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Industry news
DON’T MESS WITH THE MOT
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has urged the new Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper not to mess with the current MOT test frequency and strengthen the current 3-1-1 testing regime with the addition of testing electronically controlled safety systems (e.g., ADAS). The Federation, along with UK AFCAR, has been highlighting the threat to road safety by conducting the first MOT when a vehicle becomes four years old and arguing that any extension to the test frequency will lead to an increase in road accidents as there will be no formal inspection of a vehicle’s road worthiness for a further 12 months.
MOT failures are disproportionately high for electric vehicles when they are first tested at three years, due to their increased tyre wear and there will be no official mileage or emissions checks for ICE vehicles recorded until after four years. In addition, delaying vehicle inspections may lead to higher repair costs for motorists who may not know that dangerous faults are developing with their vehicles. Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, said: “DVSA’s regulation of the MOT process and current testing frequency of 3:1:1 help to make the UK’s roads the second safest in Europe and while we look forward to working with the new ministers across both Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Department for Transport (DFT), we will fight any detrimental changes that threaten road safety and the automotive aftermarket.”
“Recent research from the RAC has shown that the majority of motorists consider that the UK MOT test is important for road safety and should not be changed and the wider industry is also firmly opposed to the idea of any changes to the 3-1-1 format.”
www.iaaf.co.uk
DVSA IMPROVES MOT REMINDERS AND HISTORY TOOLKIT
The DVSA has released its updated MOT reminders and MOT history toolkit for workshops, designed to make the process more efficient for users and help ease the workload for garages. Managing MOT reminders has been made easier and a function has been added to amend or stop reminders for the vehicles registered. For the MOT history page, motorists and businesses now only need to enter a vehicle’s VC5 number once to view or print MOT certificates. Since launching the MOT reminders, DVSA has reached four million sign-ups in total, and the MOT history service has around two million visits per month. The new toolkit also includes advice and graphics for businesses to use on social media and emails to customers to help promote the MOT reminders and MOT history services and assist in managing workloads. Workshops can find the updated toolkit on the link below.
https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/wpcontent/uploads/sites/19/2022/10/DVSA-MOTimprovements-toolkit.pdf
HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE FOR WORKSHOPS
The Independent Garage Association currently has a vacancy for a new member of the IGA Executive committee. If you are interested in making a difference to your fellow garage owners and becoming more involved in discussing new ideas to support the sector, whilst steering our industry through the challenges that are thrown at it on a daily basis, then get in touch. Email enquiries@rmif.co.uk.
RIGHT TO REPAIR: NEW BLOCK EXEMPTION PROPOSALS ARE BROADLY WELCOMED
The existing Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) expires on 31 May 2023 and sets out automatic exemptions for certain categories of agreements related to the purchase, sale, and resale of spare parts for motor vehicles, and the provision of repair and maintenance services for vehicles. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently reviewed the MVBER and has proposed revisions to government. The UK Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair (UK AFCAR) has welcomed the new proposals but has called for greater detail on how positive revisions of the regulation would be implemented to support motorists, workshops and parts suppliers. On key areas outlined by UK AFCAR, the CMA has responded positively stating that “the definition of ‘spare parts’ should clearly include lubricants and encompass all software together with activation/configuration codes for replacement parts and components, which are strictly necessary to fit those parts or to replace or update components or systems of the vehicle, which are necessary for the use or operation of a motor vehicle, with the exception of fuel.” The CMA’s recommendations also include a positive addition on the definition of ‘technical and vehicle information’ which will be treated as an ‘excluded restriction’ that would require self-assessment by a vehicle manufacturer so the wording in the guidance will be critical to its implementation. “The CMA finds that in-vehicle data should be included in this definition and acknowledges that the manner in which information is provided is relevant,” the report said. Regarding vehicle warranties, the CMA proposes additional and updated guidance to clarify that the clauses contained in all documents proposed to consumers by OEM/authorised dealers or repairers should clearly state the consumer’s right to use the service of an independent repairer without losing the benefit of the warranty. Another critical point made by the recommendation is the “recognition of new technologies and communication interface” with “access to technical and in-vehicle information” being a critical development. However, it is still referencing the workshop level as the basis for competition. This new definition will include access to in-vehicle data but does not include independent and direct access to the vehicle remotely – only what must be made available once the vehicle is in the workshop. This, however, legitimises the VM’s ‘extended vehicle’ model and distorts the ability to compete. Mark Field, IAAF Chief Executive and UK AFCAR Chairman, said: “We broadly welcome the top-line revisions to the MV-BEO. A key issue of the previous legislation was lack of enforcement of the regulation and its impact, particularly at garage level. We are only at the beginning of a long journey that seeks to ensure consumer choice – and the ability for the aftermarket to compete – is protected.” Andy Hamilton, CEO LKQ Euro Car Parts, commented: “Fundamentally, competition is dependent on the existence of a level playing field between authorised and independent operators, which means fair and shared access to essential inputs such as spare parts and technical and vehicle information. The detailed wording of the guidance will therefore be critical. The CMA clearly acknowledges this and is taking steps to account for the technological developments of recent years – while building more flexibility into the guidance of the proposed new MV-BEO, which will also have a shorter duration, enabling another full review in six years - not ten as was the case under the previous EU regime.”
