‘Right to Repair’ approved by Maine voters on Question 4 Zainal Abidin, 22/08/202522/08/2025 The “yes” vote leveled the field so local and small-business mechanics could have access to data that would be restricted to dealerships.MAINE, USA — Maine voters decided “yes” to Question 4, allowing local repair shops and mechanics access to the same data as dealerships.Maine is the sixth state in the US to approve such a measure, likely indicating the start of a wave of support behind similar initiatives.Question 4, a citizen initiative, read as follows on the Maine ballot:Do you want to require vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems and provide remote access to those systems and mechanical data to owners and independent repair facilities?A “yes” vote allows all mechanical information about a vehicle to be made available beyond dealerships regarding things like being able to diagnose and repair vehicles along with regular maintenance issues.“By voting yes on Question 4, Mainers have now joined Massachusetts in a growing national movement to update automotive Right to Repair laws for the modern age of connected cars,” Tommy Hickey, director of the Maine Automotive Right to Repair Committee, said Tuesday in a statement. “Automakers are trying to monopolize the market on car and truck repairs but… Continue Reading
Auto Repair Industry Could Benefit from Tax Relief Act Zainal Abidin, 18/08/2025 The automotive repair industry is poised to receive a substantial boost from the proposed Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024.This bipartisan initiative, supported by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), aims to alleviate financial strains faced by independent repair shops, grappling with rapid technological advancements and an evolving automotive landscape.If passed, the legislation, as outlined in a press release from ASA, would address several pressing concerns. It offers a reward from the high costs associated with adopting new technologies such as EVs and ADAS. These adaptations have forced many independent repairers to incur significant debts to upgrade their facilities and equipment. The Tax Relief Act proposes to reclassify the interest paid on these loans as a deductible expense.Furthermore, the act proposes a 100% bonus depreciation allowance for qualified property acquired between Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2026. This allowance would cover necessary investments like equipment and vehicles.Additionally, it increases the maximum expense limit for qualifying property, adjusting for inflation in the coming years, providing immediate financial relief while also setting a precedent for sustainable growth in the industry.A proposed change in the Child Tax Credit would directly impact employees of these… Continue Reading
Managing Transformation in the Auto Repair Industry Zainal Abidin, 12/08/2025 The auto-repair industry stands at the threshold of transformation, shaped by a convergence of factors: soaring insurance and manufacturing costs, shifting consumer dynamics and advancing automation and technology.And with artificial intelligence, machine learning and cutting-edge innovations revolutionizing the landscape, industry leaders must understand these shifts and chart a new path forward.Navigating the Cost ChallengeAuto insurance costs have skyrocketed, surging nearly 17%. While some of this surge can be attributed to inflation, there are actually multiple factors contributing to this sharp escalation in insurance premiums.Modern vehicles, including rapidly growing numbers of electric cars, have added complexity and costliness to repairs. The post-pandemic resurgence in accidents due to increased road activity has further exacerbated premiums.Simultaneously, manufacturing costs have surged due to labor shortages, supply-chain disruptions and regulatory changes. These mounting costs translate to pricier vehicle parts, extended repair durations and overall higher expenses. Inflated manufacturing expenses can significantly impact the insurance claims process, greatly affecting the affordability of insurance policies.In response to these rising costs, leaders in the repair industry must prioritize streamlining the claims process, fostering cost reductions and improving customer satisfaction.Adapting to Changing Consumer Behavior and Aging VehiclesEscalating insurance and manufacturing costs… Continue Reading
12 Most Common Lies You’re Being Told About Your Car Repair Zainal Abidin, 08/08/2025 skynesher/Getty ImagesAccording to Cox Automotive (Kelley Blue Book’s parent company), the average car owner spends $548 to fix their car. Higher-end or luxury vehicles usually cost more than that.Check Out: 6 Luxury Cars Mechanics RecommendLearn More: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their MoneyAlong with this, AAA found that the average cost of vehicular maintenance is $792 a year. This is assuming general wear and tear and doesn’t include things like new tires or unexpected expenses.While keeping up with your car’s maintenance is important, chances are you’ll spend more than you should at the mechanic. Worse, you might be spending money on things you don’t even need.GOBankingRates spoke with Chris Pyle, a trained auto mechanic and car expert at JustAnswer, about the top lies people hear about their car repairs. Here’s what he said.Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.You Should Change Your Oil Based on Your Vehicle’s AgeThe idea that you need to change your oil based on the age of your car is, in Pyle’s words, “hogwash.”“It has been underground for thousands of years.… Continue Reading
Lawmakers move to repeal parts of Maine’s new automotive right to repair law Zainal Abidin, 06/08/2025 Lawmakers gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would undo part of Maine’s new automotive right to repair law that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November.The law, which went into effect last month, requires car manufacturers to share advanced repair data with car owners and independent mechanics through a standardized platform intended to reduce the cost of accessing the information needed to make repairs.Jacob Sirois works on a Ford F150 at Jason’s Auto Service in Hollis this past fall. Sirois has worked at the shop for about a year and has been working on cars for almost 15 years. Brianna Soukup/Staff PhotographerMembers of the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, however, expressed concerns that the current law puts consumers’ privacy and safety at risk and voted out a bill that would amend it by scrapping the standardized platform.Tuesday’s vote was 7-1, with five of 13 members absent. Those lawmakers will have two days to cast votes, but the outcome won’t change. The bill now goes to the full House and Senate for votes.Some lawmakers and right to reform advocates, who believe that the standardized platform is the most impactful aspect of the… Continue Reading
