Key MA legislative committee gives OK to Right to Repair bill
Independent auto repair shops applaud pro-consumer legislation

Legislation now heads to Ways and Means Committee for review

BOSTON – Following extensive debate, a legislative committee has approved legislation (HB 296) that will provide independent repair shops the same access to diagnostic repair information and tools that car companies made available to their franchised dealers.

The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure voted to report the landmark legislation out of committee favorably where it will next appear before the Committee on Ways and Means. Car manufacturers have lobbied hard against the legislation that is co-sponsored by state Rep. Vincent A. Pedone, D-Worcester, and state Sen. Mark C. Montigny, D-New Bedford, arguing that independent shops already have access to the information they need. When independent repair shops met with their local legislators and debunked that claim, manufacturers then suggested that the independents wanted “trade secrets” or proprietary information.

“We have been clear from the beginning of this process that what we want – and what consumers want – is repair and diagnostic information that many of these manufacturers are selectively withholding,” said Stan Morin, who manages a repair business and serves as the lead advocate for passage of the legislation on behalf of the Massachusetts Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP). “We don’t want or need their trade secrets or any information that could even vaguely be described as proprietary. If they are providing this repair information to dealers, then it isn’t the secret recipe for Coca-Cola and they can provide that information to us.”

Joining the Massachusetts Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) in its longstanding support of the legislation (House Bill 296) is 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,” said 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,” said 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.”