Garage Matters (2026)

09/01/2026

🚨 MOT rule changes take effect today 🚨

From today (9 January 2026), the DVSA is enforcing stricter MOT rules for testers and Authorised Examiners (AEs). The changes bring tighter disciplinary measures, clearer training accountability, and increased DVSA oversight and garages need to act now to stay compliant.

Key points:
👉 Testers and AEs on 2- or 5-year cessations cannot carry out any MOT duties
👉Training records will now be visible to site managers and checked during audits
👉Convictions and repute declarations must be reported promptly
👉Demonstration tests are shorter, but still require full technical knowledge

For independent garages, this means:
👉Staff compliance is management’s responsibility
👉Internal audits and training tracking are essential
👉Staffing plans must account for potential sudden tester removals

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

08/01/2026

🚨 The arrival of an electric GTI should make every workshop stop and think.

One of the most influential cars in automotive history turns 50 this year. The Volkswagen Golf GTI reaches its half-century milestone as Volkswagen unveils both the most powerful GTI ever and the first all-electric GTI.

Since its launch in 1976, more than 2.5 million Golf GTIs have been built worldwide. What started as a low-volume performance experiment became the defining hot hatch, and a familiar sight on ramps in independent garages across the UK.

The original Mk1 GTI was meant to be a 5,000-unit run. Instead, dealers sold ten times that number in its first year. With everyday usability, strong performance and an accessible price, it earned a reputation as the democratisation of the sports car, and created a formula that has endured for five decades.

Fast forward 50 years and the GTI concept remains intact. Front-wheel drive, balanced handling and usable performance still define the badge, even as outputs and technology have increased dramatically. The new Golf GTI EDITION 50, producing 325PS, marks the peak of internal-combustion GTI development, with first deliveries due in 2026.

⚡ But the most significant development this anniversary year is the debut of the first all-electric GTI. With the unveiling of the ID. Polo GTI, Volkswagen has taken one of its most established performance nameplates into the electric era for the first time.

Even the most iconic performance models are now transitioning to EV platforms. As electric GTIs begin to enter the vehicle parc, workshops need to be ready for high-voltage systems, advanced diagnostics and changing customer expectations around performance cars.

Many independents will have serviced multiple generations of GTIs over the years, from mechanically simple Mk1s to today’s high-output turbocharged models. The GTI’s evolution mirrors that of the aftermarket itself: constant change, driven by technology.

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

07/01/2026

⏱️ Too busy to train apprentices? Maybe that’s exactly why you need to.

For the final episode of 2025, the REPXPERT team from Schaeffler Vehicle Lifetime Solutions visited the award-winning Williams Garage in Wi******er as part of its Wrenches & Wisdom campaign, an initiative focused on apprenticeships, training and long-term careers in the independent aftermarket.

The visit followed 20 students and apprentices as they took part in hands-on technical training, including a live double clutch replacement using a LuK 2CT repair solution, alongside an INA belt installation demonstration.

Williams Garage owner Peter Whieldon said the day highlighted just how important it is for independents to engage with the next generation: “This was a day filled with valuable information, engaging demonstrations and enjoyable experiences. Encouraging young people into our sector is crucial, and I was delighted to host the event.”

Throughout 2025, Schaeffler’s Wrenches & Wisdom campaign delivered product training to more than 300 students and apprentices at progressive workshops and colleges across the UK.

At each event, the team also spoke with garage owners and technicians about the importance of continuous training plans and the often underused potential of apprenticeships within the independent aftermarket.

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

07/01/2026

💷 Predictable workload. Reliable payment. Higher invoice values.

Sounds good, right?

At last month's IAAF Conference Timothy Guidotti, director of Ferdotti Motor Services and founder of The Fleet Guy Guy, gave delegates a powerful inside view of how independent garages can thrive in the evolving fleet landscape.

Drawing on decades of family business experience, Tim shared how Ferdotti has grown into a five-site operation with 30 staff, with a sixth EV-focused workshop opening next year. Today, 90% of the business comes from fleet contracts, delivering predictable revenue, strong cashflow and professional, long-term relationships.

