When I was a young man, a car was a machine you could hear, smell, and sometimes curse at—but at least it was yours. You bought it, you fixed it, and if it broke down, the worst villain you faced was a greasy bolt that wouldn’t budge. Today, buying a new car feels less like freedom and more like signing a contract with a banker, a lawyer, a software engineer, and a spy—all of them hidden under the hood. They’ll track you, bill you, and maybe even shut you down if they don’t like the way you drive. That ain’t progress—that’s a leash with a shiny paint job.
The automobile was once a ticket to liberty, a way to outrun the bosses and bureaucrats who fenced in the rest of life. But now the fence has moved into the driver’s seat. A new car doesn’t just cost you money—it costs you privacy, control, and the right to say, “This is mine.” Someday soon, the road itself may belong not to drivers, but to companies and codes that never get behind the wheel. And if that’s the future, then the last real act of rebellion might just be keeping an old car running, stubbornly free, long after they tell you it’s time to trade it in.
For most people, a new car feels like security and convenience. But peel back the shiny paint, and you’ll see a system designed to drain your bank account, strip away your control, and even decide whether you get to drive at all.
1. The Money Trap: Depreciation and Debt
- The second you drive off the lot, you lose ten thousands dollars or more.
- A $60,000 SUV today could lose half its value in just five years.
- Add in high-interest loans and dealer fees, and cars become one of the fastest ways average people lose wealth.
- Most new cars cost more per month than average rent was 20 years ago.
Meanwhile, a well-bought used car can last longer, cost less, and keep its value.
2. The Right to Repair Is Dying
- Modern vehicles lock repairs behind dealer software.
- Want to change your own oil or replace a sensor? Increasingly, only the dealer has the tools.
- Farmers have fought John Deere over the same issue with tractors — and now car owners face the same restrictions.
- Many car are now requiring that you take it to dealer for regular service, because many of the parts are not available to third parties.
- Many cars claim to have extended maintenance on engine and transmission oil causing engine and transmission failure prematurely, but after the warranty. So you are getting disposable expensive cars.
This isn’t about safety; it’s about monopolizing repairs and profits.
3. Digital Shackles: Data, Control, and Surveillance
- New cars are rolling surveillance machines.
- They track speed, location, braking habits — and many send that data straight to insurance companies.
- Many vehicles already allow remote shutdowns by law enforcement or lenders.
- Coming next: government-mandated speed limiters, always-on cameras, and software that decides when and how your car runs.
Buy a 2025 model, and you may not truly own it — you’re just renting control from the manufacturer.
4. Liability and Insurance: The Coming Clampdown
- Insurance companies are already rewarding “safe” drivers who hand over their data.
- In the future, they may refuse coverage for older cars without monitoring devices.
- Self-driving fleets could make private car ownership a “liability” in the eyes of regulators.
- Don’t be surprised if one day you’re told: your 2004 pickup is uninsurable, so you can’t legally drive it.
5. The Bigger Picture: Autonomy Under Attack
- Cars once represented freedom — the ability to go where you want, when you want.
- Now, newer vehicles are tethered to satellites, servers, and software updates you didn’t ask for.
- Cash for Clunkers hinted at this future: good, serviceable cars destroyed to push you into buying new.
The goal isn’t innovation — it’s control. Take away your ability to repair, force constant upgrades, and remove human choice from the equation. A car used to be an asset: something you could fix, keep running, and even pass down. Today’s cars are liabilities wrapped in touchscreens. The more we accept this shift, the more we trade our freedom of movement for a subscription service on wheels.
Maybe the smartest move isn’t buying the newest model — but preserving the right to actually own the road beneath your own tires.
What is “Right to Repair”
At a high level, the “right to repair” movement seeks to give consumers (and independent repair shops) easier access to the parts, tools, manuals, diagnostic information, firmware/software, etc., needed to repair products they own. It pushes back against manufacturer policies that make repair difficult or expensive—e.g. proprietary tools, sealed devices, software locks, or parts-pairing that prevents third-party replacement. (Wikipedia)
Status in the U.S.
