Right to Repair Cars: What the Laws Give Owners and Independent Shops

In the US, automakers make the same diagnostic and repair information and tools available to independent repair shops and owners that they give their dealers, under a 2014 nationwide agreement modeled on Massachusetts’s 2013 right-to-repair law. As of November 2026, the unresolved issues are wireless telematics data, which Massachusetts voters required automakers to open in 2020, and a federal law: the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a narrower bill in May 2026 that would write the 2014 agreement into federal law.

What does right to repair mean for car owners?

Right to repair means you can choose where your car is fixed, and the shop you choose can get the information, software and tools needed to do the job. For cars, the main pieces are:

• Service information: repair manuals, wiring diagrams and technical service bulletins.
• Diagnostic access: reading and clearing codes and running tests through the OBD-II port.
• Tools and software: scan tools, programming of new modules, keys and sensors.
• Vehicle data: the data a car sends wirelessly to the automaker, used more and more for diagnosis.
• Parts: availability of parts and whether they need automaker activation.

A separate federal rule already protects your warranty. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, an automaker cannot void a warranty just because a repair was done by an independent shop or you used aftermarket parts, unless that part or repair caused the problem. Our guide to what voids a car warranty covers that rule in detail.

What did the Massachusetts law and 2014 agreement do?

Massachusetts voters approved a right-to-repair ballot question in 2012, and the legislature enacted a revised version in 2013. It required automakers to sell independent shops the same repair information and diagnostic tools available to dealers, with diagnostics through a standard, non-proprietary interface.

Rather than face different laws state by state, automaker and aftermarket trade groups signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2014 agreeing to follow the Massachusetts standard nationwide. That agreement is why independent shops across the US can subscribe to automakers’ service information websites and buy factory scan tool software.

The agreement left out wireless telematics data, which was a small part of repairs in 2014 but is a large part now.

What is the fight over telematics data?

Telematics data is information a car transmits wirelessly to the automaker, such as fault codes and system status. In 2020, Massachusetts voters approved an expansion requiring automakers to give owners and independent shops access to that data through an open platform, starting with model year 2022.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the main automaker trade group, sued to block it, arguing it conflicts with federal law and creates cybersecurity risks. A federal judge dismissed the challenge in February 2025, and the Alliance appealed to the First Circuit, where the case was still pending in 2026. Maine voters approved a similar telematics data question in November 2023.

In practice, some automakers responded by disabling or limiting some telematics features on new cars sold in Massachusetts while the law was in dispute.

What is the federal REPAIR Act and where does it stand?

The REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566 in the current Congress) would require automakers to give owners and independent shops access to vehicle data, repair information, tools and parts on the same terms as dealers, including wireless data. It passed a House subcommittee in February 2026.

In May 2026, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee instead adopted a scaled-back right-to-repair section inside a broader motor vehicle bill, H.R. 7389, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026. That section would put the 2014 light-vehicle agreement and a 2015 commercial-vehicle agreement into federal law, without the full REPAIR Act’s telematics and parts provisions. Supporters of the original bill said they would seek to expand it on the House floor. Bill status is on congress.gov.

Nothing had been signed into law as of November 2026, and the final text can change.

What do these laws mean when my car needs a repair?

For most repairs, an independent shop can already do the work, including many software updates and module programming, because of the 2014 agreement. Problems tend to appear with the newest models, advanced driver-assistance calibration, and repairs that need parts paired to the car by the automaker.

1. Ask the shop whether it subscribes to the automaker’s service information and has factory-level scan tools for your brand.
2. For safety systems such as cameras and radar, ask whether it can do the calibration the automaker specifies.
3. Keep receipts showing parts and maintenance done to the manufacturer’s schedule, to protect your warranty.
4. For recalls and covered warranty repairs, use a franchised dealer, since those are paid by the automaker; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls first.

The type of coverage matters too. Our guide to bumper-to-bumper vs powertrain warranties explains which repairs a dealer would cover for free.

Do other states have car right-to-repair laws?

Massachusetts and Maine are the two states with voter-approved car repair data laws, and bills have been filed in many other legislatures. Several states have also passed right-to-repair laws for consumer electronics or farm equipment that do not cover cars. Check your state legislature’s site for current bills.

Bottom line

You can have your car serviced at any qualified shop without losing your warranty, and independent shops can already buy most factory repair information. The fight now is over wireless data and parts, and it will be settled by the First Circuit and Congress, so watch for changes on newer cars.

FAQ

Can the dealer refuse warranty work because I used an independent shop?

Not for that reason alone. Under federal law, the automaker must show that the outside repair or part caused the failure before denying coverage.

Can I get the factory repair manual for my car?

Yes. Automakers sell short-term and annual subscriptions to their service information websites to owners and shops, as required by the 2014 agreement.

Does right to repair cover software updates?

Many module updates and reprogramming can be done by independent shops with the automaker’s software subscription. Some over-the-air updates are only available from the automaker.

Does the Massachusetts law apply to cars sold in other states?

The law itself applies in Massachusetts, but the 2014 agreement extends its repair information and tool rules nationwide. The 2020 telematics expansion applies only to Massachusetts and is still in court.