President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum aimed at supporting Americans’ ability to repair their own vehicles, renewing attention on the ongoing debate over the “right to repair.”
The memorandum, titled “Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix,” directs federal agencies to evaluate policies that may limit consumers’ ability to repair their own vehicles or choose where to have repairs performed. It does not create any new laws or immediately change what drivers can do today.
The move comes as modern vehicles become increasingly reliant on sophisticated software and computer systems.
What is the ‘right to repair’?
The right-to-repair movement centers on whether consumers and independent repair shops should have the same access to diagnostic tools, replacement parts and repair information as authorized dealerships.
Automakers argue that much of the software and data contained in today’s vehicles is proprietary and restricting access helps protect vehicle safety, cybersecurity and intellectual property.
Consumer advocates and independent repair shops, however, say limited access can drive up repair costs and reduce consumer choice by making it more difficult to repair a vehicle outside of a dealership.
According to the White House, the memorandum is intended to promote competition in the auto repair industry and lower costs for consumers by supporting greater access to repair information and tools.
The administration also claims some automakers, including Ford and General Motors, have supported policies that could make it more difficult for consumers and independent mechanics to repair vehicles. The automakers have not agreed with that characterization.
Consumer advocacy groups say expanding access to repair information could help lower repair bills by allowing drivers to shop around instead of relying solely on dealerships for service.
Supporters also argue that consumers should have the freedom to repair their own vehicles or choose any qualified repair shop.
At this time, the memorandum does not change existing repair laws or require automakers to provide additional access. Any significant changes would likely require further regulatory action or legislation.
For now, the debate over the right to repair continues, with consumers, automakers and lawmakers expected to remain at odds over how vehicle repair information should be shared.