Right to repair law comes into force July 1

Consumers are set to benefit from a new law that will increase choice in the vehicle repair market and drive down the cost of vehicle ownership says the Australian Automobile Association.

From July 1, OEM vehicle manufacturers will be required by law to share service and repair information with independent repairers.

AAA managing director Michael Bradley says the new right to repair laws are a big win for consumers as they mean Australians can take their car to their mechanic of choice, safe in the knowledge that their preferred repairer will be able to access all the brand data needed to do the job.

The new law requires car makers to share service and repair information for passenger and light goods vehicles to repairers at a fair market price.

“This means more choice for consumers and more competition in the service and repair sector,” Bradley says.

“For much of the past decade, the AAA has advocated for legislation that improves availability of motor vehicle service and repair information to independent repairers, to promote market competition and increase consumer choice. 

“The AA has consistently argued that service and repair information available to franchised motor vehicle dealers should also be available to independent repairers on commercially fair and reasonable terms. 

“As vehicles become more technologically complex, the necessity for such information is only going to become more acute,” he says.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will police the scheme and it’s backed by fines of up to $10 million for car makers who don’t comply.

The new rules apply to vehicles manufactured after 1 January 2002.

This has been made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Australian Automobile Association, Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, Australian Automotive Dealer Association, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry and the Motor Trades Association of Australia.

*The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Act 2021 amends the Competition and Consumer Act to establish a mandatory scheme to promote competition in the Australian automotive servicing sector.