VACC calls for reforms to vehicle service and repair information scheme

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has submitted 19 recommendations to the federal government’s review of the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS), aimed at improving access to data for independent repairers and ensuring consumers retain choice in servicing.

The Treasury-led review is assessing the scheme’s effectiveness since its introduction and its impact on competition between authorised dealers and independent workshops.

VACC chief executive Peter Jones said while the MVIS was a positive step, there are gaps that prevent independent repairers from competing on equal terms.

Key recommendations include a national awareness campaign to increase understanding of the scheme, particularly among smaller and regional workshops, stronger oversight and enforcement by the ACCC and AASRA, and expanding the scope to include telematics data, information for vehicles with Level 3 and above automated driving systems, ADAS calibration data, electronic logbooks, and online service history.

The VACC is also calling for the scheme to cover motorcycles, heavy vehicles, farm machinery, and recreational vehicles.

Jones said modern vehicles require more complex information for safe and effective repair and that reforms should keep pace with technological advances. He also emphasised the need for proper industry consultation before any new regulations are introduced.

The organisation’s submission was informed by surveys, meetings, and discussions with members from metropolitan and regional workshops.

The review is part of the government’s wider right-to-repair agenda, with findings expected to inform policy in other sectors. The VACC says it will continue to monitor progress and advocate for changes that support a competitive and sustainable automotive repair industry.