There’s a lot of noise right now about something called the REPAIR Act; a bill being marketed as a “right to repair” solution that supposedly helps independent auto shops and consumers. On the surface, it sounds appealing. Who wouldn’t want more options and more freedom in how your car gets repaired?
But that’s not what this bill actually does.
The REPAIR Act doesn’t provide independent auto repair shops like mine with anything we don’t already have to properly fix your vehicle. Frankly, I’m tired of people who represent businesses that look nothing like mine claiming to speak for our industry.
The idea that independent repairers are being “locked out” by automakers is a convenient myth pushed by the biggest beneficiaries of this bill: large insurance companies and corporations that profit when insurers pressure my customers to use their alternative parts.
Our focus is, and always will be, safety. This starts with accessing, following and applying auto manufacturer data and procedures to perform repairs. The REPAIR Act, however, would ensure that large companies gain access to vehicle data and manufacturer information without requiring them to use it responsibly or accountability to be in compliance with manufacturer repair standards.
The companies lobbying Congress for this legislation have an enormous financial stake in reshaping how vehicle data is accessed and used. If they get their way, they’ll gain unprecedented control over consumer information and decisions in the auto repair process, steering drivers toward cheaper, untested alternatives that compromise both quality and safety.
That’s not empowerment for consumers; that’s exploitation.
I’m not interested in debating with those pushing the REPAIR Act. It threatens the operational integrity of certified repair programs that independent businesses like mine invest heavily in — and it won’t provide us with anything we don’t already have access to today.
Pay close attention to who’s asking for what, because this legislation hands even more control to the big corporations that already dominate the marketplace.
The truth is: independent auto repairers already have access to the data and tools we need.
What we need from policymakers is protection. Not from automakers, but from legislation that blurs accountability, erodes repair standards, and jeopardizes safety in the name of convenience and corporate profit.
If lawmakers truly want to support “right to repair,” they should focus on strengthening training requirements, maintaining data security, and ensuring both dealers and independent repairers meet the same safety and quality standards.
The real right to repair isn’t about who gets the data — it’s about who uses it responsibly.
Nader Akbari serves as managing partner of Central Florida Paint and Body in Orlando. Before venturing into business ownership, he spent 12 years in the car rental industry.
