CAR Coalition Commends Reintroduction of SMART Act

The CAR (Consumer Access to Repair) Coalition commended the reintroduction of the “Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation (SMART) Act” by U.S. legislators in a recent press release.

The legislation aims to help keep the cost of car repairs down by allowing consumers to seek “affordable aftermarket car parts” while also “respecting the intellectual property rights of automakers.” 

The CAR Coalition stated that automakers have kept information on their vehicles and accessibility to parts scarce to the public for the past two decades. Recent research conducted by the CAR Coalition and DePaul University College of Law claimed that the restricted access to parts has cost Americans “more than $1.5 billion per year.”

“Automakers have increasingly applied for design patents to restrict consumer access to basic functional parts, including headlamps, doors, and fenders,” the press release said.

“According to AAA, a third of American drivers can’t afford the costs of an unexpected car repair bill without going into debt,” said Congressman Darrell Issa, one of the representatives responsible for reintroducing the bill. “ … The SMART Act will increase consumer choice, encourage competition, and foster innovation to drive down the cost of expensive repairs.”