Coalition For Automotive RepairEdit
The Coalition For Automotive Repair is a trade association that represents a broad network of independent auto repair shops, diagnostic tool suppliers, and allied service businesses. Its members argue that broad access to repair information, diagnostic data, and non-proprietary tools is essential for competition, consumer choice, and local economic vitality. The coalition positions itself as a guardian of market-based outcomes in the automotive service sector, emphasizing that growth, affordability, and reliability come from open competition rather than monopolistic imitation of authorized dealer networks.
From its perspective, the coalition’s work is about restoring balance in a marketplace that often tilts toward large, captive networks. It contends that when independent shops can access the same data and tools as dealer-affiliated facilities, customers win because prices fall, downtime decreases, and local jobs are preserved. In this frame, the coalition frames policy debates about right to repair, data access, and tool availability as essential components of a healthy, consumer-friendly economy rather than mere debates about who provides service.
History
The Coalition For Automotive Repair was formed in the early 2000s as a coalition of owner-operators and small suppliers who believed that the automotive service market favored a few large dealer networks at the expense of viable independent businesses and consumer choice.
Over the years, the group has built a presence at state legislatures and within federal policy conversations, advocating for openness in repair data, access to diagnostic tools, and protections for small businesses against restrictive OEM practices.
Its advocacy has often aligned with broader pro-competitive policy arguments in the antitrust and small-business policy domains, arguing that competition among repair providers, not exclusive dealer control, yields better prices and service quality for vehicle owners.
The coalition has produced white papers, policy briefs, and testimony in support of proposed legislation designed to ensure that vehicle owners can choose where to have repairs performed, while still upholding safety and regulatory standards. It maintains collaborations with other business associations and with consumer groups that share a belief in market-based solutions to affordability and access.
Policy agenda
Access to repair data and tools: The coalition calls for broad, timely access to vehicle repair information, diagnostic software, and official repair protocols for independent shops and, where appropriate, for vehicle owners themselves. The aim is to close what it describes as a “data monopoly” that favors dealer networks. This position intersects with debates around the Right to repair movement and related policy proposals.
Competition and small business vitality: A core aim is to reduce barriers to entry for independent repair shops and prevent anti-competitive practices such as exclusive service arrangements or tied product offerings that keep consumers locked into dealer networks. The coalition argues that a healthier competitive environment lowers prices and spurs innovation at the local level, benefiting families and small businesses.
Safety, quality, and standards: While advocating for openness, the coalition emphasizes that safety remains non-negotiable. It supports standards and training to ensure that repairs meet established safety and reliability norms, and it argues that competition can incentivize better service without compromising vehicle safety. The topic touches on cybersecurity and data privacy considerations when diagnostic data and telematics are involved.
Data privacy and vehicle telematics: The group highlights the importance of user ownership over repair data and cautions against regulatory models that would burden small businesses with excessive compliance costs. It also engages in the policy discussion around who owns and can access telematics data, and under what terms.
Regulatory relief and tax policy for small repair shops: The coalition argues for sensible regulatory relief and targeted tax policies that foster small-business investment, workforce development, and apprenticeship programs to sustain a skilled local auto-repair workforce.
Activities and influence
Public policy advocacy: The coalition consistently engages lawmakers at the state and federal levels, presenting policy analysis, testimony, and model legislation aimed at expanding access to repair data and promoting competitive markets in auto repair.
Education and outreach: Through white papers, public campaigns, and industry events, the coalition seeks to educate vehicle owners and small businesses about the economic and practical benefits of open data and resilient repair ecosystems.
Partnerships and coalitions: The group partners with other industry associations, trade groups, and consumer organizations that share a commitment to market-based solutions, small-business growth, and affordability in auto services.
Legal and regulatory engagement: The coalition supports amicus briefs and participates in regulatory proceedings where the balance between data access, safety, and innovation is at stake. It references cases and policy debates involving Right to repair and related topics to explain its position.
Reception and debates
Pro-market case for repair openness: Proponents argue that allowing independent shops to access diagnostic data and tools reduces repair costs, shortens downtime, and keeps more money circulating in local economies. They contend that competition among repair providers improves service quality and spurs innovation in diagnostic methods and training.
Concerns from opponents: Critics worry that broad data access could raise safety or privacy concerns, complicate warranty terms, or encourage unregulated repair practices that may compromise vehicle reliability. They also point to the role of OEMs in protecting intellectual property and safety-related software, arguing that unbridled data sharing could undermine investment in technology and safety features.
Views within the broader political economy: From a competitive-market perspective, supporters of the coalition emphasize that government-enforced mandates should not replace pragmatic market incentives or stifle innovation. They argue that the right mix of standards, transparency, and enforcement will deliver better outcomes than heavy-handed regulation that raises costs for small businesses and consumers.
Controversies and defenses from the coalition: The coalition often frames the debate as one of economic liberty and local autonomy—protecting independent repair shops and the families they serve from being squeezed by a few large dealer networks. In addressing critiques that this stance privileges business interests over consumer protection, the group argues that open, competitive markets actually strengthen consumer protections by lowering prices, expanding service options, and increasing uptime for vehicles. When critics use broader social or justice frames, the coalition contends that its mission is inherently about affordability, choice, and opportunity for a broad cross-section of vehicle owners and small-business workers.
On the question of policy labels and rhetoric: The coalition asserts that its emphasis on market-based solutions aligns with mainstream conservative principles: less red tape, more competition, and a focus on individual responsibility and local decision-making. Critics sometimes frame the debate as a clash over who should control repair information; the coalition counters that the central issue is ensuring that consumers have real options and that small businesses can compete on a level playing field.