Can You Service Your Car Outside Official Service Centres? KPDN Proposes 'Right To Repair' Law

For illustration purposes only.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has confirmed that it is studying the implementation of a "right to repair" concept for the automotive sector.

If implemented, this initiative could give vehicle owners the freedom to choose their preferred workshop while ensuring local workshops gain access to necessary technical information, spare parts, and equipment. Here is everything you need to know about KPDN's latest policy study.

1. What is the 'right to repair' and why does it matter? 

The "right to repair" initiative is a concept aimed at empowering vehicle owners to access vehicle technical information directly from manufacturers.

Currently, Malaysia does not yet have the legal authority to require manufacturers to share this information. The proposed framework aims to address this gap by allowing local workshops to access the technical information, spare parts, and equipment necessary for proper vehicle maintenance and repair.

2. What happens during your car's warranty period? 

For illustration purposes only.

Responding to a question from Senator Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan in the Dewan Negara, Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh clarified how consumer options differ during and after the warranty period:

• During Warranty Period: Vehicle owners are encouraged to go to authorised workshops, as servicing elsewhere could cause the warranty to be voided.
• When Warranty Ends: Consumers have full freedom to choose other preferred workshops for their vehicle's ongoing care and repair.

3. Potential regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 

The ministry believes it is time to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the need for specific right to repair legislation.

This includes looking into potential new regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1999. The goal is to establish a balanced framework within the country's legal structure that supports both consumer access and manufacturer rights.

"We must balance the rights of manufacturers and also the rights of consumers to gain access to information that can be accessed."

— Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, Deputy Minister of KPDN

4. Benchmarking global standards (Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, US) 

To ensure any approach adopted in Malaysia fits the local industry ecosystem, KPDN will conduct a benchmark study on right to repair models implemented in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

By studying these global models, the ministry aims to identify best practices that increase the competitiveness of the local workshop industry through technical information sharing, while ensuring that safety factors, intellectual property rights, and all involved interests are strictly protected.

Read: Good News For 5 Million Perodua Owners! Don't Go To Outside Workshops As Service Prices Just Dropped