European used parts provider states how OEMs restrict access to parts, diagnostics and software, making vehicles harder and more expensive to repair. Sound familiar?
Vilnius, Lithuania—When people hear “Right to Repair,” they usually think of smartphones and laptops. But while tech giants face pressure to open up their devices, a similar battle is unfolding in driveways and shops across Europe.
Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly difficult to fix, not because they’re inherently unrepairable, but because manufacturers have locked down access to the tools, parts, and software needed to service them.
The consequences go beyond inconvenience, according to Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at Ovoko, one of Europe’s largest online marketplaces for used car parts. In 2022 alone, 5.5 million tons of passenger cars, vans, and light goods vehicles were scrapped across the EU. Many of these vehicles could have been repaired and kept on the road, but restrictive repair policies made fixes uneconomical or impossible.
“The automotive industry has quietly adopted many of the same tactics we’ve seen in consumer electronics,” Urbonas said. “Manufacturers control access to diagnostic software, limit parts availability, and design vehicles in ways that make independent repairs extremely difficult. The result is that perfectly serviceable cars end up scrapped because fixing them has been made artificially expensive.”
Below, Urbonas explains how modern vehicle design restricts repair access, why this increases waste and costs for drivers, and what reforms could make cars more repairable while supporting Europe’s environmental targets.
How Carmakers Lock Repair Access in Modern Vehicles
Modern cars are essentially computers on wheels, but unlike your laptop, you can’t simply plug in and diagnose what’s wrong. Manufacturers have built multiple barriers that prevent independent shops from servicing vehicles effectively. Urbonas lists several ways this is being done:
Software-Locked Systems
Today’s vehicles rely on dozens of electronic control units managing everything from engine performance to safety features. These systems are protected by proprietary software that requires manufacturer-specific access to diagnose and repair.
“Even something as simple as replacing a battery can trigger software locks that prevent the vehicle from starting,” Urbonas said. “Independent mechanics often can’t reset these systems without paying for expensive manufacturer subscriptions or sending customers to dealership networks.”
Proprietary Diagnostic Tools
Manufacturers develop their own diagnostic equipment, which they either refuse to sell to independent garages or price prohibitively high. A single diagnostic tool for one vehicle brand can cost thousands of euros, making it uneconomical for smaller shops to service multiple makes.
“We’re seeing [shops] forced to specialize in just one or two brands because they can’t afford the diagnostic tools for others,” he stated. “This reduces competition and leaves drivers with fewer repair options.”
Restricted Parts Distribution
Even when independent mechanics can diagnose a problem, getting replacement parts presents another obstacle. Manufacturers control distribution networks and often prioritize their own dealerships, leaving independent shops waiting weeks for components.
Why Restricted Repairs Increase Waste and Consumer Costs
These repair barriers don’t just inconvenience mechanics. Urbonas warns that they have real financial and environmental consequences, which he lists below:
Higher Insurance Write-Offs
When repairs become too expensive relative to a vehicle’s value, insurance companies declare cars total losses. Restrictive repair practices inflate costs artificially, pushing more vehicles into this category.
“We estimate that roughly 15-20% of vehicles written off by insurers could be economically repaired if independent shops had proper access to parts and diagnostics. These vehicles don’t have catastrophic damage, but fixable problems that have been made uneconomical to repair.”
Early Scrappage
Drivers facing expensive dealership repairs often choose to scrap older vehicles rather than invest in fixes. This premature disposal wastes the substantial environmental resources invested in manufacturing.
Reduced Independent Garage Competitiveness
As repair becomes more difficult, small independent shops struggle to compete. This consolidates the market around dealership networks, reducing consumer choice and keeping prices high.
What Car Right to Repair Reforms Should Look Like
Addressing these issues requires regulatory intervention, but reforms must be practical and enforceable, Urbonas stated.
Open Diagnostic Standards
Manufacturers should be required to provide independent shops with the same diagnostic access they give their dealerships, at reasonable prices.
“The technology exists to create standardized diagnostic protocols. What’s missing is the regulatory requirement to implement them. Independent shops need the same real-time data and reset capabilities that dealership technicians take for granted.”
Parts Catalogue Transparency
Manufacturers should publish comprehensive parts catalogs showing what components are available, at what price, and through which channels. “Transparency would allow independent [shops] to source parts efficiently and quote accurately.”
Certified Reuse and Refurbishment Incentives
Regulations should actively support the use of quality-checked used and refurbished parts rather than mandating brand-new components for every repair.
“Creating certification standards for used parts would give shops and drivers confidence while reducing waste. Many used components have 70-80% of their lifespan remaining. Throwing them away makes no environmental or economic sense.”
How Repair Access Supports Sustainability Goals
Making vehicles easier to repair directly advances Europe’s environmental objectives. Urbonas explains how:
Reduced Manufacturing Emissions
Keeping existing vehicles running avoids the substantial carbon footprint of manufacturing replacements. Producing a new car generates approximately 6-8 ton of CO2 before it even leaves the factory.
“Every vehicle kept on the road through repair prevents those manufacturing emissions. When you multiply that across the millions of cars scrapped annually, the climate impact becomes significant.”
Circular Economy Principles
Right to Repair reforms align with circular economy goals by extending product lifecycles and creating markets for refurbished components.
“A functional circular economy for automotive parts already exists. It just needs regulatory support to flourish. Making repairs easier would reduce raw material extraction, lower emissions, and create jobs in refurbishment and recycling sectors.”
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