Two weeks of groceries. A winter heating bill. Tickets to this weekend’s big game. $330 can mean a lot to an American family. A recent report from U.S. PIRG found that American families could save just that by repairing – rather than replacing – electronics and appliances every year.
That’s why it’s no surprise “right to repair” is a growing, national movement to ensure that American consumers are the ones to decide how and where their products get repaired. These reforms are critical at a time when many original manufacturers are locking away data from consumers and using other tactics to control competition and share of the market.
This is true in the auto industry as well, where right to repair can mean even bigger savings for consumers. In fact, replacement parts for common components like side mirrors, fenders, doors, and quarter panels from alternative parts manufacturers (who sell replacement parts not branded by automakers) can cost nearly 60% less than those made by the original manufacturer.
These alternative parts are just as safe and reliable as original manufacturer parts, and help provide for a more sustainable future. Expanding access to vehicle repair options avoids the need to prematurely dispose used cars, cutting down on unnecessary waste. Additionally, routine car maintenance ensures that vehicles continue to perform optimally, with regular “tune-ups” increasing a vehicle’s fuel economy by 4-12%.
At a time when rising prices are offering Americans fewer and fewer choices, a series of right to repair reforms before Congress is offering critical relief. This includes the SMART Act, which will reform outdated patent laws to empower consumers, giving them the choice of quality, safe, and affordable replacement parts, while still allowing for appropriate intellectual property rights of automakers.
If you think it’s time for Americans to have more – not fewer – choices when they need to repairing their vehicles, then get engaged, learn more, and join us in calling on members of Congress to support the SMART Act: https://carrepairchoice.org/take-action
