The future of vehicle data access: Where Canada stands in the global conversation

The question of who controls vehicle data has become one of the most significant policy issues in the modern auto care sector. As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, access to diagnostic and telematics data determines how effectively the aftermarket can serve consumers and remain competitive. 

Around the world, governments are establishing frameworks that strike a balance between consumer rights, competition, and data security. Canada is an active part of that global dialogue. While standalone federal legislation has yet to happen, the country has taken important steps toward a more open and collaborative approach to vehicle data access—one that reflects both the realities of a digital economy and the values of fairness and consumer choice. 

Canada’s evolving framework: Meaningful progress toward data fairness 

Recently, Canada has advanced in the right to repair movement. Last October, the federal government passed Bill C-244 and Bill C-294, which amended the Copyright Act to allow lawful circumvention of digital locks for repair and to promote interoperability between technologies. These changes remove key legal barriers that once limited innovation and independent servicing. 

At the provincial level, Quebec’s Bill 29, now known as Loi protégeant les consommateurs contre l’obsolescense programmée et favorisant la durabilité, la réparabilité et l’entretien des biens, which has taken effect on October 5, 2025, marks a major milestone. It is Canada’s first law explicitly requiring automakers to provide fair access to diagnostic tools, data, and parts for both independent and franchised repair shops. This legislative step—coupled with strong advocacy from organizations such as AIA Canada—demonstrates growing national momentum toward a clear, enforceable right to repair. 

Collectively, these developments signal progress toward a balanced framework that recognizes data access as essential infrastructure for the automotive economy. 

International perspectives: Learning from global models 

United States 

The United States (U.S.) continues to advance both state and federal initiatives. In 2025, Massachusetts reaffirmed its right-to-repair law after a lengthy court challenge, confirming that consumers and independent repairers have a right to vehicle data. At the federal level, the proposed REPAIR Act (H.R. 906) would codify similar rights nationwide, but legislative uncertainty remains. The U.S. experience underscores the importance of cohesive national standards, a challenge Canada can address early through coordinated policymaking. 

European Union 

The European Union (EU) Data Act, which came into force in September 2025, set a new benchmark for data accessibility. It ensures fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) access to data generated by connected products—including vehicles—while safeguarding privacy and competition. The EU approach demonstrates that openness and data security can coexist, and offers valuable guidance for jurisdictions, including Canada, seeking to modernize their frameworks. 

Australia 

Australia’s Motor Vehicle Information Scheme (MVIS), introduced in 2022, requires data sharing with independent repairers under fair commercial terms. While it excludes some real-time telematics data, it has strengthened competition and consumer choice. Its experience reinforces the value of transparency and consistent enforcement. 

South Africa 

South Africa’s Right to Repair Guidelines provide access to repair information and diagnostic tools but rely on voluntary compliance rather than statutory enforcement. Canada’s move toward legislated rights positions it more strongly in terms of long-term stability and accountability. 

The economic and consumer impact of data access 

Open and secure access to vehicle data benefits every participant in the automotive ecosystem. 

• Consumers gain the freedom to choose where to service their vehicles, experience shorter wait times, and often pay less for repairs. 

• Repair shops can invest confidently in training, diagnostic tools, and EV technology when they know they will have access to the data required to compete. 

• Communities retain more of the estimated $43.9 billion spent annually on vehicle maintenance and repair within local economies. 

Research from a recent AIA Canada report, Who has the right to repair? Vehicle owners’ perspectives on data access and ownership, shows that 87 per cent of Canadian drivers believe they should have the right to decide who repairs their vehicle, and 70 per cent support standardized access to vehicle data. These figures reflect strong public alignment behind the principle that data generated by a consumer’s vehicle should be accessible to the consumer and their chosen repair professional. 

Across Europe, the implementation of the EU Data Act is already sparking innovation. Independent repairers are developing predictive maintenance services and digital repair networks based on shared data. With coordinated national legislation, Canada can enable similar advances while ensuring consumers retain trust in how their data is managed. 

A balanced path forward 

Canada’s advantage lies in its ability to design a framework that learns from global examples while reflecting its own collaborative regulatory culture. The next phase should include: 

1. A national right-to-repair framework for vehicles, explicitly recognizing consumer ownership and portability of vehicle data. 

2. Clear definitions of data types, including raw, processed, and derived data, to reduce ambiguity and disputes. 

3. An independent oversight mechanism to ensure fair pricing, timely access, and secure handling of shared data. 

4. Alignment with international standards, ensuring Canadian businesses remain competitive in a global automotive market. 

By pursuing these principles, Canada can foster a data ecosystem that supports innovation, fairness, and sustainability — one that reflects the country’s values and long-term economic goals. 

Turning progress into leadership 

The steps already taken at both the federal and provincial levels show meaningful progress toward a transparent and balanced approach to vehicle data access. 

With continued cooperation between government, industry, and consumers, Canada can establish a modern legislative framework that safeguards privacy, strengthens competition, and ensures every driver has the freedom to choose how their vehicle is repaired. 

In doing so, Canada will not simply follow the global conversation on data access—it will help shape it.