The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, HR 2057, was reintroduced into the 111th Congress on April 22, 2009. This legislation allows consumers to continue to choose where they have their vehicles repaired.
Background
Vehicles that are 1994 and newer (and some earlier models) are equipped with computers that control the repair and service information on most of the vehicles' systems, including, but not limited to: air bags, brakes, emissions (check engine light), tire pressure, oil changes, electronics, ignition systems and keys, and transmissions. In many cases, the only way for motorists to have these systems repaired is to return to the new car dealership.
HR 2057, known as the Right to Repair Act, goes to the heart of American property rights and ownership. When motorists purchase their vehicles, they should have the right to own their vehicles' electronic, diagnostic, and repair information so that they can make affordable and convenient repair choices, whether that choice is an independent repair shop or a car dealership. As vehicles become more and more computerized, soon consumers will be very limited on repair options. In some cases, they will be forced to take the vehicles back to the new car dealerships even when their vehicles are out-of-warranty.
U.S. Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY), the lead Right to Repair sponsor, stated, "By guaranteeing access to vehicle repair information, we can empower consumers and give them the opportunity to choose where, how, and by whom to have their vehicles repaired. We reintroduced The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act so Brooklynites can have the option of self-servicing their vehicle, or the freedom to use an automotive independent repair shop or a car dealership to meet their auto needs."
Joining Rep. Towns as original sponsors are Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). Rep. Towns is the Chairman of the Government Management, Organization and Procurement Committee and serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Representative Eshoo is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Rep. Miller is Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee.
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) conducted a 'first-of-its-kind' study, which illustrated the enormous cost-benefit to consumers when their vehicles are repaired in the independent repair industry. The study clearly showed that repairs conducted at new car dealerships cost consumers on average 34 percent more than at the independent repair shops, resulting in $11.7 billion in excess costs annually. Los Angeles consumers pay as much as 46.8 percent more at new car dealerships for repairs. The Right to Repair Act will help all of America's motoring consumers.
With dealerships closing at unprecedented rates, the ability for consumers to obtain convenient and affordable repairs from their local independent vehicle repair shops is more important than ever. The Right to Repair legislation ensures that independent shops have access to the most up-to-date information, tools, and software so that they can continue to maintain and repair their customers' late model vehicles.
Five million people in the United States work in the automotive aftermarket (independent repair industry) in over 495,000 locations nationwide, including "mom and pop" shops. The aftermarket is a large segment of the nation's economy and for more than 100 years has helped consumer find affordable and efficient ways to repair their vehicles.
A broad coalition of consumer oriented and small business groups support passage of the Right to Repair Act, among them the National Grange, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), RetireSafe (represents 400,000 seniors nationwide), the Tire Industry Association (TIA), and 60s Plus Seniors.
The Right to Repair Act, HR 2057, is in the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. Information on the legislation can be found on: www.righttorepair.org.
Bill Highlights
The intent of HR 2057 is to protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, maintain, and repair their motor vehicles. If passed, the legislation would require:
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The manufacturer of a motor vehicle to provide the owner and service providers all information to diagnose, service, maintain, or repair the motor vehicle. This information must include safety alerts, recalls, service bulletins, and the need for adjustments to maintain vehicle efficiency, safety, and convenience. The information would also have to include anything provided to new car dealers to diagnose, service, maintain, repair, activate, certify, or install any motor vehicle equipment (including replacement parts and equipment) in a motor vehicle.
- The manufacturer of a motor vehicle to offer for sale to the owner and to all service providers on a reasonable and non-discriminatory basis, any tool for the diagnosis, service, maintenance, or repair of a motor vehicle, and provide all information that enables aftermarket tool companies to manufacture tools with the same functional characteristics as those tools made available by the manufacturers to authorized dealers.
- The manufacturer of a motor vehicle must offer for sale to owners, and to all service providers on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, all equipment for diagnosis, service, maintenance, or repair of a motor vehicle.
Grange Policy
At the 142nd Annual Convention of the National Grange held last November, grassroots Grange delegates from across the nation reaffirmed the following policy on Right-to-Repair:
“The National Grange supports legislation that allows independent vehicle maintenance facilities or car dealership garages to have access to the technology programming needed to repair all makes and models of vehicles so that the customer has a choice of where to take their vehicle for maintenance and repair.”
Action Needed
Please e-mail your U.S. Representative urging them to co-sponsor and support HR 2057 and comparable legislation in the Senate. Please feel free to cut and paste the following sample letter. If you do not know your Representative’s e-mail address please click here to find it. For your Senators’ e-mail address please click here.
Sample Letter
Dear Representative/Senator,
I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor and support HR 2057 and comparable legislation in the Senate. This bill, known as the Right to Repair Act, protects the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, maintain, and repair their motor vehicles. It requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide vehicle owners and service providers with all pertinent information and sale of equipment to diagnosis, service, maintain, and repair motor vehicles.
When motorists purchase their vehicles, they should have the right to own their vehicles' electronic, diagnostic, and repair information so that they can make affordable and convenient repair choices, whether that choice is an independent repair shop or a car dealership. As vehicles become more and more computerized, soon consumers will be very limited on repair options. In some cases, they will be forced to take the vehicles back to the new car dealerships even when their vehicles are out-of-warranty.
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) conducted a 'first-of-its-kind' study, which illustrated the enormous cost-benefit to consumers when their vehicles are repaired in the independent repair industry. The study clearly showed that repairs conducted at new car dealerships cost consumers on average 34 percent more than at the independent repair shops, resulting in $11.7 billion in excess costs annually. Los Angeles consumers pay as much as 46.8 percent more at new car dealerships for repairs. The Right to Repair Act will help all of America's motoring consumers.
With dealerships closing at unprecedented rates, the ability for consumers to obtain convenient and affordable repairs from their local independent vehicle repair shops is more important than ever. The Right to Repair legislation ensures that independent shops have access to the most up-to-date information, tools, and software so that they can continue to maintain and repair their customers' late model vehicles.
Again, please support HR 2057, the Right to Repair Act. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Grange number |
If you have any questions or comments regarding this Action Alert, please contact Program Assistant Molly Thompson by e-mail: mthompson@nationalgrange.org, or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext. 107.
Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative Program.
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