Higher Level of Satisfaction With Independent Repair Shops Than Dealerships

'Right to Repair' Legislation Protects Consumers' Rights through Equal Access to Repair Information

BETHESDA, Md., April 22 - According to the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, more Americans (71 percent) are very satisfied with independent repair shops for vehicle service than new car dealers (53 percent). To ensure that car owners can continue to choose who will repair their vehicles, Congress introduced the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694).

"As evidenced by the Consumer Reports study, millions of car owners trust the independent repair shops to provide affordable and competitive automotive repair service," said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). "It is important that these neighborhood repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the new car dealer network. If motorists are forced back to the dealer for service and repairs, particularly if there is no dealership in their area, consumer choice will be severely compromised, and convenient and affordable auto repair will become a thing of the past."

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information from the car companies. The legislative intent of the Right to Repair Act is to offer protections for motor vehicle owners by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles.

"The fact is that there aren't enough dealerships in all the right places to keep every motor vehicle serviced, repaired and operating safely," continued Schmatz. "Passage of the Right to Repair Act will level the competitive playing field, ensuring that car owners can conveniently and affordably have their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice, whether it's their neighborhood repair shop or a franchised new car dealer."

About Right to Repair:

The Right to Repair Act, which was introduced by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide their to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers. The bill clarifies the responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission in enforcing the bill's requirements. For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org.