The Right to Repair Campaign (R2RC) is the response of the entire repair sector for motor vehicles to defend the rights given to Block Exemption Regulation (BER). The Block Exemption includes elements that give the consumer the freedom to choose where they have their vehicle maintained without negating manufacturers' warranties. To enable repairs to be made, the vehicle manufacturer under BER should make technical information freely available.

What is the problem?

Vehicles are becoming more complex and access to information is often being restricted by the price that the vehicle manfacturers charge, or by restrictive covenants, so negating the benifits that BER was intended to bring.

As a result of a 'loophole' tha restricts accessto technical information, it is becoming increasingly necessary for vehicles to be sent to the dealership for 're-commissioning' even if the repair has been successfully completed by the independant repairer.

So what will happen?

There will be fewer vehicles that the independant repairer are able to reapir and, if the vehicle manufacturers succeed in their aims the independents will be fewer, if any exist at all. There are currently 5.92 million vehicles fitted with CAN-bus components already in the UK aftermarket!

The consumer will have less choice on where the vehicle is repaired and an increase cost of repair. There are far fewer frachised dealers across the UK that independent repairers. The consumer will have an increased distance to travel to have a vehicle maintained/repaired and greater cost in both financial terms (fuel) and in time.

The hourly rate of the independent garage is half that of the franchised dealers (source GIPA UK Ltd. Operation Trends March 2007).

The cost to the consumer of repairs could double!

The result - vehicles are serviced less often, meaning they operate less efficiently. Coupled with increased distances to travel for repair, this will create a negative impact on the environment.

Lack of regular servicing will unbdoubtedly lead to unsafe vehicles on the road at what cost?

With the exception of the vehicle manufacturers and their dealerships it is in everyone's interest to enure that R"RC succeeds in its aim - to ensure that the consumers right to choose where they have their vehicle repaired is protected and to ensure that the repair arena remains a competitive one.

See more information at www.r2rc.co.uk