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Right to repair stems from the idea that if you bought something, you should own it. Ownership should be absolute and therefore entails full control over repairs. Unfortunately, this implied right has diminished over time due to the gradual shift to repair restrictions imposed by manufacturers. Here’s why makers of consumer technology, which now includes modern automobiles, still have a monopoly on repairs and how the status quo is changing in the United States
How Manufacturers Justify Repair Restrictions
Right-to-repair advocates argue that manufacturers want to monopolize the repair market to generate continuous revenue and encourage consumption. It’s a sound argument, considering that a captive repair economy can earn an organization billions in profits, as evidenced by the successful Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere.
Corporations rarely say the quiet part loud. Instead, their spokespeople would support right to repair in press releases and media interviews. But at the same time, they often cite these reasons as to why their affiliates have easier access to repair resources than consumers and independent technicians.
Quality
Manufacturers argue that unauthorized and DIY repairs can lead to low-quality work. This sentiment is stronger in automakers that achieved dominance through vertical integration, such as Tesla.
Certainly, this notion holds when parties outside their dealers have limited access to product manuals, schematics and diagnostic systems. Many car owners can already replace batteries, headlight bulbs, alternators, brake pads, spark plugs and other components without technical knowledge. Do-it-yourselfers should be able to improve their skills if automakers give them better resources.
Safety
Some tasks are inherently risky even with proper tools. The original manufacturers prohibit certain repairs to promote safety and minimize liability risk.
It’s a fair justification, but these companies already penalize buyers for what they consider improper behaviors, such as adding any aftermarket component that fails. Aside from having warranty coverage nullified, self-sufficient owners also risk having insurance claims denied if things don’t go as planned.
Cybersecurity
For makers of digital technologies, sharing internal source code and diagnostic software increases the risk of getting compromised. That’s true, as hackers can hold vehicles for ransom, remotely unlock and start them and manipulate settings.
Right-to-repair critics even go so far as to call this freedom a national security threat, opening a Pandora’s box of vulnerabilities state actors can exploit.
This warning is plausible, but the problem is that these companies themselves profit from personal data. Automakers collect driver behavior data and share it with third parties, including credit bureaus, insurance companies and lenders, that may use the sensitive information against its owner. While the practice may be legal when noted in privacy policies, it’s definitely unethical.
Intellectual Property
Car, smartphone, tablet and computer manufacturers generally view repair resources as trade secrets, which should remain proprietary. Granting consumers greater access to them can disincentivize R & D, leading to a loss of innovation.
Technically, companies gain a temporary government monopoly on the patenting of inventions, which then become public information. True trade secrets are generally unpatented technologies to avoid full public disclosure and ensure continuous confidentiality. Still, right-to-repair laws can include stringent safeguards to balance the interests of IP holders and consumers.
Can You Legally Repair Your Own Car?
Yes, you can legally repair your own car, but you may not be able to do so correctly, safely and efficiently with limited access to resources from its maker. Right to repair is more about control than legality.
Fortunately, many problems don’t necessarily merit a trip to an authorized dealer for repairs, especially if you have an older model. For instance, you can fix an overheating engine by changing the radiator’s cap, which should only cost you a few bucks at a local auto parts store.
Right-to-Repair Laws in the U.S.
Many Americans now enjoy state-level protections against repair restrictions, though these legal powers have notable limitations.
States With an Automotive Right-to-Repair Law
Only Massachusetts and Maine have right-to-repair laws that cover motor vehicles.
In 2012, the Bay State became the first in the nation to enact a law granting the legal right to repair automobiles. Since then, this pioneer has required automakers to give car owners and independent auto shops the same level of access to diagnostic and repair information as authorized dealers.
In 2020, Massachusettsans voted to expand this freedom by including telematics, enabling do-it-yourselfers and automotive workshops to access data wirelessly transmitted by newer models. An auto-industry-backed trade group challenged the legislation in court, alleging the measure conflicted with preexisting federal consumer safety and intellectual property laws and would put personal data at risk.
Federal and state regulators agreed to meet halfway and allowed the law to move forward in 2023. However, the legal challenge still had two unresolved counts. A federal judge dismissed the remaining two claims in 2025, finally putting the matter to rest.
Maine followed suit in 2023, standardizing access to diagnostic systems. In 2025, the Pine Tree State developed a framework for sharing automobile-generated data through a secure platform approved by vehicle owners.
States With a Broader Right-to-Repair Law
Five states have passed nonautomotive right-to-repair laws.
- California: The Golden State’s repair law mandates manufacturers of consumer electronics like smartphones and appliances to provide tools, parts and documentation.
- New York, Minnesota and Oregon: The smartphone repair laws of these states cover digital electronic products, but not home appliances and alarm systems.
- Colorado: The Centennial State’s measure used to only apply to agricultural assets and powered wheelchairs. Since 2026, it has begun to cover electronic products, including consumer electronics, HVAC systems and IT equipment, making it the broadest right-to-repair law across the U.S.
Is Freedom to Fix the Same as Right to Repair?
No, President Donald Trump’s “freedom to fix” memorandum isn’t the same as right to repair. However, it could determine how federal rules can fill gaps at the state level.
This directive instructs the EPA to clarify what actions car owners may take when performing emissions repairs under the Clean Air Act.
Freedom to fix also aims to reduce the California Air Resources Board’s workload as the sole certifying body for aftermarket equipment. It would open the door for other willing and capable organizations to test products and prevent backlogs, driving up parts prices and protecting consumers from counterfeit goods.
Ownership and Right to Repair Go Hand in Hand
Manufacturers have valid reservations about expanding access to diagnostic and repair information. Still, making life unreasonably harder for consumers who just want to fix their broken possessions creates a moral hazard that corporations could inflate service charges and parts prices if left to their own devices. Right to repair has unique challenges, but the risk of culpability is worth it to reclaim control.
