Commentary–

Independent Repair Shops Forced To Turn Away Business

By Kathleen Schmatz

Like many car owners, you might not be aware that the giant car companies are looking to draw more maintenance and repair business away from your local independent repair shop and drive consumers to their new car dealerships. This will be inconvenient and more expensive for the consumer who prefers to take their vehicle to a trusted neighborhood facility.

There is a battle going on now to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act in Congress and the little guys need your help. This legislation, supported by 100 members of Congress, will guarantee your right to choose who and where you get your car fixed. Passage of this legislation will force the car companies to make available the same information and tools to the independent service and repair businesses that they do to their dealerships.

Car companies, new car dealers and their friends in Congress repeatedly claim that there is no problem, that all of the information and tools are available to independent repairers. Unfortunately, the facts just do not back them up on this.

An independent study of 1,000 repair shop owners, service managers and technicians conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found that:

*Independent repair shops are losing $5.8 billion in service and parts sales annually because they are unable to readily access the necessary information and tools from car manufacturers to diagnose and repair their customer’s vehicles.

*Independent repair shops turn away 1.2 million consumers annually for the same reason. This not only results in additional lost sales, but is a huge inconvenience to customers who are forced to take their vehicle to a dealership – their second choice. What is the likelihood of this customer returning the independent for their next service or repair need?

*And here’s the kicker: The survey revealed that 70 percent of independent shops surveyed had no confidence that car companies will always make available the needed information and tools.

What more justification is needed for Congress to pass the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (HR 2048)?  Now is the time for Congress to ensure competition in the vehicle repair industry and protect motorists’ right to choose where they take their vehicle for service. Visit RightToRepair.org to send a letter urging your congressional representatives to pass this important piece of legislation.

(Kathleen Schmatz is president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association [AAIA].)