Mass. Right to Repair bill gains three group supporters

Three additional independent automotive repair organizations have announced their support for the Right to Repair bill currently before the Massachusetts Legislature.

The Right to Repair bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Vincent Pedone, D-Worcester, and state Sen. Mark Montigny, D-Dartmouth, would require automobile manufacturers – and their dealers – to give independent automotive repair shops equal and fair access to diagnostic repair information.

Joining the Massachusetts Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) in its longstanding support of the legislation (House Bill 296) are the New England Service Station & Automotive Repair Association, Inc. (NESSARA); the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA); and the Central Mass. Auto Rebuilders’ Association.

"We want to make sure that our members, and the industry as a whole, retain the ability to locate the information needed to repair all vehicles.  We fully support this legislation’s effort to keep the choice of where to have your vehicle repaired in the hands of the consumer,” says NESSARA Executive Director Paul F. O'Connell.

“The Massachusetts Auto Body Association fully supports House Bill 296.  This legislation would ensure fair and equitable competition in the marketplace, which ultimately benefits consumers by providing greater choice at lower prices,” adds MABA president Ed Boermeester.

CMARA President Tom Ricci concurred, saying “it is time to deal with this issue and bring some integrity back into the process. Saying there isn’t a problem doesn’t make the problem go away, and this issue is becoming more serious and affects local jobs and the consumer’s satisfaction.”

The Right to Repair Act would require car companies to make the same service information and tools capabilities available to independent repair shops that they provide their to their franchised dealer networks. The legislation further provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets unless that information is provided to the franchised new car dealers.  For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.RightToRepair.org.