Automotive Right to Repair: What It Means for Auto Repair Shops

Suppose that you own a car and you are not able to fix it yourself when something goes wrong. Your reliable mechanic can never repair it. The only way you can have it running again is by going to the dealership, where you pay a hefty amount of money to get the car repaired.

This is a highly probable scenario with the more complex cars under construction and manufacturers lobbying to prevent access to information, parts, and tools that are necessary to service and repair such cars.

The cost-saving aspects of right-to-repair access are clear, as consumers would save up to 500 dollars when opting to repair their cars through an independent auto repair shop as opposed to a dealership.

In this blog, we will discuss what is right to repair and why it’s so important for car owners and auto repair shops.

What Is the Automotive Right to Repair?

We know you will agree that you must have the freedom to fix whatever you have or visit a technician of your own choice. This may be your laptop or coffee machine in your kitchen. A lot of consumers would like to have the ability to buy the products that they can upgrade throughout their lives. This is what is referred to as the right to repair.

The automotive right to repair implies that you are given the right to repair your car in your garage or that you are given a choice on where to service and repair your car.

Sounds simple, right?

Yet people are often denied the parts, tools, or information needed to do this. It is at this point that the right to repair movement comes in. Let’s take a look at it.

Background of the Right to Repair Act 

What the Right to Repair movement is making consumers worldwide doubt is that they cannot fix products that they possess. Did you ever question yourself why you have to spend on buying a new item, since the cost to repair it at the manufacturer-authorized service center was too high to meet your budget?

Planned obsolescence has also had strong opposition. This is how manufacturers artificially reduce the life cycles of their products. A high number of products are discarded in the garbage line when they can be easily repaired.

The idea for this movement originated in the United States, and it has been a decades-long struggle for advocates fighting for the rights of consumers to service and repair products that they own.

The goal of the Right to Repair movement is to:

• Provide complete technical access to all, such as manuals, software updates, support, and schematics.
• Provide equipment and tools to all.
• Give freedom to all to source and supply replacement parts
• Enable unlocking, reconfiguring, or changing a device.
• Accommodate repair in the design of all products.

The Role of the REPAIR Act in the Automotive Industry

The automotive right to repair benefits the owners of vehicles and the independent auto repair shops. The repair act provides them with equal access to tools, parts, software, and data that they need to repair vehicles.

With increasingly complex modern vehicles, important repair data is kept under the control of the automaker owners. This monopolizes and raises the cost of repair. That is why the Repair Act holds the auto companies legally and shares access to parts to repair and data to third-party service shops and consumers of cars.

The repair act has the objective of encouraging transparency and equitable access. This dismantles a possible vehicle servicing monopoly and bolsters the automotive aftermarket. Concisely, when you own a car, you must be able to fix it anywhere, anytime, at an affordable cost.

Why Right to Repair Matters for Independent Repair Shops

The greatest beneficiaries of this movement would be independent repair shops. Consumers would tend to drive their car to the best and most affordable repair shop rather than a dealership.

The right to repair laws essentially bring maintenance shops, companies, and dealerships on par. Repair shops and mechanics can buy tools, machinery, and manuals that show them how to conduct the repairs.

In the case of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Law, prior to the law, diagnostic software provided by car manufacturers was only accessible to dealerships. It is now available in repair shops as well!

The Current State of Right-to-Repair Legislation

Right to repair legislation would promote repairability practices throughout industries and make it easier for people to extend the life of the things they buy.

Massachusetts Ballot Initiative

The origin of the automotive right to repair is that in 2012, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair legislation was enacted by Massachusetts voters. This necessitated the car companies availing themselves of the documents and information required to enable any person to service a vehicle. 86% of voters overruled the car companies to enact this law.

Two years later, the auto repair industry was willing to expand the coverage to the whole country, although the bill was not passed at the federal level. This brought hope to all car owners to do cheaper repairs throughout the US.

Greater than 90 percent of autos are wirelessly sending mechanical data. This wireless telematics data was not included in that previous law simply because it was lobbied by its manufacturers. Repair advocates and pro-right-to-repair advocates feared that, as a result of repair shops, manufacturers would cease transmitting the necessary repair information to the diagnostic ports on vehicles. This would tie the car owners to relationships that are with manufacturer-approved repair shops exclusively.

These data are also now covered by this law that was expanded by Massachusetts voters in 2020. Manufacturers were now required to sell vehicles produced in 2022 and later, those that have access to internal wireless data. They will also be required to install an open-access data platform in the cars. Repair shops can receive this data and send commands to the vehicle through a smartphone application with the approval of the owner.

REPAIR Act

According to the trade group, it will be a cybersecurity threat to allow any third party to access the telematics data of the car, and the federal government alone should have the authority to decide who has access to the telematics data.

In early 2022, the REPAIR Act was introduced in Congress, and it places the data of telematics as one of the central pillars of auto repair. It enjoys the backing of AASA, Auto Care Association, CAR Coalition, and SEMA. However, there is not yet a date of a vote.

