A garage owner is retiring early after a council lease extension contained a clause prohibiting the MOT testing, servicing and vehicle repairs his business has carried out for around 20 years. Ray Lucas runs Ray’s Autos at the Nursery Industrial Estate in Herne Bay, Kent, where traders were offered extensions to their leases by CanterburyContinue reading “Garage Owner Retires After Council Lease Bans MOT Testing and Repairs”
A major crackdown on suspected counterfeit vehicle parts at Automechanika Frankfurt has provided another warning to garages about the risks posed by fake and potentially sub-standard components entering the automotive aftermarket. German customs officers targeted 29 stands during two days of inspections at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, one of the world’s biggest automotive aftermarket trade exhibitions.Continue reading “Counterfeit Car Parts Crackdown Highlights Risks for UK Garages”
MOT garages were reminded this week of the importance of knowing their contingency procedures after the DVSA MOT testing service experienced a technical problem on Tuesday 11 August 2026. According to the official DVSA MOT service status page, the incident was first reported at 12:11pm BST, when DVSA said it had identified a problem withContinue reading “DVSA MOT Testing Service Outage: What Garages Need to Know About Contingency Testing”
Vehicle safety recalls have featured regularly in the headlines throughout 2026, with manufacturers announcing campaigns affecting everything from electrical systems and airbags to engine components and hybrid technology. While recalls can understandably concern motorists, they are actually an important part of keeping vehicles safe. In many cases, a recall demonstrates that manufacturers are actively monitoringContinue reading “Why Car Recalls Are Rising in 2026 – What Every UK Driver and Garage Needs to Know”
Volkswagen’s decision to end production of the diesel-powered Golf marks the end of one of the automotive industry’s most recognisable chapters. After five decades, one of Europe’s best-selling diesel models is disappearing from the new car market, reflecting a much broader shift taking place across the UK vehicle parc. For motorists, it’s another sign ofContinue reading “Volkswagen Ends Diesel Golf Production”
A mechanic has been jailed after using a Leeds garage to dismantle stolen vehicles and sell their parts online in what police described as a sophisticated vehicle “chop shop” operation. Steven Hickman, who traded as Shelby’s of Netherton, was sentenced after investigators uncovered evidence that stolen vehicles were being stripped for parts before components wereContinue reading “Mechanic Jailed After Leeds ‘Chop Shop’ Used to Dismantle Stolen Vehicles and Sell Parts Online”
More than 10,000 motorists across Great Britain received penalty points in 2025 after being caught driving vehicles deemed unroadworthy, highlighting the continuing importance of regular vehicle maintenance and thorough MOT inspections. New figures obtained by the RAC from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that 10,054 drivers were issued licence penalty points forContinue reading “More Than 10,000 UK Drivers Penalised for Driving Unroadworthy Vehicles – Why Regular Checks Matter”
More than one in five UK motorists have missed important vehicle administration deadlines, according to new research, highlighting a growing challenge for both drivers and the automotive industry. A survey commissioned by Lloyds and conducted by YouGov found that 21% of UK drivers have forgotten critical vehicle deadlines, including MOT tests, vehicle tax and insuranceContinue reading “One in Five UK Drivers Missing Essential Car Admin Deadlines”
One of the UK’s best-known MOT training and compliance providers, MOT Expert, is celebrating its 11th anniversary, marking more than a decade of helping garages, technicians and MOT testers across the country develop their skills and maintain compliance. Founded in 2015, the Northampton-based company has grown from a specialist MOT training provider into a nationwideContinue reading “MOT Expert Celebrates 11 Years of Supporting the UK MOT Industry”
New industry data is highlighting a growing challenge for the UK’s automotive repair sector, with repair costs continuing to rise as vehicles become increasingly complex to diagnose, repair and maintain. While advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electrification and connected vehicle technology are often cited as major contributors, high-profile cases involving major mechanical failures are alsoContinue reading “Rising Repair Costs and Vehicle Complexity Creating New Challenges for Garages”
