March 14, 2011
By: Carrie Van Brunt
Oregon legislatures have introduced a new bill that would allow independent auto mechanics to have access to repair information that has previously only been available to dealership-affiliated shops.
The legislation, known as the Right to Repair Act, would make it possible for independent repair shops to purchase data that will help them compete with big-name dealerships, ultimately lowering repair fees for consumers. State Representative Tim Freeman, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the law will support the 2,500 independently owned auto repair shops in the state as well as the 25,000 people they employ.
"These jobs in small, family-owned businesses are at risk if they have to turn away their customers," Freeman said, explaining that unaffiliated shops will sometimes have to tell customers to visit a dealership if they don't have the information necessary for a repair.
Other lawmakers say the current system can be dangerous for car owners in rural Oregon, who may be forced to drive a damaged vehicle to distant dealerships if their local mechanic is unable to fix the problem.
Allowing independent garage owners to access repair information may even help lower car insurance rates for some Oregonians. According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, vehicle repairs cost about 34 percent more at new car dealerships than at independent shops, a rate that may be factored into some insurance premiums.
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