Here’s a snapshot of where right to repair lawmaking is now (as of mid/late 2025):
- Many states have introduced R2R bills: All 50 U.S. states have had at least one “right to repair” bill introduced. (NBCU Academy)
- Several states have passed strong laws covering consumer electronics, appliances, farm/agricultural equipment, etc. Among them:
- New York: Passed the Digital Fair Repair Act in 2022. Requires manufacturers of consumer electronics to provide parts, tools, manuals, and diagnostics. (Wikipedia)
- California: Has a law requiring manufacturers to provide repair resources for a certain period (7 years for products over a value threshold, etc.) at reasonable terms. (Crowell & Moring – Home)
- Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, etc. have also passed laws with varying scopes. (iFixit)
- Areas of variation/challenge:
- Scope: What devices are covered—electronics, appliances, medical equipment, farm machinery, vehicles. Some laws cover just narrow categories. (NCSL)
- Duration of obligations: How many years manufacturers must provide parts / tools. E.g. California requires 7 years for higher-priced products. (Crowell & Moring – Home)
- Software, diagnostics, and part pairing: These are tricky. Manufacturers often use software locks or make firmware proprietary, which hampers repair. Some laws try to require that such software/diagnostic info be made available. But compliance, loopholes, enforcement are issues. (Crowell & Moring – Home)
- Federal vs state law: Right now, most of the progress is at the state level. There’s talk of federal laws/regulation, but it’s more fragmented. (Crowell & Moring – Home)
- Other countries: The EU has passed repair-friendly directives. Canada has passed national legislation (Bill C-244). (Wikipedia)
What’s at Stake / Why It Matters
- Consumer cost savings — being able to repair instead of replace can save people money.
- Environmental concerns — less waste, less frequent disposals of electronics/appliances, less e-waste.
- Competition & small business — independent repair shops can survive and thrive if they have access; big manufacturers have less monopoly control.
- Durability & sustainability of goods — encourages better design, more repair-friendly manufacturing.
What People Can Do to Push for Stronger Laws
Here are practical actions that individuals, groups, or communities can take to help:
- Educate & Build Awareness
- Share stories & data: show how repair restrictions affect people (e.g. cost, waste).
- Use social media, write op-eds, do local talks or workshops.
- Highlight local examples: maybe someone in your area had a device that was expensive to fix because of proprietary tools/software.
- Get Involved with Advocacy Groups
- Groups like iFixit, PIRG, Repair.org, The Repair Association, etc. (PIRG)
- These groups often have toolkits, templates, contacts, and campaign strategies.
- Contact / Lobby Local and State Legislators
- Find out what bills are already in motion in your state or district.
- Write emails or letters; attend town halls.
- Ask decision-makers to support bills that require manufacturers to provide parts, diagnostics/software access, reasonable pricing, etc.
- Vote & Engage in Civic Participation
- Support candidates who commit to consumer rights and repair-friendly policies.
- Use ballot initiatives where possible (some laws have been enacted via referenda).
- Push for Federal Action
- Encourage Congress to pass national laws or strengthen regulation (e.g. via the FTC) that require repairability standards.
- Support/examine executive orders or regulatory agency rules (where relevant).
- Use Existing Laws / Enforcement to Create Pressure
- Supporting enforcement of laws that are already passed. If a law says parts must be made available, ensuring companies comply, possibly via litigation or regulatory oversight.
- Supporting agencies like the FTC when they take action against unfair repair policies. For example, there’s been a lawsuit by the FTC vs Deere & Co for limiting farm equipment repairs. (AP News)
- Participate in “Repair Culture”
- Use repair cafes, do-it-yourself repair, second-hand goods. That builds the social norm of repair.
- Share knowledge: do tutorials, help people around you fix stuff.
- Watch for Loopholes & Push for Strong Drafting
- Laws only matter if well written: no loopholes like “authorized repair only,” exceptions for “safety,” or vague definitions that allow manufacturers to avoid complying.
- Push for transparency: what parts are covered, what software or firmware access is needed, how long parts/tools must be available, what costs.
Here’s what I dug up about Right to Repair efforts in Florida (2025), what bills have been proposed, what their status is, and what you might be able to do locally.
What Bills Have Been Proposed in Florida
Here are some of the main bills around right to repair that have been filed (as of 2025) in Florida:
| Bill | What It Aims to Do / Scope | Status (as of mid-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| SB 1132 (“Consumers’ Right to Repair Certain Equipment”) | Called the Portable Wireless Device Repair Act + Agricultural Equipment Fair Repair Act. Would require manufacturers of portable wireless devices to provide device owners and independent repair providers with parts, tools, software/diagnostic info (in some form), etc. Also would require agricultural equipment makers to provide diagnostic/repair info. (The Florida Senate) | It was filed, passed through some committees (e.g. favorable in Senate Commerce & Tourism, Agriculture), but ultimately died on the calendar—meaning it did not become law in this session. (The Florida Senate) |
| HB 235 (House companion to SB 1132) | Same general scope as SB 1132: covers portable wireless device right to repair. (FastDemocracy) | Also died in committee: Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee. Withdrawn / postponed. Didn’t make it into law this session. (FastDemocracy) |
| HB 311 / SB 412 (Motorized Wheelchairs) | The Motorized Right to Repair Act for powered (motorized) wheelchairs: requires the OEMs of motorized wheelchairs sold or used in FL to supply parts, tools, documentation, etc., to owners and third-party repair providers. (The Florida Senate) | As of the last reports, it has passed certain committees (Industries & Professional Activities; Commerce) favorably. But I did not find confirmation that it has been enacted into law yet. (The Florida Senate) |
Key Takeaways: What’s Working & What’s Not
- Momentum is there: There is strong interest among legislators, advocacy groups, and parts of the public. Bills are being proposed in multiple categories (wireless devices, agricultural equipment, wheelchairs). (Repair.org)
- But no major digital/consumer electronics right to repair law is yet passed in FL as of mid-2025 that broadly covers electronics or portable wireless devices. The most specific (wheelchairs) is closer.
