American drivers deserve the right to repair their vehicles. They should have access to all the tools and data needed to do the job, whether they fix it themselves or use a trusted independent repair shop.
Lawmakers around the country have recognized this and acted on it. Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved a 2020 ballot initiative that reaffirmed the right for vehicle owners and independent auto repair shops to obtain unobstructed access to crucial vehicle repair data generated by the owner’s car, truck, or motorcycle.
Automakers challenged the law. They want to steer vehicle owners to their affiliated dealerships for repairs, where prices are usually higher. The good news is, on February 11, a federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed a lawsuit against the state’s right to repair law, handing a win to consumers.
Vehicles on America’s roadways generate a vast quantity of user data, including repair and maintenance information. That data is automatically sent back to the manufacturer, allowing them full access to and ownership of diagnostic information that is essential for maintenance. Under current industry practices, vehicle owners and independent repair shops often face barriers in obtaining this data, limiting competition and consumer choice in the repair industry.
The Massachusetts law is important. American consumers deserve to have full control over their vehicle repair data to ensure they can find the best service at a reasonable price. However, the current state-by-state model is insufficient, and it is time for Congress to step up to protect consumer choice nationwide.
Since its introduction, more than 60 members of Congress have co-sponsored my bill, the REPAIR Act, which would put vehicle owners back in the driver’s seat and reduce repair costs by allowing them to choose their preferred vehicle service center. Supporters of the REPAIR Act include a powerful collection of automotive groups, including the Auto Care Association, Consumer Access to Repair (CAR) Coalition, which includes Allstate, AutoZone, LKQ, Tires Pros; the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, the American Motorcyclist Association, Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network, and more.
Considering such widespread support from a diverse array of key stakeholders, it is safe to say there is broad interest in improving the current state of American automotive repair. A 2023 YouGov national survey showed that 93 percent of vehicle owners want to choose who repairs their vehicle, and 75 percent favor the creation of a national vehicle right to repair law like the REPAIR Act.
On July 11, 2023, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a coalition of vehicle manufacturers, including General Motors, Stellantis (Jeep, Fiat, Chrysler), Toyota, and Ford, released a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between vehicle manufacturers and two automotive repair industry groups, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). In a letter to Congress, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation asserted that this agreement “affirms that consumers deserve access to safe and proper repairs” while assuring Congress that “independent repairers and automakers are not at odds on automotive data access, but rather in lockstep on this fundamental principle: consumers should have choice when it comes to repair options.” However, the agreement failed to acknowledge that most groups representing the aftermarket repair industry were left out of this MOU and are unsatisfied with the right to repair status quo.
This letter omits that the MOU signatories represent a mere fraction of the independent repair shops nationwide. According to its own website, the ASA lists 1,056 repair shops as its members, whereas there are more than 268,000 nationwide. The groups supporting the REPAIR Act represent the vast majority of these shops and have refused to join the MOU because 4.9 million American workers are unwilling to stake their futures and their families’ well-being on a handshake deal.
I introduced the REPAIR Act to put the force of law behind this consumer-friendly initiative and provide a solution to anti-competitive behavior in the auto repair industry. This legislation enjoys support from more than 557,000 businesses nationwide, providing maintenance and repair for the 295 million registered vehicles on American roadways.
The MOU released by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and current regulations fail to protect American consumers and make it difficult for independent auto repair shops to do business. American consumers deserve to have options when selecting their vehicle service center, and independent auto repair shops deserve access to vehicle repair and maintenance data to make accurate and timely repairs.
Your vehicle belongs to you, not the automaker. It is unacceptable for vehicle manufacturers to put up roadblocks for vehicle owners looking to make routine maintenance to their vehicles and exert autonomy over their possessions and personal data. The REPAIR Act is an important step toward empowering American consumers and reaffirming the principle of fair competition as indispensable in the American marketplace.
Dr. Neal Dunn represents the 2nd District of Florida, which includes all or part of 19 counties in North Florida. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
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