Repairing modern cars has become increasingly complex, but the White House says it wants to make things easier.
However, the latest move is not the sweeping right-to-repair victory some enthusiasts had hoped for.
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On Monday, President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the Environmental Protection Agency to clarify what owners can legally do when repairing their vehicles' emissions systems under the Clean Air Act.
The administration also wants the EPA to speed up approval pathways for aftermarket emissions parts while reducing reliance on California's CARB certification process.
The memorandum tells the EPA to consider backing away from civil enforcement against people who repair their vehicles and return them to original factory configuration.
The administration argues the current system has driven up repair costs, restricted consumer choice, and created delays for aftermarket manufacturers seeking approval for replacement components.
Trump described the move as an extension of similar action covering agricultural equipment earlier this year, guidance the White House says saves farmers an average of $33,000 per repair.
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“It’s really common sense,” he told reporters, before joking that many Americans are better than mechanics at fixing their own cars.
Automakers Need to Open Up
Despite the headline-grabbing language, the memorandum is fairly narrow in scope, leaving some right-to-repair advocates feeling let down.
They had hoped for legislation that would force automakers to share diagnostic software, repair data, and specialist tools.
Automakers have carefully guarded that kind of information, a stance that can force drivers to turn to official franchised dealers when their cars need repair.
At an Oval Office event on June 4, Trump referenced an earlier meeting with executives from Ford, GM, and dealer-group owner Roger Penske.
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“They don’t want people to fix their car,” Trump said of the automakers and dealers. “They want a bill that prohibits people from fixing vehicles.”
