New National Survey Drives Home Need for Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act

Vehicle Owners and Shops Want Auto Repair Information

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A nationwide survey of randomly chosen car owners and independent repair shops illustrates a strong desire for Congress to act quickly and pass "The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."

A survey of 800 consumers and an additional 800 independent repair shops concluded that 82 percent of the car owners favor The Right to Repair Act, with 65 percent "strongly" favoring its passage. And, an overwhelming 94 percent of decision-makers at independent repair shops favor passage of the bill.

"The support for passage of The Right to Repair Act crosses all demographic lines, making this legislation an important consumer bill," said Ray Pohlman, president, The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).

The poll, conducted by the bi-partisan combination of The Tarrance Group and Lake Research Partners, showed 81 percent of 18 to 34 year old vehicle owners strongly favor the legislation, while seniors strongly favored the bill by 72 percent. In addition, the survey shows The Right to Repair Act crosses party lines, showing strong support among proclaimed Republicans, Democrats and Independents. The breakdown among party affiliation was almost equal, with 81 percent of Republicans, 85 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of Independents supporting passage.

The Right to Repair Act crosses all economic segments from those with household incomes of less than $40,000 (79 percent) to those with more than $90,000 (88 percent), and from those whose oldest vehicle is less than four years old (82 percent) and those whose oldest vehicle is more than 10 years old (80 percent).

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act allows motoring consumers to choose where, how and by whom to have their vehicles repaired, whose parts they wish to purchase, even work on their vehicles themselves.

Vehicles that are 1994 and newer (and some earlier models) are equipped with computers that control most of the vehicles' vital systems, from brakes to tire pressure. Car companies have locked car owners and independent repair shops out of their repair information in order to monopolize vehicle repairs, costing consumers more money, inconvenience and jeopardizing their safety.

Among the independent repair shops, 72 percent said they had to turn away work because of a lack of needed information or tools, while 90 percent reported losing productive time every month, including those losing more than 10 hours a month. A majority, 59 percent, take at least one car per month to a new car dealership themselves to have the repairs, while 69 percent reported having problems getting access to needed information and equipment to perform the repairs.

"This is a growing problem for car owners, especially for those whose vehicles are now coming out of warranty, and for independent repair shops, as more computerized vehicles come off of the assembly lines," said Aaron Lowe, vice president of Government Affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

According to the survey, 80 percent of repairers are forced to use "back door" channels or friends at new car dealerships, in order to access repair information, and 78 percent reported that they must often tell car owners to return to a new car dealership for repairs.

"This situation is unacceptable for the automotive aftermarket industry which employs five million people in 495,000 locations across the country. Now, more than ever before during these challenging economic times, car owners depend on independent repair shops to provide affordable, convenient and effective repairs for their vehicles. Congress must take action to ensure that the vehicle owners and not the car companies have the right to decide where their vehicle is repaired," said Lowe.

"Our repairers are not asking for proprietary information or blue prints, just the information that allows them to complete a repair job and not have to turn business away."

"In this bill, we are asking for the ability to continue to service those motoring consumers who choose to come to the automotive aftermarket for affordable repairs and service. It's time to put consumers back in the drivers' seats," concluded Pohlman.

Link to poll: http://www.righttorepair.org/downloads/docs/poll030309.pdf