Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Neal Dunn (Florida-02) introduced the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act or the “REPAIR Act,” a bill that would ensure vehicle owners have access to important repair and diagnostic data needed for auto repairs. Currently, automakers are restricting vehicle owners and automotive repair shops from accessing repair data and tools, resulting in higher repair costs, fewer service options, and longer wait times for vehicle maintenance. The REPAIR Act would affirm that this data belongs to the vehicle’s owner, not the manufacturer.

“American consumers deserve full control over their vehicle repair and maintenance data to ensure they can find the best service for their vehicle at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, vehicle manufacturers are standing in the way of American consumers accessing their own data to use the repair shop of their choosing, limiting consumer choice,” said Congressman Dunn. “For far too long, manufacturers have championed anti-competitive practices by withholding crucial maintenance information, squeezing their customers and independent repair shops.

“Your vehicle belongs to you, not the manufacturer. I am introducing the REPAIR Act to provide a binding, workable solution to anti-competitive behavior in the auto repair industry to reaffirm consumer control over their vehicle maintenance data and empower them to work with repair shops big and small.”

"Americans are tired of lip service about lowering prices or respecting the trades. We want to be able to fix our own stuff and to be stewards of our stuff and not reliant on a stream of cheap disposable crap. But auto manufacturers have made it increasingly difficult to have real agency," said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. "It’s time for Congress to listen to ordinary Americans and pass right to repair legislation."

“We sincerely thank Dr. Dunn for his leadership in tackling this existential threat to consumers and standing up for the rights of vehicle owners and vital businesses,” said Bill Hanvey, President and CEO of the Auto Care Association. “The REPAIR Act gained significant support and momentum in the previous Congress, demonstrating the broad, bipartisan recognition of the need to protect consumers’ right to repair their vehicles. Lawmakers, industry leaders, and everyday drivers understand that fair access to vehicle repair data is essential for competition, affordability, and consumer choice. With its reintroduction, we have an even greater opportunity to get this critical legislation across the finish line.”

“Americans want a car repair market that guarantees choice and protects accessible, affordable, and safe vehicle repairs,” said Justin Rzepka, Executive Director of the CAR Coalition. “We commend Rep. Neal Dunn and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez for their leadership in upholding consumer rights and promoting a free and fair car repair market. Today’s reintroduction of the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act marks an important step forward in limiting unfair repair restrictions and empowering consumers to fix their vehicles on their own terms.”

"NFIB is excited to work with and support Rep. Dunn on this important legislation. The REPAIR Act is a much-needed piece of bipartisan legislation to increase competition in the automotive repair industry,” said Andrea McGee, Principal of Federal Government Relations at NFIB. “Almost 90 percent of NFIB members support right to repair, making it one of NFIB's top ten priorities. NFIB thanks Rep. Dunn for his tireless work on this issue that impacts so many small businesses across all industries.”

"MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers thanks Congressman Dunn for reintroducing the REPAIR Act. This bill is a critical step toward protecting consumer choice, competition, and innovation in the automotive aftermarket. Ensuring fair access in a cybersecure way to critical repair and maintenance data allows aftermarket manufacturers to continue innovating and providing high-quality, affordable parts to consumers. Without this access, competition is stifled, costs will rise, and consumer choice will be diminished. MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers strongly supports this legislation to protect a vibrant and competitive aftermarket that benefits drivers, repairers, and manufacturers alike,” said Paul McCarthy, President of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.

“PAMA's member companies and independent automotive maintenance shops around the country play a vital role, ensuring that consumers have access to timely and cost-effective repair options for their automobiles,” said Justin Cialella, former PAMA President and Chair of the Government Affairs Committee. “We commend and applaud Congressman Dunn for his leadership on the REPAIR Act, a critical milestone in our industry's effort to protect consumers rights, preserve a fair marketplace with regard to vehicle telematics, and combat deceptive marketing practices."

Background:

• On February 11^th, a federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed a lawsuit from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation against the state’s Right to Repair law, which passed by a state ballot with 74.97% of the vote. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation represents a significant portion of vehicle manufacturers selling cars in the United States.

• Vehicle Manufacturers resisted the Massachusetts ballot measure through another group, the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, which raised over $26.4 million to campaign against the initiative. Top donors to the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data include General Motors, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Ford Motor Company, and American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

• On July 11^th, 2023, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation released a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between vehicle manufacturers and two automotive repair industry groups, the Automotive Service Association and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, claiming to have reached an agreement to share crucial diagnostic information.

• It is notable that the MOU omits the size and scope of the membership of the two groups named in the agreement. The vast majority of groups representing independent aftermarket repair businesses oppose the MOU, including the Auto Care Association, Consumer Access to Repair (CAR) Coalition, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and the Preventative Automotive Maintenance Association (PAMA).