WJCL ABC
A “right to repair” bill in Congress seeks to give independent auto repair shops the same access to tools and data as dealerships, addressing challenges faced by mechanics and consumers.
Christopher Salas
August 21, 2026
WASHINGTON — Independent auto repair shops are calling for equal access to tools and data as dealerships, as Congress debates a “right to repair” bill that could impact car repair costs for consumers.
The days of fixing your car with just a wrench and some know-how are fading as modern vehicles rely on increasingly complex technology. At Piedmont Tire and Auto in Virginia, mechanics say they spend thousands of dollars on equipment, computers, and software to repair today’s cars, but even that isn’t always enough.
“If we don’t do it, it’s because we can’t do it. Meaning the factory won’t release information,” said Robb Evans of Piedmont Tire and Auto.
Industry data shows more than 8 in 10 independent repair shops surveyed send at least one vehicle a month to a dealership because of vehicle data or diagnostic code issues.
A 2024 Auto Care Association study estimated vehicle data limitations cost independent repair shops $3.1 billion annually.
John Filippone, also of Piedmont Tire and Auto, shared an example of how this impacts customers. “We couldn’t do the programming because they wouldn’t release the software. We had to then take the car there for them to program it, bring it back, cost the consumer an extra $1,200 they didn’t need to pay,” he said.
The fight over that access has reached Washington.