AAA – Choice, Safety, Rights of Ownership
Right to Repair would ensure consumer choice in auto repair. Right to Repair exists to ensure three facets when maintaining your vehicle: choice, safety and rights of ownership.
Choice: AAA believes consumers must have the option of taking their vehicle to a dealer or an independent repair facility of their choosing. The right to choose who services your car is fundamental to owning a vehicle. Limited choice inhibits competition and ultimately hurts consumers.
Study after study reveals consumers find automotive repair and maintenance stressful. Having confidence in a trusted service technician goes a long way towards alleviating that stress. Studies also find that consumers want to choose who repairs their vehicles. A recent AAA study found that as many as 80 percent of our members believe it is “important” or “very important” that consumers are able to choose their service provider.
So, you want to get your car repaired?
Safety: The Right to Repair bill notes that “the ability to diagnose, service and repair a motor vehicle in a timely, reliable and affordable manner is essential to the safety and well-being of automotive consumer in the United States.” AAA believes that safety, above all else, is the top priority.
Why should a car owner be compelled to use service facilities that may have previously delivered poor service or be denied the opportunity to get a second opinion? All service technicians need access to information to repair the critical safety functions of vehicles.
Rights of Ownership: You buy the car, you own its parts – whether it’s a muffler or computer chip within the electrical system. Why should only some people be able to obtain the information while others not have access to it?
Technology has made our cars smarter. Specialized tools are now required to diagnose and repair these vehicle systems accurately. In fact, computers now control as much as 80 percent of a vehicle’s diagnostic components, but there is no obligation for this information to be shared with the owner of the car or the service technician.
Despite ongoing discussions between dealers and independent repair representatives, and some manufacturers’ pledge to meet the requirements of this bill voluntarily, AAA believes this legislation is necessary to ensure critical repair information is made available to all professional repair technicians.
Choice, safety, and rights of ownership – that’s why AAA supports “Right to Repair.”
[This is a statement of support for Right to Repair by AAA, the most trusted voice by consumers on automotive issues.]