- Some bills fail in committees or don’t make it to full vote: which is typical for legislation in contentious areas, especially where manufacturer opposition is strong.
- Some laws begin with narrow scopes (wheelchairs, portable wireless), which could either become models to expand or be limited so they don’t fully meet repair-advocates’ goals.
What Can Be Done Locally / What You Could Do in Florida
To help move things forward here in Florida (or support existing efforts), here are concrete action steps:
- Reach Out to Your State Representative & Senator
- Identify who your State House and Senate reps are (based on your district).
- Contact them expressing support for right to repair legislation. Emphasize parts you care about (e.g. phones, appliances, power wheelchairs).
- Personal stories help: if you or someone you know had trouble getting a repair because of part/software access, that is persuasive.
- Testify or Submit Comments
- When bills are filed, there are committee hearings. Try to submit written testimony or speak at hearings supporting the bill.
- Offer suggestions for strengthening language (e.g. ensuring “security lock / software lock bypass” rights; defining “fair and reasonable terms”; closing loopholes that allow “authorized repair only” restrictions).
- Partner with Advocacy Organizations
- Groups like Repair.org, iFixit, The Repair Association often help with resources, best practices, mobilization. (Repair.org)
- Even volunteering or sharing through social media helps build awareness and pressure.
- Public Awareness & Media
- Write op-eds or letters to local newspapers.
- Talk about repair issues in community forums.
- Use social media to share stories of repair difficulties (slow, expensive, forced to go to OEM).
- Watch the Legislative Calendar Closely
- Pay attention to bill-filing deadlines, committee agendas, when bills are scheduled. Sometimes a bill dies because it doesn’t get a hearing. You can remind reps to bring it to the floor.
- Participate in or follow joint rulemaking / regulatory agency opportunities if there are any (e.g. state commerce, agriculture) that might touch on repair rights.
- Propose Model Language
- Sometimes bills fail because language is vague or because lobbyists push back. If you or a group can propose strong, clear model bills (defining “parts,” “diagnosis,” “tools,” “software,” “trade secrets,” etc.), that gives legislators a better chance of passing stronger laws.
- Support Enforcement & Accountability
- Even after laws are passed, enforcement matters. Ask for data on how many complaints are made, whether OEMs comply, what penalties are given for non-compliance.
Here’s a sample letter/email you can send to your Florida state senator or representative to advocate for Right to Repair.
📄 Sample Letter – Right to Repair
Subject: Please Support the Right to Repair for Floridians
Dear [Representative/Senator Last Name],
I am writing to urge you to support strong Right to Repair legislation in Florida.
Today, too many products—phones, computers, appliances, farm equipment, even wheelchairs—are difficult or impossible to repair outside of the manufacturer’s closed system. Consumers face high costs, long delays, or are forced to replace products prematurely. Independent repair shops struggle to stay in business because they are denied access to the parts, manuals, and software needed to do the job.
Passing a strong Right to Repair law would:
- Save Florida families money by allowing affordable repairs instead of costly replacements.
- Support small businesses across the state by enabling independent repair shops to compete fairly.
- Reduce waste and protect our environment by extending the life of the products we already own.
- Promote consumer freedom: if we buy it, we should be able to fix it.
I understand manufacturers raise concerns about security and safety, but these are already addressed in other laws and can be handled with clear, reasonable standards. Other states—including California, New York, Minnesota, and Oregon—have passed right to repair laws covering electronics, appliances, and more. Florida should not fall behind.
I urge you to support and strengthen bills such as SB 1132 / HB 235 and HB 311 / SB 412, or any future efforts to protect consumers’ right to repair. Please make sure that any legislation covers not just narrow categories, but also the electronics and devices that Floridians rely on every day.
This is a bipartisan, common-sense issue. It protects consumers, helps local businesses, reduces waste, and strengthens our economy.
Thank you for your service and for considering the voices of your constituents. I hope I can count on your support for the Right to Repair in Florida.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[City, FL]
[Optional: Phone / Email]
👉 Tip:
- If you have a personal story (e.g. you couldn’t fix a phone because the part was locked, or a piece of farm equipment was down for weeks waiting on a dealer), add a short paragraph with that—it makes a big impact.
- Keep it polite, concise, and focused on constituent needs.
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