Over 90% of American households have a car. According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 280 million vehicles were registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2023. Each year, that number grows, as does the number of households and small businesses that own multiple cars. With each passing year, the technology in our vehicles becomes more advanced. Our vehicles require much more data and analytical tools to repair, tools that are often protected by automakers and other big businesses.
This leaves local auto repair shops in a bind. There are more vehicles on the road than ever, but the information they need to diagnose and fix the machines we rely on most is not readily available. Our communities’ independent repair businesses and your freedom to pick your preferred auto-repair provider are at risk, unless Congress takes action.
Once upon a time, your local, family-owned auto shop on the corner could fix most issues your car might have. In fact, any do-it-yourselfer could work through a myriad of basic fixes with some universal car knowledge and a bit of elbow grease. Today, independently owned and operated auto repair shops are dependent upon data from the vehicle and manufacturer to not only find what’s wrong, but also access needed parts and make basic repairs.
RISING ELECTRICITY PRICES KEY TO MIDTERM ELECTIONS BUT NO IMMEDIATE FIX READY
So, what happens if auto manufacturers obstruct independent service providers from accessing the systems and data they need for repairs and simple oil changes? Well, the small business auto shop on the corner, many of which are family-owned or have been serving their neighborhoods for decades, loses business. You, their customer, are forced to drive to the nearest dealership – sometimes hours away – where you will often pay more for a simple service.
This example is not a red herring; more and more independent auto repair shops report experiencing similar difficulties each year. Although auto manufacturers claim that they already share “necessary” diagnostic information with independent repair shops, 63% of independent repair shops report struggling to access needed data to make routine repairs. A recent study from the Government Accountability Office notes that these claims are exceedingly common. In many cases, independent shops experience difficulty programming parts or limitations on what data is available to them. Other times, they need expensive, automaker-specific equipment to see vehicle data they already pay to access. Half of independent repair shops report turning away customers weekly because of these failures, costing them upwards of $3 billion each year. Almost 90% of NFIB members support right to repair legislation, and an overwhelming 98% of Americans think it’s important to choose where they get their car serviced.
This issue goes far beyond vehicle repair. Small business owners have to worry about everything from auto equipment to technology like computers and smartphones, all of which are impacted by manufacturers withholding integral tools and knowledge from the consumers who own that machinery. From the families who rely on their devices or vehicles to live their lives, to the small businesses who depend on them to operate their business, now is the time for Congress to act.
My own organization, the National Federation of Independent Business represents approximately 300,000 small businesses from all industries, including auto repair shops and small businesses that frequently need car repairs, like truckers, farmers, and your local plumbers and electricians. Each second spent driving to a dealership or waiting for a repair is time not spent growing their business. For a small business operating on tight margins, this time is literally money pulled from their livelihood.
GIVE SMALL BUSINESS THE RIGHT TO REPAIR
Thankfully, bipartisan lawmakers in Congress advanced legislation during a House Subcommittee hearing last month that would ensure independent repair facilities have timely access to the diagnostic tools, data, and software necessary for safe maintenance and repairs. H.R. 1566, the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, ensures consumer choice and competition in automotive services, which means lower prices and safer, more reliable service for all American drivers. Small businesses, and especially independent repair shops, need the REPAIR Act.
The time to act is now. Tell your representatives in Congress to support the REPAIR Act and guarantee that consumers and small businesses alike have a choice in where they get their cars serviced.
Louis Bertolotti is Principal of Federal Government Relations at the National Federation of Independent Business