Leif Christopher Hansen (b.1957) is the founder and owner of a chain of auto body shops, Leif's Auto Collision Centers.[1]
Hansen was born in Bellingham, Washington and raised in Oahu, Hawaii. He moved to Portland with his family in 1990 and bought his first auto body shop in 1991, running it as a one-man shop. Leif currently operates 9 locations in Oregon and SW Washington. His company recently opened its first fuel station in Newberg, Oregon and has plans to open 32 more in the next 3 years.
Hansen is known for his self-narrated advertisements, where he promises first-rate service, unencumbered by price fixing agreements with the insurance industry.
In recent years, Hansen has gone directly to Oregon Legislature to protect consumers from illegal steering practices. In 2005 Hansen founded a consumer-focused political action committee, Oregonians for Safe Auto Repair (OSAR) to push for legislative changes. In June 2007, OSAR was successful in passing Oregon Senate Bill 523-A. On June 20, 2007 Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, signed the bill. On January 1. 2008, Senate Bill 523-A will officially become Oregon law. [1] The law requires insurance companies to inform consumers that they have the legal right to choose where their vehicle is repaired. Under the law, insurance companies must inform consumers of their rights prior to making a recommendation for a repair provider. The law also prevents insurance companies from limiting reimbursement when consumers choose a repair provider without a referral from the insurance company.[2] The law gained the support of Oregon's Attorney General, the State's Consumer Fraud Protection Department and The Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. OSAR members are planning future legislative efforts in 2008 and 2009 in an effort to combat industry-wide anti-steering practices on the part of many auto insurance providers doing business in Oregon.