Did Your Mechanic Send You to the Dealership? Massachusetts' Right to Repair Law May Protect You

You bought a new car. You found a mechanic you trust. But when you brought your vehicle in for routine maintenance or repairs, your mechanic gave you some frustrating news: You'll have to take it to the dealership.

Maybe the shop couldn't access your vehicle's diagnostic system. Maybe it needed special software or information that only the dealership seemed to have. Whatever the reason, you ended up with fewer choices about where to service your own car.

For Massachusetts drivers, that situation may raise serious legal questions.

Massachusetts has a Right to Repair law designed to ensure that independent mechanics and vehicle owners can access the repair information and tools that automakers make available to their dealerships. When manufacturers improperly restrict that access, consumers can lose the ability to choose where their vehicles are serviced.

If you were forced to visit an expensive dealership because an independent repair shop couldn't access the tools, software, or information needed to work on your vehicle, you may have grounds for legal action.

Why Would a Mechanic Be Unable to Service a New Car?

Modern vehicles are essentially computers on wheels. Even relatively straightforward maintenance can involve electronic systems that require specialized diagnostic equipment, software, or access to manufacturer-controlled information.

Independent mechanics may be perfectly capable of performing the physical work but encounter a technological roadblock.

For example, a repair shop might be unable to:

• Access certain diagnostic information needed to identify a problem.
• Use software required to complete a repair or maintenance procedure.
• Reset an electronic system after performing maintenance.
• Access manufacturer-controlled systems necessary to diagnose or service specific components.
• Obtain technical instructions or electronic tools available to authorized dealerships.

Some of these situations may involve legitimate technical limitations. Others may result from restrictions imposed by the automaker.

For drivers, the result can be the same: an unexpected trip to the dealership, potentially higher costs, longer wait times, or the inconvenience of traveling farther for service.

Massachusetts' Right to Repair law was created to address barriers that can limit consumers' ability to choose their preferred repair provider.

What Is Massachusetts' Right to Repair Law?

Massachusetts was among the first states to establish comprehensive protections for vehicle owners seeking repairs outside authorized dealerships.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93K, automakers are generally required to make certain diagnostic and repair information and tools available to vehicle owners and independent repair facilities on fair and reasonable terms.

The law aims to give independent mechanics access to the same covered repair resources that manufacturers provide to their dealerships. That can include diagnostic information, technical updates, repair instructions, and specialized electronic tools.

The purpose is straightforward: If a qualified independent shop can perform a repair, it should not be prevented from doing so simply because the manufacturer improperly withholds information or equipment.

These protections also help preserve competition among repair providers, giving vehicle owners more opportunities to compare pricing, convenience, and service.

How Does the Law Apply to Newer Vehicles?

As vehicles have become increasingly connected, the information needed to maintain them has changed.

Many newer cars use sophisticated electronic systems to monitor everything from engine performance and battery condition to braking, transmission operation, and other vehicle functions.

Some also use technology called telematics, which allows vehicles to collect and transmit information wirelessly.

That information can be valuable for diagnosing mechanical problems and performing repairs. But when automakers control access to it, independent repair shops may face additional obstacles.

In 2020, Massachusetts voters approved an expansion of the state's Right to Repair law addressing access to vehicle mechanical data.

The updated law includes provisions for model year 2022 and newer vehicles equipped with telematics systems. Those provisions call for a standardized access platform that allows vehicle owners to access mechanical data and authorize independent repair facilities to use that information for diagnostics, maintenance, and repairs.

The expansion also addresses certain restrictions on access to onboard diagnostic systems.

When Could a Dealership Referral Be a Sign of a Right to Repair Violation?

Being referred to a dealership does not automatically mean your rights were violated by the manufacturer. There are legitimate reasons an independent mechanic might decline a particular repair.

For example, a shop might not have the necessary training, may choose not to invest in specialized equipment, or may recommend a dealership for work covered by a manufacturer's warranty or recall.

However, certain circumstances could warrant a closer look. Your mechanic couldn't access required software or diagnostic information. If the manufacturer made the information available only to its dealerships but improperly restricted access for independent shops, the situation may raise concerns under Massachusetts law.

Your mechanic had the necessary expertise but couldn't obtain an essential electronic tool. Some repairs require manufacturer-specific capabilities. A refusal to provide legally required repair tools on fair and reasonable terms could potentially violate the law.

Your vehicle's electronic systems prevented the shop from completing the work. If manufacturer-controlled access restrictions interfered with diagnostics or maintenance, the circumstances may deserve further investigation.

You were told only an authorized dealership could perform the service. That statement is worth examining, particularly if it concerned ordinary maintenance and the reason involved restricted access to repair information.

The key question is why your independent mechanic couldn't complete the work and whether the manufacturer failed to provide access required by Massachusetts law.

Do You Have to Use a Dealership to Keep Your New Car's Warranty?

Under federal warranty protections, automakers and dealerships typically cannot void your vehicle's warranty simply because you chose an independent mechanic for routine maintenance or repairs.

