The bill, which would ensure independent repairers' access to vehicle telematics, now advances to the full House committee.
The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce on Nov. 2 favorably reported HR 906, the REPAIR Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at preserving consumer choice and independent repair shops' access to vehicle diagnostic data, the Auto Care Association announced in a news release.
The bill now advances to the full House committee.
The REPAIR Act is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Neal Dunn, R-FL, Brendan Boyle, D-PA, Warren Davidson, R-OH, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-WA, and has 46 bipartisan co-sponsors. Davidson is also the only repair shop owner in Congress.
While more than 70% of post-warranty vehicle repairs are carried out by independent repair shops, the advent of sophisticated vehicle technology has raised concerns about those repairers' ability to access critical vehicle diagnostic data, essential to providing high-quality and affordable vehicle repairs to consumers and commercial fleet owners.
The REPAIR Act seeks to safeguard consumer choice and competition in the marketplace by granting independent repair shops the right to access vital diagnostic and repair data, provided it is authorized by the vehicle owner. Importantly, this legislation would remove restrictions imposed by vehicle manufacturers, ensuring independent repair shops can continue to provide affordable and accessible vehicle maintenance and repairs.
“We are grateful to the subcommittee for recognizing the intent behind this legislation and agreeing to report the REPAIR Act to the full committee," said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association. “While today’s action is a testament to the hard work of our industry’s advocacy of preserving safe, affordable and accessible vehicle repair, it is also just the beginning of the legislative process. As this fight now moves to the full Committee on Energy and Commerce, I encourage our members to remain diligent with outreach to elected officials to ensure they know that your business depends on the REPAIR Act becoming law.”
Justin Rzepka, executive director of the CAR Coalition, also applauded the subcommittee's decision.
“It’s tremendous to see bipartisan support for expanding vehicle owners’ right to repair," Rzepka said. "Today’s markup and approval of the REPAIR Act demonstrates the clear desire of Congress to put consumers first. We thank the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing this important legislation and look forward to seeing the bill move forward.”
This legislative development comes at a crucial time when the automotive industry is witnessing rapid technological advancements, making it imperative to ensure consumers retain the freedom to choose where they get their vehicles repaired.
For more information about the REPAIR Act and how to support the legislation, visit repairact.com.
