Right to Repair

As automotive technology continues to evolve, independent repair shops, aftermarket businesses, and automotive consumers seek access to the tools and information necessary to repair and service motor vehicles. Legislation at the state and federal level provides repair shops and aftermarket businesses with the right to access critical information, tools, and equipment needed to maintain and repair vehicles at a fair and reasonable cost. However, several pieces of legislation including the federal REPAIR Act (H.R. 906) require the sharing of data beyond the scope of diagnostics and repair, which could create critical gaps in cybersecurity protections and risk driver safety and privacy. 

Furthermore, RVs, which include both trailers and motorhomes, combine transportation and temporary living quarters for travel, recreation, and camping. Their unique components, manufacture, and supply chain make them quite different from automobiles. As such, RVs are exempt from many state right to repair laws. 

RATIONALE FOR RV EXEMPTION FROM RIGHT TO REPAIR LEGISLATION

There are several reasons to exempt RVs from right to repair legislative requirements. 

1. RVs are Currently Exempted from State Right to Repair Laws. An RV is a vehicle that combines transportation and temporary living quarters for travel, recreation, and camping. States recognize this unique nature and explicitly exempt RVs from state right to repair legislation including the 2013 Massachusetts Right to Repair bill. Moreover, the original 2014 MOU and recently revised 2023 version negotiated between the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AFAI) specifically exempt RVs from the motor vehicle definition.
2. Unique Nature of RVs Design/Construction. RVs are essentially vehicles with home-like amenities. In addition to the “front end” engine, there is a “back end” with features often found in your house, such as an oven, refrigerator, sink, bathroom, and electrical and plumbing components unique to both motorhomes and RV trailers. An RV manufacturer would not be able to provide specific individuals certain direct, real-time, in-vehicle data generated by the operation of each and every vehicle system within the RVs, because this data often lies with the component supplier. An RV OEM should not be expected to provide information, sensitive data, or access that it doesn’t have access to or knowledge of.
3. Different Warranty and Supply Chain Issues. With fully equipped kitchens and baths, rooms that slide out at the touch of a button, central air and heat, flat-screen TVs, surround-sound stereos and more, RVs include several amenities with separate warranties. Again, it is often the component part supplier, not the vehicle manufacturer, which sets the warranty for the appliance or equipment. Current legislation puts the onus on the RV manufacturer and assumes the RV OEM has the data needed to access every component in the vehicle when they do not. 

The RV Industry Association supports an RV-specific exclusion in state and federal right to repair legislation that would place an undue burden on America’s RV manufacturers. RVs are units with unique non-automobile components, dealer structure, and supply chain where right to repair does not easily apply.