For example, having your oil changed, brakes serviced, or other ordinary maintenance performed by a qualified independent shop generally does not invalidate your manufacturer's warranty.

There are exceptions. A manufacturer may require you to use designated repair facilities for work it provides free under the warranty. It may also deny coverage for damage caused by improper repairs, provided it can establish the connection.

These warranty protections are separate from Massachusetts' Right to Repair law, but both help protect consumers' ability to make decisions about servicing their vehicles.

If you were told that dealership service was mandatory to preserve your warranty, the circumstances may warrant additional legal review.

Can Massachusetts Drivers Receive Compensation for Right to Repair Violations?

Massachusetts' automotive Right to Repair law includes enforcement provisions that allow vehicle owners and independent repair facilities to pursue legal remedies when manufacturers fail to meet certain obligations.

The statute treats violations as unfair or deceptive practices under Massachusetts consumer protection law.

For certain unlawful denials of access to vehicle mechanical data, the law provides for damages equal to three times the amount of actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater.

However, eligibility depends on the specific statutory requirements, the circumstances of the denial, and the effect of ongoing litigation concerning the law's newer provisions. The $10,000 statutory remedy is not available simply because a mechanic referred a customer to a dealership.

Other claims involving required diagnostic information or repair tools may involve different procedures and remedies, including notice requirements and opportunities for manufacturers to correct a violation.

An attorney can review what happened, determine which legal protections may apply, and assess whether you may have a claim for compensation.

What Should You Do if Your Mechanic Couldn't Service Your Car?

If an independent mechanic told you that your vehicle had to go to the dealership, try to find out exactly why.

The more information you have about the obstacle your mechanic encountered, the easier it may be to determine whether your experience involved a potential Right to Repair violation.

Consider taking the following steps:

1. Ask your mechanic for an explanation. Find out whether the issue involved missing diagnostic information, inaccessible software, restricted vehicle data, or unavailable tools.
2. Keep your repair records. Save estimates, invoices, diagnostic reports, and any written explanation from the independent shop.
3. Document your dealership visit. Retain the dealer's paperwork, including descriptions of services performed, costs, and any diagnostic or programming work.
4. Record additional expenses. Keep receipts for transportation, towing, or other costs associated with obtaining the service.
5. Consider speaking with an attorney at Morgan & Morgan. A legal review can help determine whether manufacturer restrictions may have violated Massachusetts law.

Even if your repair was eventually completed, the original reason your independent mechanic couldn't perform the work may still be important.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts' Right to Repair Law

Does Massachusetts' Right to Repair law apply to all vehicles?

The law includes different requirements depending on the vehicle and technology involved. Certain diagnostic and repair information requirements apply to passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2002, while the newer telematics provisions address model year 2022 and later vehicles equipped with covered systems.

The law generally concerns manufacturers of vehicles sold in Massachusetts. Whether a particular claim is covered depends on factors including the vehicle, the manufacturer's obligations, and the type of access that was denied.

Can a manufacturer require me to go to a dealership for an oil change?

Generally, you do not have to use a dealership for routine maintenance such as an oil change simply to preserve your vehicle's factory warranty.

If the maintenance itself requires electronic access or tools that an independent shop cannot obtain, the reason for that restriction may be worth investigating. Not every shop's inability to perform a service establishes a legal violation.

What if my mechanic said the dealership was the only place with the necessary software?

That could be relevant to a potential Right to Repair claim. Massachusetts law generally requires automakers to make covered diagnostic and repair information and tools available to independent facilities on fair and reasonable terms.

However, the particular software, vehicle system, and reason access was unavailable would need to be examined before determining whether a manufacturer violated the law.

Can I have a claim even if I already paid the dealership for the repairs?

Completing the repair at a dealership does not necessarily resolve whether access was improperly restricted in the first place.

A legal review can help determine whether you experienced a qualifying denial of access and whether any compensation or other remedy may be available. Save your receipts and any communications explaining why the independent shop could not perform the work.

Is Massachusetts' Right to Repair law currently being challenged?

The automotive industry has challenged the state's expanded telematics requirements in federal court. A federal district court ruled against the industry's challenge in 2025, and the case proceeded on appeal.

The outcome may affect how certain provisions are interpreted or enforced. Consumers considering a claim should seek advice based on the latest legal developments and their individual circumstances.

You Bought the Car. You Deserve a Choice in Who Repairs It.

Choosing where to service your vehicle should be a decision based on your needs, your budget, and your confidence in the mechanic doing the work.

Massachusetts' Right to Repair law was designed to protect that choice by addressing unreasonable barriers to the information and technology necessary for new vehicle repairs.

If your independent mechanic couldn't service your newer car because of manufacturer-controlled tools, software, or vehicle data, you may have legal options.

Morgan & Morgan can help you understand your rights. Our legal team can review the circumstances of your experience and evaluate whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation.

Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Learn whether Massachusetts' Right to Repair law may apply to your situation and what steps you can take to seek justice.