A report released by the Government Accountability Office in March 2024 put hard numbers on something independent shops have been saying for years: automakers are systematically locking them out of repair work on modern vehicles — and consumers are paying the price.
What the GAO Found
The report focused on two areas where independent shops are struggling to keep up: advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and electric vehicles (EVs).
ADAS includes features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and backup cameras. When any of these systems need calibration or repair after a collision or component replacement, they often require proprietary tools or software that only dealerships can access.
EVs compound the problem. High-voltage battery service, software diagnostics, and powertrain programming are often locked behind manufacturer portals that independent shops cannot enter — even if the technicians have the skills and the equipment.
The GAO estimated that these restrictions cost independent repair shops approximately $3.1 billion per year in lost revenue.
Telematics: A Growing Advantage for Dealers
The report also flagged the role of vehicle telematics. Modern cars are constantly transmitting data — engine status, fault codes, location, driving patterns — back to the manufacturer.
Dealerships get early access to this data stream. If your car detects a problem and transmits a fault code, the dealer may know about it before you do. Independent shops do not have that same real-time data pipeline.
"Telematics gives dealers a first-mover advantage on service appointments. Independent shops are starting the race with one leg tied."
This is not a small competitive gap. It affects who gets to diagnose your car, who gets to fix it, and ultimately what you pay.
Who Gets Hurt Most
The GAO specifically called out two groups that bear the worst consequences of this access gap:
Rural communities. If the nearest dealership is an hour away and the local independent shop cannot service your late-model vehicle, you have a real problem. That problem gets worse as EVs become more common.
Low-income consumers. Dealership service departments charge higher labor rates. When independent shops are locked out of the work, consumers lose their most affordable repair option.
The Right to Repair Fight
This is the core issue driving federal and state right-to-repair legislation. The REPAIR Act, introduced in Congress, would require automakers to give independent shops access to the same diagnostic and repair data they provide to dealers.
Massachusetts passed a right-to-repair law that automakers have been fighting in court ever since. Maine passed its own version in 2023. The battle is ongoing.
Independent shops are not asking for anything exotic. They want access to the same technical information needed to fix the cars their customers bring in. That is a reasonable ask — and a federal report now confirms the stakes.
EthicalMechanic.org tracks right-to-repair developments and helps consumers find independent shops equipped to handle modern vehicles. If you want to support the independent repair industry, finding and patronizing qualified local shops is the most direct way to do it.