Restoring your right to fix your car

The Hill

5 days ago

Freedom means owning what you buy, whether it's a Jeep Wrangler for your family or a rugged Jeep AEV J8 Milspec built for our troops. But there's a problem.
In today's landscape, automakers are locking you out of fixing your own vehicles. They hoard the tools, software and know-how needed for repairs, in effort to establish a monopoly over auto repair.
That's not just un-American — it's a threat to our liberty and security.
Take this story from an active-duty logistics officer, knee-deep in South Korean mud, stunned to hear her Marine mechanic couldn't fix a broken generator.
Why? 'Because of the warranty, ma'am.'
A civilian corporate policy paralyzing our military? That's a SNAFU we cannot tolerate. Imagine MASH's Radar O'Reilly telling Colonel Potter his World War II Willys Jeep is down because the manufacturer says so. Absurd!
Thankfully, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gets it. He's demanding right-to-repair rules for all Army contracts, new and old, so our troops can keep equipment running in war zones without waiting on a corporate help desk. This saves taxpayer dollars, boosts readiness and cuts bureaucratic nonsense.
And what's good for our military is good for every American.
In Congress, I'm backing the bipartisan REPAIR Act. This bill forces automakers to share the tools, data and information needed for you, your local mechanic or independent shops to fix your car. No more gatekeeping. No more monopolies.
Right now, 63 percent of repair shops struggle with routine fixes because automakers withhold data. Half send cars to dealerships, jacking up costs by $3.1 billion annually.
Independent shops, employing nearly 5 million Americans and generating $500 billion a year, are the backbone of our communities. They're often the only option for families miles from a dealership. The National Federation of Independent Business says 90 percent of its members support right-to-repair. It's a no-brainer.
With car prices soaring and the average vehicle now 12.6 years old, families rely on trusted local garages charging 36 percent less than dealerships. These shops earn loyalty through honesty, skill and fair prices.
But modern cars aren't your granddad's Chevy. They're packed with computer systems — 1,000 to 3,000 chips in even basic models. Hybrids and EVs? Even more. Without access to diagnostic codes and repair manuals, mechanics are blindfolded.
Automakers claim they're protecting proprietary tech and warranties. Fine. The REPAIR Act ensures transparency without compromising cybersecurity, safety or intellectual property. It's about your right to fix what you own — not handing over trade secrets.
This bill unites Republicans and Democrats because it's common sense. It's about freedom, competition and fairness. Congress needs to quit stalling and pass the REPAIR Act. Let's put Americans back in the driver's seat — literally.
Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) represents Ohio's 8th congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He spent 15 years starting, acquiring and growing manufacturing companies before replacing former Speaker John Boehner in the United States House.