Thousands of independent garages could go out of business if rules governing technical information in vehicles are changed.

At the moment, all car manufactures are required by EU law to make information regarding electrical components available to mechanics, along with spare parts.

But the legislation is up for review next year and garage owners fear new rules will scrap the requirement, meaning they would no longer be able to complete anything but the most basic repair work.

Paul Philpott, owner of Autovets in Falmer Road, Woodingdean, said: “If we were unable to get full technical information from manufacturers then there will be so little work that independent garages will be put out of business.

“Drivers would be forced to go to franchised dealers and you can imagine the financial impact that would have because they would then have the monopoly.”

Stuart White owns Crawley garage BCR and lives in Hove. He believes many businesses related to the motor trade, such as training providers and parts suppliers, could also be forced to close if new rules are introduced.

He said: “We should be OK because we do a lot of work for the dealers themselves and have top-end diagnostic equipment.

“But I could see it being a problem for smaller garages because it will stop them doing a job or doing it properly. It will, effectively, put them out of business.”

Under current EU law, manufacturers are often protected from having to release information about their products but an exception was introduced for the motor industry because its products are more often repaired than scrapped.

Mike Owen, from the independent garage association of the retail motor industry federation, said that if the exception was scrapped then the new rules would apply retrospectively, meaning garages would not even be able to repair cars manufactured before the legislation was changed.

Mr Owen said: “The effect will be to increase costs for the consumer because independent garages will have to go to dealerships to get the electrical components of vehicles recommissioned.”

He said labour costs at dealerships can be twice as high as those of independent garages.

A campaign called Right To Repair has been set up to lobby the EU not to end the exception for the motor industry.

People are being asked to lend their support by signing a petition against any changes to the legislation.

Mr Owen said: “We need the public to join this petition themselves because, ultimately, they will be the ones losing out.”

For more information about the Right To Repair campaign, visit www.r2rc.co.uk.