How much right to repair can save customers
Canada’s aftermarket is pressing Ottawa to pass national right to repair legislation, arguing it would lower household costs and protect jobs, as a new study details how limited access to repair and maintenance data drives up bills and delays service for drivers.
The Automotive Industries Association of Canada has released Unlocking access: Why Right to Repair matters for every vehicle owner, a report by MNP Canada, which finds that automakers control the data independent shops need to diagnose and fix today’s increasingly digital vehicles — up to $500 on common repairs and up to 80% for labour-heavy or complex repairs when aftermarket parts are used.
Without timely access, many repairs are pushed to dealerships, which can mean higher prices and longer waits, especially in rural communities where the nearest dealer may be hours away.
“We hear consistently from our members that there are ongoing challenges accessing service and repair data from vehicle manufacturers, posing a threat to our businesses and real challenges for drivers,” said Emily Chung, president and CEO of AIA Canada. “As more Canadians keep their vehicles longer, maintenance and repair needs are increasing. With vehicle costs typically the second‑highest household expense, swift action to implement right to repair across Canada is urgently needed.”
The report highlights sizable savings at independent shops. For routine work such as oil changes, prices were between $10 and $15 lower than at dealers. For common repairs like shocks, struts or oxygen sensors, independents were typically 10 to 25 per cent less expensive, translating to $30 to more than $200 per job depending on model and region.
While annual savings are modest for newer vehicles that only need routine service, they grow as vehicles age and require more repairs.
Access gaps also affect turnaround time and cost. Most shops interviewed reported longer repair times when information is not readily available, ranging from one to two hours to one to two days, largely due to searching fragmented platforms. Longer jobs raise labour costs that are often passed to customers. AIA Canada estimates that if every independent shop lost just one repair per week because they could not access repair data, annual profit losses could reach $336 million across the sector.
Rural Canadians face a disproportionate burden. Independent shops are a vital service where dealerships are scarce, including for emergency fleet vehicles. Some shops reported narrowing their service offerings due to the cost of accessing data and tools. If barriers rise further, more independents could scale back or exit the market, forcing rural drivers to travel farther and miss work to reach dealer service bays.
AIA Canada noted that other jurisdictions have already taken steps to level the playing field. Quebec and countries such as Australia, South Africa and members of the European Union have moved to enshrine right to repair. Examples in Massachusetts, Australia and the EU require manufacturers to provide independent shops with repair information comparable to what dealers receive, either through open access or at fair market value.
The association is urging the federal government to follow through on commitments to introduce right to repair nationally so that affordable, timely vehicle repairs remain available coast to coast to coast.
Independent shops employ a large share of the more than 500,000 Canadians working in the auto care industry, AIA Canada pointed out. It further argued that giving them equal access to repair information and tools would maintain competition after warranties expire, help keep vehicles safe and cost-effective to operate, and support local employment.
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