“Fleet work transformed our business,” Tim explained. “High-mileage vehicles keep workshops busy, and payment is reliable. It’s a very different dynamic to retail.”

To help other independents access these opportunities, Tim last year launched The Fleet Guy, a platform designed to connect garages directly with fleet and leasing companies, while providing the processes, guidance and standards needed to manage contracts efficiently.

The results speak for themselves. One fleet repair that a dealership estimated would take four to eight weeks was completed by Ferdotti in just four days, leading to an additional 140 vehicles being committed for servicing.

📊 The bigger picture?
👉 61% of vehicles are now sold into business fleets
👉75% of new BEVs go straight to fleet operators
👉Dealer closures and consolidation continue
👉Younger drivers are moving away from car ownership

Tim also drew lessons from automotive history, reminding garages that success isn’t about the product alone, but about reinventing processes and business models.

“We have to revolutionise how we operate, not just what we do. Fleets want speed, reliability and quality and independents who can deliver all three will win.”

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story. It's a good one!

29/12/2025

🫨 Your customers are confused. You have the answers. 🔧

"Talk of the ZEV mandate being scrapped... risks undermining years of progress." Edmund V King OBE, AA President.

A new report suggests that drivers are stepping back to the familiar territory of petrol and diesel, driven by fear of new taxes and policy U-turns.

This is where the independent garage can step up. Be the one customers turn to for advice. Be ready for when they ask:
❓ "Is it worth buying an EV yet?"
❓"What is this new mileage tax in 2028?"
❓"Will my battery survive the winter?"

The "retreat" to ICE proves that the aftermarket needs to be agile. It isn't just about fixing cars anymore. It's now also about navigating a confused market for your customers.

Whether they stick with their diesel or take the leap to electric, they need your advice more than ever.

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

24/12/2025

💰 A £300,000 collection. 350 lots. Zero reserve. 🔨

If you have an appreciation for British engineering history, mark Sunday 22 February 2026 in your diary.

The Ron Haigh Collection is going under the hammer at Race Retro, and it is a treasure trove for the aftermarket. From rare enamel signs to a stunning lineup of Vincent motorcycles (including a Black Shadow and a Black Night), this is a "rare survivor" collection.

Standout lots for the workshop wall include:
💡 Vincent Illuminated Shop Sign (Est. £4k-£5k)
💡 Large Neon Buick Sign (Est. £7k-£10k)
💡 Original Brough Superior Clock (Est. £3k-£5k)

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App for the full story.

What’s the one piece of memorabilia you’d love for your garage? 👇

23/12/2025

🤔 Is the "retail struggle" optional? The Fleet Guy thinks so.

For many independent garages, 2025 has been a battle for retail work. But The Fleet Guy is proving there is another way.

Less than a year after launching the UK's first fleet-work training community, they have been named a finalist in two categories for the 2026 CAT Awards (Innovation & Training Scheme of the Year).

"The Fleet Guy isn’t based on a textbook," says founder Timothy Guidotti. "It’s the result of 25 years of trial, error, and ultimate success."

With a new certification program set to open doors with major leasing companies, The Fleet Guy is giving independents a seat at the table.

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

22/12/2025

Burnout or bounce back? Why ‘mental toughness’ is your most vital tool for 2026...

🤔 QUESTION: Look around your workshop. Do you have a "Team" or just a "Group"? There is a big difference.

Speaking at the IAAF Ltd Conference earlier this month, Penny Mallory explained that a "Group" is just people working in the same building, hiding mistakes, and doing the bare minimum. A "Team" covers for one another and shares the load.

In our latest Garage Matters piece, the World Rally driver explains why a "group" dynamic is killing productivity and how to fix it in 2026.

She also drops a truth bomb about burnout: "When your mind is telling you ‘I’m done’... you are actually only 40% done."

‼️ And the most sobering thought at this year's IAAF Conference: Penny ended her talk by looking at a tape measure of your life and tearing off the years already lived. “Life is so flippin’ amazing, so precious," she said. "Please don’t waste a single second of it.”

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

17/12/2025

🚨 MOT Testers: Is your status secure for 2026?

