The REPAIR Act mandates that automakers provide independent mechanics and consumers with fair access to vehicle data, tools, and parts to ensure competitive and accessible auto repair options.
Ben Luján
Senator
NM
The REPAIR Act aims to ensure consumers and independent mechanics have fair access to the necessary vehicle data, tools, and parts required to service modern vehicles. This legislation prevents manufacturers from creating technological or contractual barriers that restrict competition in the automotive repair market. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with enforcing these new standards and creating rules to protect consumer data rights. Ultimately, the bill promotes consumer choice and fosters a competitive environment for vehicle maintenance and repair services.
REPAIR Act Mandates Car Data Access for Owners and Mechanics, Kicks Off in 180 Days
The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act—or the REPAIR Act—is designed to make sure that once you buy or lease a car, you, the owner, and your independent mechanic have the same access to diagnostic data, tools, and parts as the dealership does. This bill is a massive push for consumer choice and competition in the increasingly complex world of vehicle repair, with key provisions kicking in 180 days after enactment.
The End of Repair Lockouts
This bill directly addresses the growing problem of manufacturers locking down vehicle data and software. Under Section 4, manufacturers are prohibited from creating technological or contractual roadblocks that prevent independent shops from getting your car back on the road. This means they can’t stop you from accessing your vehicle’s data, using an independent tow service, or using compatible parts made by someone other than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For the average person, this means you should no longer hear, “Sorry, only the dealership can fix that specific sensor or reset that light.”
Crucially, the bill also tackles software sabotage. Manufacturers are forbidden from pushing out a software update that intentionally disables a compatible aftermarket part. If you installed a perfectly good, non-OEM replacement part, the manufacturer can’t use a remote update to brick it just to force you back to the dealership. This provision protects the investment you make in alternative parts and ensures that innovation outside the OEM ecosystem can thrive.
Your Data, Your Mechanic
Modern cars generate massive amounts of data, often transmitted wirelessly through telematics systems. Section 4 mandates that manufacturers must give the owner full access to that vehicle-generated data. If your car is sending diagnostic or performance data wirelessly to the manufacturer, they must provide that exact same data to you, the owner, or any mechanic you designate. This access must be provided at a cost that is “fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory.”
Think about it this way: If your car throws a complicated error code, your trusted local mechanic needs the same real-time data stream the dealership gets to diagnose it quickly and accurately. This provision levels the playing field, giving independent shops the digital intelligence they need to compete. Manufacturers must also sell all critical repair information, tools, and parts—the same ones they give their dealers—to independent shops and owners at that same fair price point.
The Catch: Pricing and Preemption
While the goal is to lower costs and increase competition, two elements require careful attention. First, the requirement for “fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory” pricing for tools and data (Sec. 4) is vague. What one side considers fair, the other might see as price gouging. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the newly created Advisory Committee (Sec. 5) will have to sort out these pricing disputes, which could be a long, messy process.
Second, Section 10 states that this federal law overrides any conflicting state or local laws on the same subject. This is known as preemption. While it creates a uniform national standard, it means that if a state already has a stronger “Right to Repair” law in place—one that offers more protection or clearer rules than this federal bill—that state law could be wiped out. This is a trade-off: national consistency versus potentially stronger local protections.
Enforcement and Accountability
The FTC is tasked with enforcing this Act (Sec. 7), treating any violation as an unfair business practice. Furthermore, the bill sets up a formal consumer complaint system (Sec. 8). If you believe a manufacturer is violating your right to repair, you can file a complaint with the FTC. The manufacturer then has 30 days to respond. If they fail to answer, the FTC must investigate, and they have to issue a final ruling within five months. This timeline is surprisingly aggressive for a federal agency and suggests a serious commitment to holding manufacturers accountable.