BETHESDA, Md. — About 84% of independent repair shops view vehicle repair and maintenance data access as the top issue for their businesses, according to a survey conducted by the Auto Care Association (ACA).
The ACA has been pushing for passage of the federal REPAIR Act, which would ensure that vehicle owners and repairers have access to the vehicle data, tools and software required to maintain modern vehicles.
Right-to-repair (R2R) issues surpassed other independent shop concerns, such as technician recruitment and retention, and inflation, according to the ACA survey, conducted by Hanover Research, an independent market research firm, from Feb. 1-14, which surveyed 407 individuals who work at independent auto repair shops.
Other survey findings include:
- The majority (63%) of independent repair shops experience difficulties making routine repairs on a daily or weekly basis;
- Half of independent repair shops (51%) report sending up to five vehicles per month to a car dealership due to vehicle data restrictions; and
- Vehicle data limitations cost independent repair shops an estimated $3.1 billion each year.
"This research sheds new light on the stark reality facing the 273,000 shops and 900,000 technicians in in the United States if Congress fails to take action on federal right to repair legislation," ACA President and CEO Bill Hanvey said.
"Without change, local repair shops will be forced to turn away more and more business, leaving car owners with no choice but to foot outsized bills at the dealership. The REPAIR Act is critically needed to protect America's vibrant network of local, independent repair shops that offer trusted service, convenience, and choice to millions of American drivers during the car repair process."
Vehicle data restrictions disproportionately hurt small independent repair businesses by making it harder for them to offer certain repair services and parts to their customers, according to the ACA, forcing car owners to turn to car dealerships for some repairs.
The REPAIR Act (H.R. 906) has 50 bipartisan co-sponsors and has advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce.
In March, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing how vehicle repair restrictions can "disadvantage" independent repairers relative to dealerships.