With the 31 March deadline approaching, the DVSA is encouraging a "little and often" approach to avoid the last-minute rush.

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency's Grant Thunder suggests that if you still have your three hours to complete, "an hour a month between now and March will get you there comfortably."

👉 It’s more than just a course: You can count everyday professional development toward your three hours, including reading MOT special notices, studying the inspection manual, or technical Q&A sessions with your team.

👉👉The DVSA is clear that "you will not be able to log the previous year’s training" retrospectively. Make sure every session is recorded on your MTS electronic log now to avoid a headache in April.

👉👉👉The assessment is 30 questions based on real-world data and common errors. You are allowed to use your notes and the MOT manual during the test, so keep them handy.

👉👉👉👉Once you pass, don't assume the system has updated. Double-check your ‘view annual assessment certificates’ page immediately.

Missing the deadline means an immediate loss of your ability to test, leading to unnecessary downtime and lost revenue for the workshop.

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to stay updated with all the latest industry news as it happens.

16/12/2025

💡 ADAS calibration. Is it something you offer? If not, you'll want to watch this new series...

From January, independent garages will get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to bring ADAS calibration in-house.

A new video series from Hella Gutmann follows Oldfields Garage in Herefordshire as it takes its first steps into ADAS, from early conversations and workshop assessment, through equipment installation and training, to offering the service to customers. No hype, no shortcuts, just the reality of adding a critical, safety-led service to an independent workshop.

With 1 in 5 vehicles on UK roads now fitted with ADAS, correct calibration after windscreens, body repairs, suspension work or wheel alignment isn’t optional, it’s essential.

As Oldfields’ Tim Benson FIMI Benson puts it: “Move a camera or radar just a few millimetres, and you could delay an emergency response.”

This series aims to cut through the noise and show garage owners and technicians how ADAS calibration can be approachable, compliant and commercially viable when done properly.

🎥 A teaser video is already live, with the full series launching in January on Hella Gutmann’s official channels.

📲 Download the Garage Matters App to read the full story and watch the series trailer.

16/12/2025

👩‍🔧👨‍🔧 Time for a closer look at 'free apprenticeships'. Will garages really be saving money?

New analysis from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) suggests recent government reforms may not deliver the cost relief many independent garages were hoping for.

While the Autumn Budget removed the 5% training co-investment for under-25 apprentices, a headline saving of £650–£800 per apprentice, rising apprentice minimum wages and employer National Insurance costs mean many SMEs are actually paying more, not less.

IMI CEO Nick Connor warns that although the reforms are well-intentioned, wage affordability remains the real barrier: “When you factor in wages and NI contributions, SMEs are still paying more. This risks creating further barriers to offering apprenticeships at a time when the sector needs them most.”

Let's not forget that automotive apprenticeship starts have fallen by 30% since 2018/19, an average loss of over 500 places every year.

If costs and complexity remain unchanged, the IMI is warning that industry risks losing one of its most effective routes into skilled, sustainable careers.

👇 We want to hear from you: How are rising wages and operating costs affecting your ability to take on apprentices? What’s working, and what isn’t, in your garage?

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story...

15/12/2025

🎯💡 True inclusivity in the garage isn’t just about what happens inside the workshop. It’s about customer perception too. 💡🎯

For years, the automotive aftermarket has focused on encouraging more women into technical roles and creating inclusive workplaces. But as MOT tester Jade Price points out, there’s one crucial piece still being overlooked: how customers react when they meet a female technician.

Jade, who works at Formula One Autocentres in Warrington, has experienced the challenges firsthand from early setbacks that nearly derailed her career to becoming the first female technician at Warrington Audi.

‼️ Her message is clear: “We’re just people at work. That’s all it should be.”

Even as workshops make progress in recruitment, training, and culture, outdated assumptions from customers can still make talented women feel like outsiders.

True inclusivity means everyone, inside and outside the workshop, sees skill before gender.

With pressures on recruitment and fewer young people entering the trade, the industry must project a welcoming, modern image to retain and attract talent.

🤔The question is, how do you think garages can help shift customer perceptions?

📲 Download the FREE Garage Matters App to read the full story.

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