The conservative case for ‘right to repair’

OPINION:

For many Americans, the frustration of getting a car repaired today isn’t just the cost; it’s also the lack of choice.

Drivers who have relied on the same neighborhood mechanic for years are increasingly hearing a new answer when they bring in a car with a problem: We can’t fix that here.

Modern vehicles rely on complex software, diagnostics and vehicle data that independent repair shops often can’t access. When that happens, drivers are forced to take their vehicles to the dealership, where repair costs are typically far higher and options are far fewer.

It’s no surprise that auto repair bills have climbed sharply in recent years, but what’s driving those costs isn’t just inflation or supply chains. In many cases, it’s a system that steers consumers toward manufacturer-controlled repair networks by limiting access to the information needed to fix modern vehicles.

That’s why the “right to repair” has become one of the most important consumer issues in Washington.

The principle behind it is straightforward: If you buy a product, then you should have the right to decide who fixes it.

Yet increasingly, manufacturers control not just the vehicle itself but also the data and software needed to service it. When only one repair channel has the keys to that information, competition disappears and prices rise.

Legislation such as the bipartisan REPAIR Act aims to fix that problem by ensuring vehicle owners and the independent mechanics they trust have access to the repair information, software and tools necessary to service modern cars safely. The goal isn’t to weaken cybersecurity or undermine intellectual property; it’s simply to ensure that consumers (not manufacturers) decide where their vehicles are repaired.

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The idea resonates across the political spectrum.

A national survey conducted by the Tarrance Group shows the breadth of that support. Nearly every car owner surveyed, 99%, said it is important to be able to choose where their car is repaired, and 94% said choosing who repairs it matters to them.

After hearing a brief description of the legislation, 85% of car owners supported the REPAIR Act.

In today’s political environment, it’s rare to see numbers like that.

It’s even rarer to see the kind of bipartisan alignment emerging on this issue in Washington. When figures as ideologically different as Sens. Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton, Cory A. Booker and Ruben Gallego find common ground and sponsor the same bill, it usually means the issue is less about politics and more about common sense.

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The reason is simple: The “right to repair” is fundamentally about ownership.

As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The true foundation of republican government is the equal right of every citizen in his person and property and in their management.” Jefferson understood that property rights were central to American liberty. If citizens cannot control how their property is used and maintained, then ownership itself becomes little more than a formality.

For conservatives, that principle should make the right to repair an easy call.

It protects property rights. Americans today spend an average of more than $50,000 on a new car. Yet without access to the diagnostic data needed to repair it, many drivers effectively lose control over how that vehicle is maintained. If you don’t have the ability to fix something you own or choose who fixes it for you, then do you truly own it?

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The right to repair supports independent repair shops — often family-owned operations that have served their communities for generations — that maintain a majority of the vehicles on American roads. Ensuring they have fair access to repair information allows them to compete on a level playing field and keeps local economies strong.

Last, it strengthens the free market. When manufacturers control both the product and the repair process, competition disappears and prices rise. Expanding access to repair information restores competition and gives consumers the ability to shop for the best service and price.

Ultimately, the “right to repair” resonates with Americans because it speaks directly to their pocketbooks. Over the past five years, auto repair costs have risen dramatically, far faster than general inflation. When consumers lose choice, costs go up. Restoring that choice is one of the most effective ways to bring those costs back down.

The “right to repair” is not a radical policy. It is a commonsense reaffirmation of principles Americans have long taken for granted: ownership, competition and the freedom to make decisions about the products we buy.

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• Justin Rzepka is the executive director of the CAR Coalition, a growing national alliance of insurers, parts manufacturers, repair professionals, retailers and consumer advocates working to protect consumer choice and competition in auto repair.