ANDERSON, S.C. -- If you've bought a new car in the last few years, you know how hard it can be to find an independent mechanic who can work on it, or even make keys for it, Greenville, S.C., television station WYFF said.

"I couldn't get a key for my wife's vehicle. Couldn't go to the key shop, had to go to the dealership for $140. It's normally a $10 to $15 cost," David Parde said.

Don Richards, of Action Auto Service, knows all about the increasing difficulties facing mechanics and parts dealers.

"We use to could do [repairs] in our backyard. Now you need about an electrical engineering degree to do it. We're constantly going to school," he said.

Richards said automakers are releasing less information about the cars they make, forcing owners to go to the dealership for repairs.

"Independent shops have to invest a great deal of money to try and keep up with the scanners, diagnostic info," he said. "There's a lot of information not being released to the independent garages."

U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham says he wants to change that.

"As cars become more computerized, it is important that manufacturers share information with car repair people throughout the country," Graham said at a press conference in Anderson Monday.

Graham introduced a bill in February to create the Motor Vehicle Right To Repair Act which would require automakers to share information about the cars they make. A similar bill has been proposed in the U.S. House.

"I would like to see people in the industry, with the people in the auto business, voluntarily work toward an agreement. If not, legislation is necessary," Graham said.

WYFF contacted several car dealerships to discuss the bill, but were told that dealers weren't familiar enough with the legislation to feel comfortable commenting on it.

Richards said he thinks the current balance of power in car repair is unfair.

"If they're the only ones who can do something, we know what prices will do. That's escalate much more than they are now," he said.

Read The Text Of Graham's Bill