EPA Promotes Freedom to Repair Vehicles and Equipment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday its initiative to support the freedom to repair all vehicles and equipment, aiming to help Americans avoid steep repair costs.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated, “President Trump requested action within 30 days of a presidential memorandum. We acted quickly—within two days—to assist America’s carriers. The Freedom to Repair initiative simplifies and speeds up repairs for operators. This action builds on the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce costs for hardworking Americans.”
The EPA has issued guidance based on the Clean Air Act (CAA) mandating that equipment manufacturers must provide access to vital information and tools for timely and cost-effective repairs. This includes resources related to diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) and other environmental control systems.
The agency is also ensuring that consumers and aftermarket parts manufacturers have clarity regarding the use of aftermarket products for repairs, in light of the CAA’s restrictions against tampering with emissions regulations.
Manufacturers have made efforts to give consumers and independent repair shops access to diagnostic tools and information typically reserved for franchised dealers. Still, the Clean Air Act Tampering Prevention Act introduces uncertainty about whether providing certain tools or information is seen as enabling tampering with emissions control systems.
This situation often compels many truck drivers, farmers, and others to rely on manufacturers for repairs, rather than opting for local repair shops or home fixes.
According to the EPA’s guidance, manufacturers of light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles have a longstanding responsibility to publicly share service and training information, as well as tools necessary for diagnosing and repairing vehicles, especially those with faulty DEF systems.
Additionally, the EPA recognized the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) as an alternative certification body for aftermarket auto parts. This allows American Airlines to comply with the CAA using SEMA’s Certified Emissions (SC-E) program, verifying that approved aftermarket parts do not adversely affect vehicle emissions.
SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola remarked that “today, EPA acknowledged what SEMA has communicated to state and federal regulators for years—that the automotive aftermarket industry has a structured mechanism to support emissions testing in line with federal law.”
He further noted that “EPA’s endorsement of the SEMA Certified Emissions Program marks a groundbreaking step by the federal government to leverage public-private partnerships to enhance regulatory compliance. We look forward to continuing this service for aftermarket companies, helping them introduce innovative products to the market.”
The agency also clarified that manufacturers cannot mandate the use of proprietary parts, allowing Americans to utilize generic parts for repairs on emissions control systems, including DEF systems.
This recent move builds upon guidance issued by the EPA in February 2026, designed to improve operators’ abilities to repair non-road diesel equipment and address the concerns of U.S. motorists, truckers, farmers, and equipment operators regarding DEF and other environmental control systems in highway vehicles.
This initiative was praised by other officials during that time. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins stated, “This is yet another win for American farmers and ranchers thanks to the Trump Administration. By clarifying that manufacturers can’t exploit the Clean Air Act to limit access to repair tools and software, we are reaffirming farmers’ legal rights to fix their equipment.” She expressed gratitude to Director Zeldin for prioritizing farmers, hoping it would save them considerable repair costs amidst rising equipment prices.
Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler added, “EPA’s right-to-repair guidance is poised to save the farming community thousands by bypassing corporate middlemen and enabling farmers to perform repairs themselves. The Clean Air Act has historically burdened family farms, but with the Trump administration’s deregulation, farmers can now focus on their essential roles in feeding and supporting America and the world.”
