Who owns your car's data? Rep. Neal Dunn's REPAIR Act targets rising repair costs TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For Andrew Marquis, fixing cars has been a passion since he was a kid turning wrenches in his driveway. But a decade after opening Koala Automotive Repair in Tallahassee, he finds himself up against an obstacle no socket wrench can loosen: digital lockouts programmed directly into modern automobiles. Today’s vehicles are essentially computers on wheels, generating vast streams of diagnostic data governed by software modules. When those systems malfunction, independent mechanics like Marquis are increasingly finding themselves locked out from the factory software required to perform basic reprogramming or complex repairs. “Every car is a different puzzle. So every time it comes in, it's never the exact same thing as before,” Marquis said. “Occasionally when we need to program something, some type of module, some type of specialized something, we won't have access to the software that we need to do the task. It's a dealer only. We'll have to send people to the dealership.” That digital barrier is driving a wedge into the automotive service industry. Independent repair shop owners, trade groups, and used car dealers contend that automaker restrictions stifle free-market competition, inflating costs for vehicle owners and forcing local garages to turn away steady work. Meanwhile, original equipment manufacturers maintain that keeping system access strictly controlled is vital to maintaining vehicle cybersecurity and passenger safety. Staying competitive in an era of connected vehicles requires an ongoing, capital-intensive investment in specialized diagnostic equipment. Independent technicians must continually buy updated scan tools and purchase recurring software subscriptions simply to keep up with annual model changes. “I feel like every few years we're having to upgrade, it's not cheap,” Marquis said. “These scan tools are thousands and thousands of dollars. And then you