IS YOUR EQUIPMENT ENGINEER GEA ACCREDITED?
www.gea.co.uk
GEA ACCREDITED ENGINEER
Name Company Discipline Exp Date ID Number XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 For peace of mind always use a Garage Equipment Association member. GEA accredited engineers work to an industry code of conduct. Your assurance their skills and knowledge have been independently assessed.
EBAY PREDICTS COST OF LIVING CRISIS WILL DRIVE SURGE IN DEMAND FOR RECYCLED ‘GREEN’ CAR PARTS
eBay says the cost-of-living crisis will see a growing number of motorists switch to ‘green’ recycled parts to help reduce motoring bills. The online marketplace found that 71% of 2,000 surveyed in May 2022 would consider switching from installing new car parts on their vehicle to ‘green’ recycled parts, to save money. Half of participants also said they’d like to opt for the reused parts to save on waste and help the environment. Over the past three years, eBay has seen the supply of reused parts on its platform nearly double, with a green part now sold every seven seconds on eBay. Buyers can choose from more than 1.1 million green parts on the site and the reclaimed parts can be as much as 70% cheaper than new Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. So-called ‘green’ items are typically undamaged and reusable recycled parts, but eBay has partnered with the Vehicle Recyclers Association (VRA) to provide a certification process for automotive recyclers. All ‘Certified Recycled’ products listed on eBay come from VRACaccredited recyclers, are taken from end-of-life or written-off vehicles, and meet strict quality control standards. To showcase its range of parts and accessories, eBay has partnered with MTV to remake the popular Pimp My Ride automotive makeover series. Available on MTV UK’s YouTube channel, the show’s most recent episodes feature vehicle makeovers incorporating green parts sourced by eBay. For more information about Certified Recycled parts and accessories listings: https://pages.ebay.co.uk/2022/ certified-recycled/
NGK LAUNCHES TRAINING PORTAL WITH LOYALTY SCHEME MEMBER OFFER
NGK Spark Plugs has launched NGK Academy, a new online technical training portal. The portal, aimed at supplying essential training primarily to workshops, includes 270 technical training videos covering various technical subjects/components by automotive training experts Our Virtual Academy (OVA) who have also created a suite of bespoke training videos on spark plugs. The spark plug training videos, three of OVA’s core training videos and other existing NGK/NTK training content, will be free to access once enrolled on the portal, but there will be a charge for accessing the full suite. To mark the launch, NGK is funding a three-month full access trial for hundreds of members of its BoxClever independent garage loyalty scheme. Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd, said: “NGK Academy is designed to provide valuable, meaningful training that users can take on-board to help them each day at work. “Our Virtual Academy has a host of incredibly useful training programmes on different aspects of a vehicle’s systems including comprehensive training videos on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids which we know our independent garage customers are extremely interested in.” Ben Stockton, Managing Director of OVA, said: “In addition to the NGK training videos, NGK has purchased access to more than 270 training videos for hundreds of their customers. They’re on topics such as vehicle electrics, petrol and diesel engine management, chassis, hybrid and EV and HVAC.” You can enrol for free limited access, paid full access or use your Promo Code for three months’ full access of NGK Academy at: ngkacademy.com To view the Academy promo video on YouTube go to https://youtu. be/F8gb5D6hh5s.
GET ON TOP OF YOUR MOT CPD REQUIREMENT BEFORE THE MARCH DEADLINE
Nearly 700 MOT testers have been disqualified in the last two years, a rise of 49 per cent compared to the previous two. And while it’s right that driver safety has to be number one priority – not just for the DVSA, but for everyone who’s involved in vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair – according to LKQ Euro Car Parts, garages that lose just one tester could be missing out on around £670 in revenue per day. Bob Wiffen, Workshop Solutions Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “The aftermarket has done phenomenally well to adapt to the shifts in seasonal MOT demand since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. But effectively managing resource and inbound work volumes is just part of the challenge. “Now that the autumn MOT wave is behind us, it’s time to for technicians to think ahead and get on top of their CPD before the 30th March 2023 deadline.”
The MOT CPD requirement has been in place for more than six years. Every year, hundreds of testers miss the deadline to complete their three hours of training and subsequent assessment, which has a massive impact on garages’ ability to trade.
Each year’s training syllabus, set by the DVSA, is based on the latest MOT statistics, to determine the subject areas where it’s clear testers need to pay more attention, and that will make the biggest contribution to road safety. Bob Wiffen added: “We work closely with the IMI and DVSA to ensure our customers have access to the approved annual training they need to run a successful and compliant MOT site. With our years of experience of offering training, and the partnerships we hold within the industry, the LKQ Academy is a one-stop shop for all the training requirements in the workshop.”
Light vehicle CPD – online assessment only – from £29 + VAT per candidate Light vehicle CPD – online training and assessment – from £54 + VAT per candidate Light vehicle CPD – classroom-based training and assessment – from £129 + VAT per candidate All CPD courses from the LKQ Academy come with free IMI affiliate membership, worth £47.
LKQ Euro Car Parts has spoken out against the proposed move to change the MOT interval from annual to every two years and is committed to representing the best interests of both garages and drivers when the consultation starts. Bob Wiffen concluded: “Annual MOTs aren’t just an important revenue stream for garages – they protect road safety and help drivers stay on top of their vehicle maintenance in the most cost-effective way. Leaving problems to manifest over two years is likely to push up repair bills and make budgeting harder for drivers.”
