Why repair became a legal question
Whether a product can be repaired, and how easily, used to be left entirely to the manufacturer. Over the past few years this has shifted into consumer protection and environmental law, on the reasoning that a product designed to be unrepairable, or one where spare parts and repair information are hard to obtain, pushes more items toward early replacement than necessary. The rules that have followed differ quite a lot between the EU, the UK and the US, and the differences are worth knowing before assuming a repair right applies the same way everywhere.
The EU: a directive now applying across member states
The EU's Right to Repair Directive, formally Directive (EU) 2024/1799, applies across the bloc from 31 July 2026, with member states required to have their own national implementing laws in place by that date. It covers a defined list of product categories, including washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, electronic displays, mobile phones, tablets and servers, with more categories expected to be added over time as related product rules are updated. Within the covered categories, manufacturers are required to repair a product at a reasonable price and within a reasonable time, even after the original warranty has ended, and a consumer who chooses repair over replacement is entitled to a twelve month extension of the guarantee from the date the repair is completed.
The UK: an earlier, narrower set of rules
The UK introduced its own right to repair rules in 2021, through the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations, ahead of the EU's later directive. These rules cover a narrower list of products, mainly large appliances such as refrigeration equipment, washing machines, washer-dryers and dishwashers, along with televisions and other electronic displays. Manufacturers are required to make spare parts and repair information available, in some cases for up to ten years after a model is discontinued, but the requirement is aimed mainly at professional repairers rather than giving consumers or independent repair shops the same direct access that some other regions now provide.
The US: a growing patchwork by state, not a single federal law
There is no single federal right to repair law in the US. Instead, a number of individual states have passed their own laws, and by 2026 that list includes California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington, each covering consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops and games consoles to varying degrees. The specifics differ by state: some create obligations toward independent repair shops as well as consumers, and Oregon's law was the first to specifically address "parts pairing," a software practice that can block a repaired device from working correctly with third party or reused components even after a physical repair is completed. A product bought in a state without such a law is not automatically covered, which makes this one of the clearer cases where the same product can carry different repair rights depending on where it was bought.
What this means in practice for a shopper
- Whether a repair right applies at all depends on the product category and the country of purchase, not on the brand alone.
- In the EU, the twelve month warranty extension after a repair is a specific, checkable entitlement within the covered product categories.
- In the UK, the obligation to supply parts and information is aimed mainly at professional repairers, so availability to a consumer directly can still vary.
- In the US, checking whether the relevant state has its own law, and what it actually covers, matters more than assuming a general federal standard exists.
Where this connects to buying decisions
None of this changes how a voucher code or coupon code works at checkout, but it is a reasonable thing to weigh when deciding between two similar products, since one covered by a clearer repair obligation may be a better long term choice even at a similar price. We do not track repairability directly on daily-coupons.info, since our own listing across 527 shops focuses on checked codes rather than product specifications, but reading a retailer's own repair and warranty information, alongside the rules that apply in your own country, remains worth the few minutes it takes before a larger purchase. General background on how we check codes is on our how it works page, and our US equivalent covers the same approach for US shoppers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EU right to repair rule apply to all products?
No. It applies to a defined list of categories, including washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, electronic displays, mobile phones, tablets and servers, with further categories expected to be added over time rather than covering every product from the start.
Is the UK's right to repair the same as the EU's?
No. The UK's 2021 rules cover a narrower list of mainly large appliances and displays, and are aimed mainly at professional repairers, while the EU directive applying from 2026 covers a wider list of categories and includes a direct guarantee extension for consumers who choose repair.
Is there a federal right to repair law in the US?
No. Right to repair in the US exists at state level, with a growing number of states, including California, Colorado, New York, Minnesota and Oregon among others, having passed their own laws covering consumer electronics to varying degrees.
How can I check if a product I am buying is covered?
Checking the retailer's or manufacturer's own repair and warranty information, alongside the specific rules in your own country or state, is the most reliable way, since coverage depends on both the product category and where it was bought.