Federal vs. State-Level Legislation: What’s the Difference?

At the federal level, lawmakers are actively fighting to make the Repair Act a nationwide policy. However, this is still under debate over data privacy and intellectual property rights. 

On the other hand, state-level legislation is passed and accepted. Massachusetts and Maine have voter-backed laws that necessitate sharing vehicle data. Most other states have passed the same bill to address consumer rights and limit manufacturer control. 

Recent Developments and Legislative Updates

The 2025–2026 period shows strong momentum behind the movement, with more than 30 new right-to-repair bills introduced across multiple states and renewed congressional attention on passing a federal law, signaling a critical turning point for the automotive industry. 

How Right to Repair Benefits Auto Repair Shops

Right to repair legislation is necessary to maintain consumer choice and competitive pricing. It also ensures long-term, broad-based economic growth since it helps small businesses. But let’s closely look at the benefits to some of the stakeholders.

Access to Diagnostic Tools and Repair Data

The benefit to the car owner is the most obvious. A lot of the new cars in the market aren’t easily repairable. Diagnosis and repair become difficult if you don’t have access to complete information on these vehicle systems.

If you do have access, however, you will have the freedom to take your vehicle to a workshop of your choice that offers you a combination of the service and price that caters to your needs. You can avoid having to take your car to the auto manufacturer or a franchised car dealership. We all know how expensive and inconvenient such a trip could be.

Increased Customer Trust and Retention

When independent auto shops have full access to manufacturer-grade tools, parts, and repair data, they provide faster and cost-effective services. This attracts customers to visit their shops rather than going to costly dealerships. 

Fair pricing and high-quality services increase customer trust. They are more likely to return to the same shop for future fixes and repairs. Also, recommend and leave positive reviews that increase repeat business. 

Leveling the Playing Field with Dealerships

The right to repair legislation obliges manufacturers to make spare parts available to car owners and third parties. They can no longer refuse to make them available to anyone but their dealer’s repair shops. Besides auto repair shops, this also means that parts suppliers can easily source and supply replacement parts. Regulation forces manufacturers to make the aftermarket parts available at reasonable prices to all.

Challenges and Barriers to Right to Repair

1. Manufacturer Resistance and Data Restrictions

There is a strong resistance from manufacturers. Modern vehicles rely on software and wireless data transmissions. This allows automakers to restrict access to diagnostic information and route it directly to their networks. This creates barriers for independent repair shops that are unable to get the necessary parts and manuals to perform repairs. 

84% of independent repair shops say access to vehicle data is their #1 business challenge, showing how critical right-to-repair laws are for fair competition.

Also, manufacturers use proprietary software locks, parts pairing, and limited distribution to control after-sales service. They do this to protect intellectual property, but it is argued that these are profit-making strategies that restrict competition. 

2. Cybersecurity and Privacy Concerns

Automakers claim that sharing access to vehicle software and systems increases the chances of hacking and data breaches that could compromise driver safety. Sometimes, independent mechanics unintentionally disable safety features or mishandle data that can pose cybersecurity risks. 

3. The Cost of Compliance for Independent Shops

While right-to-repair laws aim to empower independent garages, they also introduce financial and operational challenges, particularly related to compliance costs. Modern vehicles require advanced diagnostic tools, specialized training, and subscription-based software access, all of which can be expensive for smaller repair businesses to adopt and maintain.

In many cases, independent shops must invest heavily in new technologies just to stay competitive with dealership service centers, creating a significant barrier to entry and growth.

How Auto Repair Shops Can Adapt to Right-to-Repair Laws

Staying Informed About Legislative Changes

Auto shops are at an advantage to remain updated on industry blogs, trade associations, and policy developments. This is because right-to-repair laws are constantly changing, and missing information can make you noncompliant. Staying informed on the right to repair framework and its terms is essential for independent shop owners to understand their rights and how to access it. 

Investing in Training and Technology

Having access to dealership-level tools isn’t enough. Knowing how to use these resources is important. This requires skilled technicians with up-to-date technology and training. 

Many modern repairs, especially for electric vehicles, hybrids, and ADAS systems, require specialized knowledge and software integration. This makes continuous education a necessity rather than an option. Shops that invest in technician certifications, digital diagnostics, and subscription-based repair platforms can deliver faster, more accurate services, positioning themselves as credible alternatives to dealerships.

Advocating for Fair Access to Repair Data and Tools

Auto repair shops must actively advocate for fair and equal access to repair data, tools, and software, as this remains a central issue in the right-to-repair movement. By participating in trade associations, supporting right-to-repair initiatives, and voicing concerns to policymakers, repair businesses can help shape a more balanced ecosystem.

Closing thoughts 

The right to repair goes well beyond cars. An automotive right to repair law can shine a light on the importance of access to software and wireless data to service, repair, and upgrade products in a world where everything is like a mini computer.

AutoLeap is a strong proponent of the Right to Repair movement. After all, it is our mission to help auto repair shops across North America transform and grow.