Petition for Fair and Consistent Labor-Time Standards for Manufacturer Warranty Repairs

Fair Labor Time for Automotive Technicians

We, the undersigned automotive service technicians and automotive professionals, respectfully call for fair, reasonable, and consistent labor-time standards for manufacturer warranty repairs.

Automotive technicians are highly trained professionals who perform skilled work requiring specialized knowledge, diagnostic ability, manufacturer-specific procedures, tools, equipment, and physical labor.

The value of that work should not be reduced simply because the repair is being performed under a manufacturer's warranty.

We believe manufacturer warranty labor times should reasonably reflect the actual work required to properly diagnose, repair, test, and complete a warranty repair according to manufacturer specifications.

We Are Asking for Fair Warranty Labor Standards

We respectfully ask manufacturers, dealerships, automotive industry organizations, and policymakers to support the following principles:

Warranty repairs should use a fair and reasonable labor-time standard that accurately reflects the work required to properly complete the repair.
When a comparable customer-pay labor operation exists, the established labor-guide time for that comparable operation should be considered when determining the appropriate warranty labor time.
Manufacturers should not establish warranty labor times that are substantially lower than a comparable standard labor time without a reasonable and transparent basis.
Diagnostic time required to identify and verify a warrantable condition should be fairly recognized and compensated.
Manufacturer-required diagnostic procedures, testing, programming, technical-support procedures, inspections, and documentation that require additional technician labor should be appropriately recognized.
Additional operations necessary to properly complete a warranty repair should receive appropriate labor time when those operations are not adequately included in the primary labor allowance.
Technicians and dealerships should have a fair and transparent process for requesting additional labor time when the published warranty allowance does not reasonably represent the work required.
Warranty labor times should be periodically reviewed and adjusted when changes in vehicle technology, repair procedures, tooling, or diagnostic requirements make existing allowances unreasonable.

Why This Matters

Today's automotive technicians work on increasingly complex vehicles and systems, including advanced electronics, computer-controlled systems, hybrid and electric vehicles, advanced driver-assistance systems, and other technologies requiring specialized training and diagnostic equipment.

A warranty repair can require the same knowledge, skill, tools, equipment, physical effort, and attention to detail as the same or comparable repair performed for a customer-pay customer.

In some cases, warranty repairs can require additional manufacturer procedures, diagnostic steps, testing, programming, documentation, or communication with technical support.

When the allotted warranty labor time does not reasonably reflect the work required, technicians may be expected to complete a repair correctly in less time than the job actually requires.

This can place financial pressure on technicians and dealerships and may contribute to technician dissatisfaction, employee turnover, reduced repair capacity, and longer customer wait times.

Fair labor-time standards are important not only to technicians, but also to dealerships, manufacturers, and vehicle owners.

Properly compensating the labor required to perform a repair supports quality workmanship, technician retention, and timely completion of warranty repairs.

The customer should not determine the value of the technician's labor. The warranty status of the vehicle should not determine the value of the technician's skill. The work itself should be fairly and reasonably valued.

Our Request

We respectfully ask vehicle manufacturers, dealership owners and organizations, automotive industry organizations, technician and repair organizations, and policymakers to recognize the importance of fair and reasonable labor-time standards for manufacturer warranty repairs.

We ask that manufacturers establish warranty labor times using objective and reasonable standards that reflect the actual work required to properly diagnose, repair, test, and complete warranty repairs according to manufacturer requirements.

Where a comparable labor-guide time exists, we ask that manufacturers give serious consideration to that established time when determining the warranty labor allowance.

Where a manufacturer determines that a different warranty labor time is appropriate, we ask that the basis for that difference be reasonable, transparent, and subject to review.

We further ask that technicians and dealerships have a meaningful process to challenge inadequate labor allowances and request additional time when the circumstances of a repair justify it.

Our Goal

Our goal is not to place an unreasonable financial burden on manufacturers or dealerships.

Our goal is to establish a fairer and more consistent system in which the labor required to properly perform a manufacturer warranty repair is accurately recognized and fairly compensated.

We believe that fair warranty labor standards can benefit everyone involved:

Technicians deserve fair recognition and compensation for their skilled labor.
Dealerships deserve reimbursement that reasonably reflects the work they are required to perform.
Manufacturers benefit from a qualified and fairly compensated technician workforce.
Vehicle owners benefit from properly performed repairs and timely warranty service.
We respectfully ask those with the authority and ability to influence manufacturer warranty policies and labor standards to consider this petition and work toward a fairer system for everyone involved.

Statement of Support

By signing this petition, I support fair, reasonable, and consistent labor-time standards for automotive technicians performing manufacturer warranty repairs.

I believe warranty status should not result in an unreasonable reduction in the value assigned to skilled automotive labor.

I support greater transparency, fairness, and accountability in the establishment and administration of manufacturer warranty labor