Repair Shops Support Passage of Right to Repair Act

Passage of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act is critical to the long term survival of a competitive automotive repair industry, according to Paul Fiore, executive vice president of the Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA-AT) which represents service station dealers and repair shops throughout the country.

“It is absolutely critical that an enforceable Right to Repair bill be enacted,” said Fiore. “Many of our members have small businesses that have been in their family for generations. They are not seeking an unfair advantage, nor are they looking for access to the proprietary information protected by the bill. They simply seek equal access to safety and repair information from the carmakers. Our membership overwhelmingly supports the bill because they want to be able to compete fairly now and, more importantly, in the future.”

The right to repair bill protects consumer choice and saves drivers money by requiring big automobile manufacturers like Toyota, GM, Ford and others to share relevant repair and safety information with local neighborhood automotive technicians and repair shops. The bill also provides strong protections for automobile manufacturers’ proprietary information. “We don’t need to know how they build their vehicles, just how to repair them,” Fiore stated.

Right to repair bills have been introduced in many states including the Massachusetts Right to Repair bill which was introduced by state Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield and Rep. Garrett J. Bradley, D-Hingham. Following passage by an overwhelming majority in the Massachusetts Senate, the bill is awaiting a final vote in the House of Representatives. The pending legislation has the support of an impressive array of state organizations including AAA of Southern New England which has over two million members.

At the federal level, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (S 3181) was recently introduced into the U.S. Senate by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS). The House version of the bill was introduced by Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) and currently has 68 cosponsors. To learn more about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.rightorepair.org or www.massrighttorepair.com.

About SSDA-AT
Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades (SSDA-AT) is a national association composed of individual and state affiliate associations representing service station dealers, repair facilities, car washes and convenience stores. For over 58 years, SSDA-AT has worked for the betterment of its members as a voice on Capitol Hill, with federal regulators, with the media, in the courts, and with suppliers. For more information, visit the SSDA-AT website.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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