Trump signs memo to expand vehicle repair options

President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Monday, June 29, 2026, aimed at expanding Americans' ability to repair their own vehicles and lowering associated costs. The order, titled "Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix," directs the Environmental Protection Agency to clarify permissible emissions repairs and seeks to reduce reliance on a single, slow certification process for aftermarket parts.

The memorandum instructs EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to issue guidance within 30 days detailing what actions individuals may take to fix their vehicles' emissions systems in accordance with the Clean Air Act. It also directs the agency to encourage and expedite alternative certification pathways for aftermarket parts, moving beyond the current system where the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is described as the only recognized certifier. The administration criticizes the CARB process as backlogged, costly, and often taking over a year to complete, which it says creates supply bottlenecks and drives up prices.

A key provision advises the EPA to consider deprioritizing civil enforcement actions for "tampering" against individuals who, in good...