President Donald Trump met with top auto industry officials last week to discuss their position on right-to-repair as independent repair shops continue gaining traction against dealerships in vehicle service.
The details: Speaking during an announcement on actions to support U.S. coal production, Trump appeared to signal support for independent repair shops in the ongoing right-to-repair debate.
The Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026, approved by the House last week, amended the Repair Act and codifies a 2014 national memorandum of understanding (MOU) between automakers and independent repair organizations regarding access to vehicle repair and diagnostic information, per SEMA.
The 2014 agreement, modeled after Massachusetts' automotive right-to-repair law, established a nationwide framework intended to ensure vehicle owners could choose where to service their vehicles after warranty expiration.
Some lawmakers and independent repair groups are pushing for separate legislation that would give vehicle owners access to vehicle data related to diagnostics, repair, calibration, and recalibration, a move opposed by many auto industry groups.
What they’re saying: "We had the auto industry in yesterday. They don’t want people to fix their car. I said, 'That’s strange,'" Trump said. "They have a thing; nobody’s allowed to fix their car."
Why it matters: The renewed focus on right-to-repair highlights the growing competitive battle for post-warranty service customers, with any expansion of repair-data access making it easier for independent shops to compete for maintenance and repair work.
OUTSMART THE CAR MARKET IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK
Get insights trusted by 55,000+ car dealers. Free, fast, and built for automotive leaders.
Between the lines: A central issue in the right-to-repair debate is the rising cost and complexity of vehicle repairs as vehicles become increasingly software-driven and technologically advanced.
Vehicle repair costs have risen 43% since 2019 to as much as $1,700 per visit, according to data provided to Auto Finance News by Synchrony Financial.
Supporters of expanded right-to-repair laws argue that limiting access to repair data can increase costs for consumers and force independent shops to pay significant fees for software and diagnostic tools.
At the same time, 45% of customers report dissatisfaction with dealership service due to surprise costs and poor communication, even though dealership repairs averaged $261 in 2025 compared with $275 at general repair shops.
Bottom line: The right-to-repair debate is increasingly shifting from a legislative issue to a customer-retention issue, making transparency, convenience, and customer experience increasingly important differentiators in fixed operations as competition for service business intensifies.
A quick word from our partner
Running a dealership is hard.
Between vendor strategy, process management, market timing, and hiring, one wrong decision can cost hundreds of thousands.
That’s why we created CDG Circles.
It’s not a 20 Group. Circles connects you with top operators across brands through confidential text-based chats — giving you daily intel, real-world feedback, and instant answers from people who actually live it.
Ask questions 24/7 and get real-time responses from experienced dealers in curated peer groups built specifically for your level and store type.
No vendors.
No sales pitches.
No travel.
Just real operators helping each other win.
