A newly released report from AIA Canada puts hard numbers behind a reality independent shops have long understood: servicing vehicles at OE dealerships costs consumers significantly more, but a lack of ‘Right to Repair” costs consumers too.

The report, Unlocking Access: Why Right to Repair Matters for Every Vehicle Owner, authored by MNP Canada, examines the real-world cost differences between dealer and independent automotive service providers. According to the findings, Canadians save between $30 and more than $200 per repair by choosing an independent shop, depending on the type of repair, vehicle model, and location.

Even under today’s imperfect information-access landscape—where independents technically can obtain OE repair data, but only through fragmented, inconsistent, and often costly channels—the savings are substantial.

For newer vehicles requiring mostly scheduled maintenance, such as oil changes, the report estimates annual savings of roughly $100 when serviced at an independent shop. For vehicles more than 10 years old, annual savings jump to between $250 and $500.

These estimates are based on repair profiles for a 2022 Ford F-150, 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, 2015 Honda Civic, and 2015 Toyota RAV4. Each vehicle was assumed to receive manufacturer-recommended maintenance and to be driven between 10,000 and 15,000 kilometres annually.

But the report goes beyond cost comparisons, digging into how limited and fragmented access to repair information affects shop operations.

Independent repairers interviewed reported repair delays ranging from one to two hours, to as much as one to two days. The primary cause: the extra time required to source accurate repair and diagnostic information across multiple platforms, OEM portals, peer networks, and informal contacts.

Those delays translate directly into higher labour costs—and, in many cases, those costs are passed on to consumers. Independent shops still deliver lower repair bills, but consumers could be saving even more.

While OE repair information may technically be available, subscription fees and required tools can be prohibitively expensive. As a result, some shops—particularly in rural areas—are limit the brands they service to the most common vehicles in their bays, or limit the scope of services they can offer for those vehicles.

For consumers, that often means fewer local repair options. In rural communities especially, drivers may be forced to travel longer distances to dealerships, incurring additional costs in fuel, lost work time, and inconvenience.

The report also flags telematics as a growing concern. As newer vehicles transmit increasing amounts of diagnostic and operational data directly to manufacturers, a larger share of critical repair information is effectively controlled by OEMs. Accessing that data frequently involves additional costs or restrictions for independent repair providers—further widening the gap.

Access to repair information in the aftermarket has changed dramatically. What was once centralized in a single catalogue is now spread across commercial platforms like Mitchell and ALLDATA, OEM service portals, peer networks, informal dealer contacts, and online resources—including search engines and AI-based tools.

While peer networks and online tutorials are generally affordable and accessible, OEM portals require paid subscriptions, formal registration, and brand-specific investments—creating uneven access across the industry.

Taken together, these factors negatively affect affordability for Canadian drivers. While not addressed in depth in this report, related studies suggest these access challenges could also slow the transition to EV adoption, where software, data, and telematics play an even larger role in service and repair.

The report reviews Right to Repair frameworks in several jurisdictions, including Quebec, multiple U.S. states, the European Union, and Australia, offering insight into how regulated access can support a competitive, consumer-friendly repair market.

“Independent shops play an important role in making it cost-effective for vehicles to operate safely on Canadian roads after the manufacturer’s warranty ends,” the report states. “For independent shops to remain competitive and provide consumers with affordable and reliable repair options, it is crucial for them to have the same access to repair information and tools as dealerships.”

To access the full report, visit RighttoRepair.ca