The Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act was originally introduced in 2001 with the intent to provide equal access to automotive repair information. The auto manufacturers reached an agreement with independent auto service businesses represented by Automotive Service Association to make all service, training and diagnostic tool information available on the Internet. This commitment by the manufacturers was met and remains in place today. Additionally, automakers are working with members of the service industry through the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) to resolve any problems involving motor vehicle repair.

The current Right to Repair legislation was drafted, and fully-funded, by aftermarket parts distributors and large service chains, such as NAPA, Auto Zone and Jiffy Lube. Their goal is to gain access to automobile manufacturer’s intellectual property for the purpose of the production and sale of aftermarket parts without the expense of research and design.

Proponents will have you believe that this legislation is backed by small independent repair shops, unable to get access to the tools and information necessary to diagnose and fix cars. This is simply not the case. Independent shops have access to all the same information and tools that dealers receive. Currently, over 75% of post warranty vehicle repairs are performed by independent repair shops.

The History

In 2000, auto manufacturers partnered with the trade association for independent repairers (Automotive Service Association) to create a task force that would ensure the availability and accessibility of all necessary service information, training, diagnostic tools and equipment for all automotive repairers. That organization, the National Automobile Service Task Force (NASTF), has created and maintained an internet-based system that includes links to every automaker’s service information website with contact information. Since its development, of the hundreds of millions of repairs made, there has been a complaint rate of less than .01%. THIS LEGISLATION IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

The Truth

• Unnecessarily and unfairly expose the auto manufacturer’s intellectual property regarding parts design and vehicle operating systems.
• Make vehicle security systems publicly available, including key codes and engine immobilizer override information- an action that will undoubtedly increase the occurrence of auto thefts.
• Create a new federal bureaucracy that would greatly increase government involvement in the repair industry unnecessarily
• Give independent auto repair shops the same information that has already been available to them for years.