BETHESDA, Md. — The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) say it’s strongly urging Congress to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (S 3181/HR 2057).
"Passage of the Right to Repair Act will ensure that the automotive repair industry remains competitive so that car owners can affordably and conveniently have their vehicles serviced," said Michael E. Wilson, CEO of ARA. "By providing access to all car company repair information and tools, the Right to Repair Act ensures that car owners will be able to use cost-effective recycled auto parts and have those repairs performed by someone they choose or to do the work themselves."
Car owners and independent shops need full access to the information, parts and tools necessary to accurately diagnose, repair or reprogram the increasingly advanced technology used in modern vehicles, Right to Repair supporters say. ARA claims that vehicle manufacturers are making access to such vital information increasingly difficult and costly to obtain for independent repair shops and their customers, forcing motorists to patronize new car dealerships.
"The adoption of the Right to Repair Act will allow independent repair facilities and automobile recyclers to compete on a level playing field and foster healthy, fair competition. Our members have to turn customers away every day who want to use affordable recycled auto parts due to the extensive difficulties in cost effectively obtaining from the vehicle manufacturer the information needed to reinitialize the car’s computer in order to make the part work and complete the repair," said Wilson. "Right to Repair would not affect the dealer’s warranty agreement with the vehicle manufacturers, and it would not require disclosure of manufacturing processes or trade secrets."
The Right to Repair Act has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The Senate version of the bill (S 3181) was recently introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and has four co-sponsors. The House version (HR 2057) was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and George Miller (D-Calif.) and currently has 67 co-sponsors.
