A right to repair law approved by Maine voters in 2023 officially took effect Jan. 5, though a working group is still drafting legislation that will establish guidelines on how the law will be enforced.
As of Jan. 5, vehicles sold in Maine that use telematics systems must have an interoperable, standardized and owner-authorized “access platform” across all makes and models -- language that refers to the November 2023 law approved by 84% of Maine voters via ballot initiative.
That law also states that no later than Jan. 5, car owners must be able to directly access those access platforms through a mobile-based application. Upon owner authorization, independent repair shops and licensed dealers must be able to access “all mechanical data,” limited to the time to complete the repair or for a period allowed by the vehicle owner for the purposes of maintaining, diagnosing and repairing the car.
The law applies to vehicles sold in Maine starting the week of Jan. 5. Advocates say it strengthens consumer autonomy and helps level the playing field for independent repair shops competing with dealership service centers.
In August 2024, a related law took effect, establishing a right to repair working group within Maine’s state government. The group has been meeting frequently as it develops recommendations for another bill that will form a right to repair oversight board.
The working group’s findings are due in a report to the state legislature by Feb. 28.
With the implementation of the law Jan. 5, Maine joined Massachusetts as one of only two states to enact a right to repair law, giving vehicle owners unprecedented access to their car’s wireless diagnostic and repair information. The law was celebrated as a major victory for consumer choice and local businesses.
“This is a big win for consumers and small businesses as folks in Maine will now be the gatekeepers of their own information, allowing them to shop around and choose where they get their cars repaired,” Tommy Hickey, director of the Maine Right to Repair coalition, said Jan. 6.
For the past eight years, automakers have maintained exclusive control over vehicle diagnostic systems, restricting access to dealership networks. The new law breaks this closed system, allowing car owners to send their data to any independent repair shop they choose.
In early December, the working group proposed allowing independent repair shops and car owners to seek $10,000 in civil relief or up to three times the amount of actual compensatory damages if car manufacturers improperly deny them access to vehicles’ diagnostic data.