Video shows large explosion at Ohio auto shop that killed 3 people, injured 1 Zainal Abidin, 05/08/2025 An explosion on Tuesday at an auto repair shop in Ohio killed three people and injured a fourth, authorities said.Security cameras caught the moment the blast happened at Jimbo’s Auto Repair in Hillsboro, about 50 miles east of Cincinnati. The explosion caused a large fire which took a 45-person fire crew around an hour to suppress, said Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District Chief David Manning.“The fire extended into the building immediately adjacent to the auto shop and there was debris all over the road,” said Manning, who helped respond to the explosion.Manning said he believes all four victims were employees at the auto repair shop. The woman who was injured was transported to the hospital and is in stable condition.The cause of the explosion is under investigation and the identities of the victims have not yet been released, said Manning.The blast was so strong that it was felt at the fire house five to six blocks away from the auto shop, said Manning. Neighbors of the auto shop told NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati that it shook their homes.“When I heard about the explosion, I told my wife, she said it rocked… Continue Reading
Right to Repair: What’s the future of the automotive aftermarket? Zainal Abidin, 22/09/2024 2:09 Stellantis halts construction of Ontario electric vehicle battery plant Wally Dingman hates having to turn away customers. It’s what’s kept him in the auto repair business for 40 years.Like the 371,000 Canadians working in the aftermarket industry, Dingman is more than qualified to repair a vehicle. Yet, in the modern age of repair, just knowing how to do so is not enough.“Every day it’s getting more difficult to carry out repairs,” Dingman said. “Our scan tools and our repair software have limited access to information because it’s being held by the manufacturer.”Dingman owns Caughill Automotive in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. His shop is one of 10 aftermarket repair shops that service the town of just under 10,000.As vehicles become more digitized, so, too, become the tools required to diagnose a vehicle for a repair. Older vehicle models would provide information directly to a technician, so long as they have a tool to access the On-Board Diagnostic port, whereas newer models share certain information only with the dealer.The problem? Dealers aren’t in turn sharing that information with the aftermarket. It has put in jeopardy a $15.7 billion aftermarket industry, a cornerstone of Canadian society for decades.This… Continue Reading
Technology Drives Auto Repair Shop Transformation Zainal Abidin, 21/09/2024 Technology changes in and outside the automotive service repair shop are keeping customers on the road and business operations flowing.In uncertain times, ensuring “business as usual” is much easier said than done – but with rising costs impacting all industries, “business as usual” is now a necessity. For automotive service providers, maintaining “business as usual” will require a business model rethink to better serve customers, remain competitive, and keep profitability high. It’s all about operational gains, new repair models, and supporting software that will ensure these benefits come to fruition inside and outside the repair shop.Forbes reports significant cost-of-living pressures on consumers. Just under 20% of consumers have had to withdraw money from “rainy day” savings or take out a loan to cover the basic operating costs of a vehicle, with two-thirds admitting that the rising cost of living has made owning a vehicle more challenging – this includes worries about affording fuel to perform basic journeys such as driving to work or taking their children to school.The effects of the cost-of-living crisis are widespread – not only are vehicle owners feeling the pinch, but repair shops and automotive service providers are experiencing their own unique set… Continue Reading
Question 4 pits automakers against local car repair shops Zainal Abidin, 19/09/2024 The way Dan Brooks sees it, small auto repair shops in Maine will struggle to fix new cars in the future — particularly as the push toward electric vehicles accelerates.That’s why he’s supporting Question 4 on the Nov. 7 ballot, the so-called “right to repair” initiative that would require vehicle manufacturers to standardize diagnostic systems and share that information with repair shops.The idea is to ensure that vehicles can be fixed outside of dealerships if a consumer wants to make that choice.“If you buy a car, you shouldn’t be restricted on where you get your car fixed,” said Brooks, owner of Capitol Car Care in Augusta.But a group representing most vehicle manufacturers says small repair shops already have the information they need to make repairs. They think the groups behind Question 4 are after customer data because they want to market directly to consumers — even going as far as advertising on the screen inside your car.“We’ve said from the beginning the information they are talking about is not necessary to complete a repair,” said Wayne Weikel, vice president of state affairs for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.Voters in November will be left to… Continue Reading
AIA Canada: Collision repair sector is losing talent to other sectors Zainal Abidin, 16/09/2024 The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) released a new labor market research report that sheds light on the collision repair talent shortage.Its study found that as 65% of mechanical and collision shop owners experienced an increase in technician turnover last year, nearly half of the technicians who quit did so for higher-paying jobs.Others abandoned the space due to poor perception of the industry, lack of career development opportunities, and better working conditions elsewhere, the report found.Among the talent that left the industry for better-paying alternatives, 13% moved into the construction space, AIA Canada said. It noted that the average $1,483 weekly income from construction was higher than the approximately $983 earned in auto repair and maintenance per week.“The skills acquired in auto repair, such as mechanical aptitude, manual dexterity, etc., are transferable to roles in construction, such as equipment and other specialty contractors,” the report said. “The transportation and warehousing industry also attracts workers seeking higher earning potential. For example, machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles) is a common destination for auto care workers, offering higher hourly wages compared to automotive service technicians.“The overlap of required qualifications, such as the completion… Continue Reading