Last reviewed: 3 October 2026
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United StatesDo right-to-repair laws change my warranty rights? What Minnesota's statute says
A right-to-repair law is about getting repair parts, tools and manuals. This page reads one example, Minnesota's Digital Fair Repair Act. Its text says nothing about voiding a warranty. It does say what it does not change. Other states are not covered.
The short answer
- What the statute requires: a manufacturer of digital electronic equipment sold or used in Minnesota must make "documentation, parts, and tools" available to independent repair providers and owners "on fair and reasonable terms."1
- Warranty: the text we read has no provision saying that independent repair does or does not void a warranty. It says nothing in the section "alters the terms" of a manufacturer's arrangements with its authorized repair providers, including warranty or recall repair work.1
- Liability: a manufacturer or authorized repair provider is not liable for damage or injury "that occurs as a result of repair, diagnosis, maintenance, or modification performed by an independent repair provider or owner."1
- Scope: it applies to equipment sold on or after July 1, 2021, and excludes motor vehicles, medical devices, video game consoles and other listed products.1
What the statute is about
The statute is titled the "Digital Fair Repair Act." It defines digital electronic equipment as "any hardware product that depends, in whole or in part, on digital electronics embedded in or attached to the product in order for the product to function, for which the original equipment manufacturer makes available tools, parts, or documentation to authorized repair providers."1 An original equipment manufacturer is an individual or business that sells or leases new digital electronic equipment that it made or had made.1 An independent repair provider is an individual or business operating in Minnesota that has no arrangement with the manufacturer to offer repair services under its name or on its behalf.1
The main requirement says the manufacturer "must make available to any independent repair provider or to the owner" of the equipment, "on fair and reasonable terms, documentation, parts, and tools, inclusive of any updates to information or embedded software, for diagnostic, maintenance, or repair purposes."1 These must be available "within 60 days after the first sale of the digital electronic equipment in Minnesota."1 The Minnesota attorney general enforces the section.1
What it says about warranties
The statute does not contain a rule about whether independent repair voids a warranty. Two provisions touch the subject.
- Existing arrangements stay as they are. The statute says "Nothing in this section alters the terms of any arrangement" between a manufacturer and an authorized repair provider, "including but not limited to the performance or provision of warranty or recall repair work by an authorized repair provider on behalf of an original equipment manufacturer."1 A term in such an arrangement that purports to waive or limit the manufacturer's duties under this section "is void and unenforceable."1
- Liability for outside repairs. The statute says no manufacturer or authorized repair provider "shall be liable for any damage or injury caused to any digital electronic equipment, person, or property that occurs as a result of repair, diagnosis, maintenance, or modification performed by an independent repair provider or owner."1
The statute does not say what happens to your warranty coverage if you or an independent shop repair the product. Your warranty's own terms and other law decide that. For the federal rule on vehicles, see independent repair shops and your warranty. For Canada, see right to repair and warranty in Canada.
What the statute leaves out
| Left out | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles | Does not apply to a motor vehicle manufacturer, a manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, or a motor vehicle dealer acting in that capacity.1 |
| Medical devices | Does not apply to manufacturers or distributors of a medical device, or a digital electronic product or software made for use in a medical setting.1 |
| Off-road and outdoor equipment | Does not apply to listed off-road or nonroad equipment, including farm and utility tractors, construction equipment, power tools, portable generators and recreational vehicles.1 |
| Video game consoles | Nothing in the section requires parts, tools or documentation "required for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of a video game console and its components and peripherals."1 |
| Other exclusions | Energy storage systems, and information technology equipment intended for use in critical infrastructure.1 |
| Modifications | Nothing requires making parts, tools or documentation available "for the purpose of making modifications."1 |
| Trade secrets and security | The manufacturer need not divulge a trade secret or license intellectual property, except as necessary to provide documentation, parts and tools on fair and reasonable terms. It also need not make available items that would disable or override antitheft measures set by the owner without authorization, or certain cybersecurity items.1 |
| Replacement at no charge | Nothing in the section applies if the manufacturer "provides equivalent or better, readily available replacement equipment at no charge to the customer."1 |
What this means for a warranty question
Reading this statute alone, the right to obtain parts, tools and documentation is separate from the terms of your warranty. A right-to-repair law does not by itself tell you what your warranty covers. Read your warranty document, and use the guides linked above for the federal tie-in rule. In plain words (our summary): this law is about access to repair materials, and warranty questions are answered somewhere else.
Other states have their own laws. We do not describe them here, so this page is not a state-by-state comparison.
Where this fits our standard
Point 1 of our standard asks whether contract terms and exclusions are disclosed in plain language. The Register reports how we check providers by category. It describes a method, not a recommendation of any company.
How to verify this yourself
- Open Minnesota Statutes section 325E.72 (reference 1) and read subdivisions 2 to 8. Every statement above comes from it.1
- Find your product's written warranty and read what it says about repairs by others.
- For your own state, search your state legislature's statute site for "right to repair" or "fair repair," or ask your state attorney general's consumer office. Our where to file a warranty complaint guide shows how state routes differ.
What this page is not
This is general information about one Minnesota statute, not legal advice. It does not say whether any repair affects your warranty. It does not describe other states or federal law on electronics. It is not a repair guide and does not recommend any repair provider or product.
What to do next
Read the repair and warranty terms for your product. If you live in Minnesota and a manufacturer will not make parts, tools or documentation available, the statute names the attorney general as the enforcer.1 Start from the other warranties hub.