CBS
September 4, 2026
The REPAIR Act, which has been introduced in the Senate and the House, would provide independent auto shops and car owners with the same access to vehicle data as automakers and dealerships.
A bipartisan bill aims to increase competition and bring down prices in the auto repair industry.
The REPAIR Act, which has been introduced in the Senate and the House, would provide independent auto shops and car owners with the same access to vehicle data as automakers and dealerships.
As auto shop owners point out, car repairs aren’t as simple as they used to be.
“Vehicles are getting more complicated, said Dino Pehlivanis, co-owner of Greg’s Automotive Service in Alexandria, Va. “You need more technology, which means a higher cost.”
Mechanics therefore need special equipment to access vehicle data and figure out what’s wrong with each car, Pehlivanis said. That leads to higher costs for his shop and the customer.
“You have to buy a new scanner, $6,000,” he explained. “$2,000 for the software.”