discussion, see Mutual Service Cas. Ins. Co. v. League of Minnesota Cities Ins. Trust, 659 N.W.2d 755 (Minn. 2003).

Other Minnesota cases have discussed exemptions from the no-fault law for certain vehicles such as:

Tractors (Great American Ins. Co. v. Golla, 493 N.W.2d 602 (Minn. App. 1992))

Snowplows (Anderson v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 427 N.W.2d 749 (Minn. App. 1988), Bell v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 1997 Minn. App. LEXIS 153 (Minn. App., Feb. 4, 1997)

Trailers (North River Ins. Co. v. Dairyland Ins. Co., 346 N.W.2d 109 (Minn. 1984).

Whether these or other vehicles are exempt from the no-fault law is highly dependant upon the facts of each individual case.