News 6 www.aftermarketonline.net MAY 2026 At its annual Autocentre of the Year awards, held on 26 March at the Concorde Centre in Manchester, Servicesure recognised the UK’s highest-performing independent garages, with Liverpool-based Ashwell Motors named Best Overall Garage. The awards underline the continued evolution of the independent sector, as garages invest in new technologies, expand fleet relationships and raise operational standards to meet changing vehicle parc demands. The 2026 Customer Service Award went to EAC Telford, as did the EV Garage of the Year award. The Fleet Garage of the Year was Magnet Autos , and Supplier of the Year was awarded to YUASA. The Regional Garage of the Year winners were: North West: Ashwell Motors, North East: Charlie Taylor Garage Services, Midlands: Elite Vehicle Repairs, South West: Cleevely Electric Vehicles, South East: Swanley Garage Services, Scotland: Balmoral and Crown, and Wales: GP Motors. All regional winners were considered for the overall title, with Ashwell Motors selected as Best Overall Garage. New industry report reveals key trends shaping the UK aftermarket BookMyGarage has published its first industry report, drawing on its own platform data alongside garage market insights to provide a data-led view of how UK motorists are booking MOTs, servicing and repairs and what this means for garages. The BookMyGarage 2025 Aftermarket Insights Industry Report combines data from millions of real booking interactions with surveys of garage owners and motorists, delivering a snapshot of trends and changing consumer behaviour as well as workshop demand across the UK aftermarket. Alongside its demonstration of the £134m worth of work generated for garage partners by the platform, the report highlighted several interesting findings. On the topic of MOT pricing, 62% of garage owners who responded said they wanted to see an increase in the cost of an MOT, with over two-thirds favouring a price between £55 and £65. While 64% of the drivers surveyed had not used a mobile mechanic before, 68% said they would consider it in the future. The analysis of pricing also highlighted some interesting trends. While some standard repairs, such as clutch and brake replacements, saw their average costs rise in line with inflation over the last 12 month, there were some which were lower than last year. Other areas covered by the report include trends in the age and types of vehicles booked on the platform, and the business outlook and challenges of its garage partners. The status of EV bookings and garage capacity to take on this work is also covered, as is the platform’s users’ search patterns, which show, for example, that drivers are increasingly prioritising convenience with ‘distance’ being the primary motivator for drivers searching on the platform rather than price. Commenting on the launch of the report, Karen Rotberg, Co Founder of BookMyGarage, said. “This report marks an important milestone for us. For the first time, we’re sharing our platform data and garage market insight to help the industry better understand how driver behaviour is evolving - and where the real opportunities lie for garages.” The full report is available to view and download at bookmygarage.com/forgarages/industry-report/ Servicesure recognises its network’s champions Compressed air solutions specialist Champion is heading on tour, with a roadshow that will bring its compressors direct to customers across the UK and Northern Ireland, as well as the Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Customers can request a visit from a purpose-built vehicle carrying the company’s equipment anytime between March and August 2026. The vehicle will include the Champion FM11, which the company says is one of the most compact compressors on the market, with low noise levels, allowing installation at the point of use. Also demonstrated will be the small and compact Hydrovane HV01 compressor, which is suited to light industrial and workshop applications where the compressed air outlet needs to be situated close to the application. Champion goes on tour
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=