Rep. Bradley Files Bill to Protect Consumers' Rights on Automobile Repairs

February 11, 2011

(State House) – State Representative Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, has re-filed legislation requiring auto manufacturers to make available to independent garages and consumers the same repair information and diagnostic tools that they provide to their franchised new car dealer service centers-- for a similar price.  The bill has 52 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, and 11 in the State Senate.

Rep. Bradley said, “Massachusetts residents ought to have the right to find the repair shop of their choice, and this legislation upholds the concept of free market competition by allowing car owners to exercise that choice.  Car dealers will have to compete for business with qualified local repair shops, and that will result in significant cost savings for consumers.”

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition released an economic impact study in 2009 showing that vehicle repairs cost an average 42 percent more at new car dealerships than at independent repair shops, and if Massachusetts families were continuously directed to have their vehicles repaired only at new car dealerships, it would cost an average of $258 per family each year, adding up to a staggering $625 million in excess costs annually. The savings in some districts were as high as $600 per family.

Right to Repair has overwhelming support among Bay State consumers. In 2010, a survey of 500 Massachusetts car owners revealed that the vast majority, Eighty-four percent (84%), of Bay State Car Owners, support the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. A clear majority of Massachusetts car owners also said they are more likely to vote for a legislative candidate who is in favor of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act. Even those who took their car to a repair shop connected to an auto dealer (83%) support this legislation.

The bill as drafted simply allows the consumer or independent repair shop the right to take legal action if car manufacturers continue their practice of locking them out of certain repair codes and tools needed to complete repairs.