Americans are feeling squeezed. From groceries to rent to discretionary spending, the cost of living is front and center in this year’s political debate. And while prices for most goods have risen about 3 percent over the past year, one essential expense has surged far faster: auto repairs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of motor vehicle repairs has jumped 15 percent in the past year alone, and is up nearly 189 percent since 1997, far outpacing general inflation. For millions of Americans, a vehicle is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. A car or truck is how they get to work, school and medical appointments. When that lifeline breaks, the financial fallout can be devastating.
A research report by Depth Services, “High Costs, Hard Hits,” underscores the crisis. In a nationwide survey of 1,001 drivers who had a collision in the past five years, 78 percent said repair costs were significantly higher than before, and 36 percent lived in households earning under $50,000. Many were forced to choose between fixing their only vehicle and paying for rent, groceries or medical care.
Consider Deja W. from Ohio, who told researchers that a minor fender-bender sidelined her car for nearly two months because parts were unavailable. She spent $1,200 on rideshares just to keep her job. “I had to drain my savings,” she said. “It felt like I was being punished for something that wasn’t my fault.” Another driver, Josie S. from Arizona, faced a $6,800 repair bill after a collision. Insurance covered part of it, but her deductible and higher premiums forced her to cancel a planned move and take on credit card debt.
What’s driving these costs? The report points to limited competition in the auto parts market, where automakers use design patents and proprietary data to restrict access to affordable aftermarket parts. This forces consumers into dealership repair networks that charge inflated prices. Independent shops, once a refuge for budget-conscious drivers, are increasingly locked out because they lack access to the parts and diagnostic tools needed for modern vehicles. In fact, 84 percent of independent repair shops rank lack of access to vehicle data as their number one challenge — placing it ahead of technician recruitment and even inflation concerns.
The result: a system where prices are artificially high and consumers have few alternatives. Nearly 44 percent of surveyed drivers experienced repair delays due to parts shortages, leaving many without transportation for weeks or months. Public transit isn’t a viable option in much of the country, and ride-sharing costs add up quickly.
There is a solution moving through Congress: the REPAIR Act, which would establish a national vehicle right-to-repair law. The bill was the subject of a hearing before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade last week and has progressed farther through Congress than any right-to-repair legislation. The REPAIR Act has more than 50 sponsors in the House and Senate and is continuing to add co-sponsors.
“The REPAIR Act is motivated to support consumer choice in a fair marketplace,” Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, said at the hearing. “If it’s your car, then you own the data generated by your car.”
If it becomes law, the REPAIR Act would require automakers to share repair data and tools with independent shops and consumers, and allow access to lower-cost aftermarket parts. This would increase competition, drive down prices and restore consumer choice. Research shows strong public backing: 83 percent of surveyed drivers say they support the REPAIR Act.
The right-to-repair movement is spreading beyond autos. The Department of War has proposed a “Warrior Right to Repair” policy, and the Federal Trade Commission’s 2021 Nixing the Fix report laid the groundwork by exposing how manufacturers restrict repair access.
Congress must act. The REPAIR Act would help families stay afloat, reduce insurance premiums, and make car ownership more affordable. In an era when Americans are cutting back, they shouldn’t have to choose between fixing their car and paying the rent. Lawmakers have a chance to deliver real relief — and give drivers the tools they need to keep moving forward.