Share car data for cheaper services: Muir

If Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir gets his way car owners may pay less to have their vehicle serviced.

The senator wants a national vehicle data-sharing portal established to boost competition between dealership and independent servicers.

Senator Muir argues not all people can afford to have their car serviced at a dealership.

"People need to be able to afford and have that choice of repairer, especially if it's a repairer they trust and have a rapport with," he told reporters in Canberra.

Under his plan, the portal would be overseen by an independent body and enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Cars were increasingly becoming a "computer on wheels" as technology advanced, Senator Muir said.

"If independent repairers cannot access the service data such as passwords, software upgrade and other codes, the consumer would have no choice but to go to a dealer for repairs."

Manufacturers would be compensated with a fee paid by independent mechanics to access the portal.

An attempt to set up a voluntary sharing arrangement had failed with only one out of 68 car brands fully complying, Senator Muir said.

The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association's Stuart Charity said car owners could save about 20 per cent if they opted for an independent service.

"In any market if you don't have competition prices go up, service levels go down and we don't think that's acceptable for the Australian community," he said.

Senator Muir said if the government doesn't take action, he will introduce a private bill to parliament next year.