CAR Coalition poll finds that vast majority of Americans want the right to decide when and where their vehicles are repaired
WASHINGTON D.C. – The CAR Coalition, a growing group of independent automotive parts, management and repair companies, associations, and insurers committed to preserving consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair, is releasing the findings of a national poll focused on consumer choices in auto repair. According to the poll conducted by YouGov, 79 percent of consumers believe that automakers should be prevented by law from restricting access to vehicle data.
Vehicle owners feel strongly about this: 85 percent of those who approve of such a law said they would be willing to ask their member of Congress to enact legislation giving vehicle owners the ability to choose who has access to their vehicle data. 93 percent of respondents believe consumers should decide where they can repair their vehicles.
“Consumers get it. They understand that their vehicle data belongs to them, not auto manufacturers,” Justin Rzepka, CAR Coalition Executive Director. “The CAR Coalition is committed to working with policymakers to ensure consumers’ rights are protected and they have options when it comes to their vehicle repair.”
Other key findings included: 79 percent of those surveyed believe that car owners should have access to data collected by their vehicle and 74 percent disapprove of automakers blocking independent repair shops from accessing the data that the car collects and preventing them from repairing cars. And 75 percent of consumers believe that automakers block access to vehicle data so they can earn more money.
Launched less than one year ago, the CAR Coalition has become a leading advocate for protecting consumer choices and access to vehicle data, fighting automakers’ attempts to monopolize the post-collision repair market and hoard vehicle data. The CAR Coalition has conducted extensive outreach to a bipartisan group of policymakers and supports federal legislation designed to protect consumer choice in the post-collision repair market.
YouGov surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults who own a car model year 2000 or newer over the period of March 22-24, 2021. Expanded results of the survey are available HERE.
About the CAR Coalition
The CAR Coalition is committed to preserving and protecting consumer choice and affordable vehicle repair by ensuring competition in the automotive collision parts industry. Members include: Allstate, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA), Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency, Inc. (AMECA), AutoZone, Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), Diamond Standard, Geotab, and LKQ Corporation. Learn more at carcoalition.com
