The ICA is recommending right-to-repair laws be amended to require manufacturers to sell genuine parts to independent repairers.
The Insurance Council of Australia, or ICA, is calling for the Federal Government to toughen Australia’s first right-to-repair law, warning that car manufacturers are still able to withhold parts from independent mechanics.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
In a submission to Treasury on proposed changes to the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme, the ICA has backed all 16 proposals in the government’s discussion paper, but said the scheme fell short while carmakers control access to parts.
The issue is particularly acute in regional areas, where drivers can be forced to send vehicles to a capital city for repairs simply because they live outside a manufacturer’s authorised repair network.
This can add cost and cause delay for motorists already facing long distances to service centres.
Insurance Council of Australia chief executive officer Andrew Hall.
ICA chief executive officer Andrew Hall said some manufacturers would sell parts directly to a car’s owner, but refuse to sell the same part to the independent repairer that owner had chosen.
“You can’t have a real Right to Repair while manufacturers can hold the parts hostage,” Mr Hall said.
With more than 1.4 million vehicle repairs signed off each year, the ICA argues clearer rules would ease wait times and costs for drivers by encouraging more repairers to compete for work.
The ICA is recommending the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 be amended to require manufacturers to sell genuine parts to independent repairers on fair and reasonable terms, a call that builds on its March 2025 Motor Insurance Policy Paper.
The ICA said locked-away parts were driving up repair costs, leading to more vehicles being written off, and pushing up insurance premiums for motorists.
