Ensuring American Drivers Keep Moving Through Fair Repair Access
A Lifeline for Working Families
Right to vehicle repair is about – For countless citizens across the United States, possessing a dependable automobile represents far more than mere convenience—it constitutes a fundamental necessity for daily survival. Reliable transportation enables people to reach their workplaces, escort children to educational institutions, and navigate the countless responsibilities that define modern life. Having operated as an independent automotive dealer for over three decades, I have personally facilitated the placement of tens of thousands of automobiles into residential driveways throughout every region of our nation. Throughout this extensive career, I have observed how escalating vehicle costs combined with increasingly stringent repair mandates have transformed reliable mobility into something many families struggle to maintain financially.
The independent dealership sector serves as an indispensable component within America’s broader transportation infrastructure. Every single year, our organizations conduct thorough inspections, perform necessary repairs, and restore millions of pre-owned automobiles before returning them to public roadways. This restoration process proves absolutely vital for maintaining both public safety and economic accessibility. By extending the operational lifespan of quality used vehicles, we provide consumers with dependable transportation options that cost significantly less than purchasing brand-new vehicles. However, this valuable work requires equal access to the diagnostic tools, replacement components, software systems, and technical documentation that franchised dealerships routinely utilize.
Modern Vehicles, Modern Challenges
Contemporary automobiles operate on complex software networks and interconnected electronic systems that have dramatically improved safety while simultaneously creating new repair dependencies. These sophisticated technological advancements mean that vehicle maintenance increasingly relies upon manufacturer-controlled diagnostic platforms and proprietary data repositories. When automotive manufacturers limit third-party access to these essential resources, independent repair operations experience delays, increased expenses, and occasionally complete inability to service certain vehicles. Ultimately, these financial burdens transfer directly to everyday consumers who simply want their vehicles repaired efficiently and affordably.
Legislators currently possess a meaningful opportunity to address these growing concerns. With new automobile pricing reaching unprecedented levels, the secondary market has emerged as the primary pathway to vehicle ownership for working-class Americans. Representative Neal Dunn from Florida has introduced the REPAIR Act as a bipartisan legislative solution designed to safeguard this critical market segment. This comprehensive legislation guarantees that independent service providers and repair facilities receive equal access to the same technical information, diagnostic capabilities, software modifications, replacement components, and specialized equipment that manufacturers distribute through their authorized dealer networks. Importantly, the bill accomplishes this goal without forcing manufacturers to reveal proprietary trade secrets or weaken vehicle cybersecurity protections.
Consumer Choice Matters
The legislation fundamentally empowers consumers rather than manufacturers to determine where their automobiles receive maintenance and repair services. The current administration has already expressed favorable views toward this consumer-centered approach, and congressional leaders should now advance this initiative into binding law. While certain industry stakeholders have opposed these proposed changes, protecting consumers’ fundamental freedom to select their preferred repair facility should take precedence over any desire to maintain closed repair ecosystems.
Market competition consistently generates superior outcomes for everyone involved. When consumers possess genuine alternatives for vehicle maintenance, pricing naturally decreases. When independent operators can restore automobiles efficiently using reasonably priced components and accurate technical specifications, they return vehicles to roadways more quickly and transfer those efficiency gains directly to customers through lower service costs.
The primary beneficiaries of the REPAIR Act extend beyond independent dealerships and repair facilities—they encompass the millions of American families who rely upon affordable transportation to sustain their households and develop their economic futures. Maintaining vehicles on American roadways should depend upon service quality and pricing rather than which organization controls proprietary repair documentation. Congressional action remains both necessary and timely.
Don Griffin serves as chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and co-founded CarHop Auto Sales.
