About Motor Codes
Motor Codes was set up by the motor industry to act as the self-regulatory body for the automotive sector and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Motor Codes is responsible for operating three Codes of Practice:
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The New Car Code.
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The Service and Repair Code.
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The Vehicle Warranty Products Code.
New Car Code - Full Approval from the Office of Fair Trading
The Motor Industry Code of Practice for New Cars, was the first code of practice in any industry to gain 'full approval' from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in 2004, when it was launched as the SMMT New Car Code.
In April 2009 Motor Codes took over responsibility for running the Code from the SMMT. The code commits car manufacturers to providing high levels of customer satisfaction as a core element of their business.
Over 99% of all new cars registered in the UK are covered by the Code.
Service and Repair Code
The Service and Repair Code was developed as a means of recognising quality within the industry and promoting peace of mind for motorists. It helps motorists identify responsible garages, offers a structured advice and complaints procedure and promotes good customer service.
More than 6,500 garages in the UK subscribe to the Code and millions of motorists benefit from its protection and standards, in addition to the free advice line and dispute resolution service.
The launch of the Code marked a major development in consumer protection in the automotive sector. With the support of the industry, government and Trading Standards, the Code has completed stage one of the OFT's Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
The Code commits subscribing garages to:
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Honest and fair service.
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Open and transparent pricing.
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Completing work as agreed.
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Invoices that match quoted prices.
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Competent and conscientious staff.
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A straightforward and swift complaints procedure.
Vehicle Warranty Products Code
The Vehicle Warranty Products Code regulates the sale and administration of over 3 million aftersales products such as extended warranties, roadside assistance and MOT Test Insurance.
The Motor Industry Code of Practice Vehicle Warranty Products was launched to the public in July 2009 replacing the longstanding SMMT Code of Practice for Mechanical Breakdown Insurance Schemes.
The Code covers numerous after sale products such as extended warranties, roadside assistance and MOT Test Insurance.
Motor Codes has temporarily suspended the Vehicle Warranty Products Code to investigate an aspect of the Code related to financial regulation. A recent case of retail business failure highlighted has that the security of ring-fenced funds - those set aside to cover policy payouts - may not always be guaranteed once a retailer is placed in the hands of a court-appointed administrator or liquidator.
Motor Codes is currently consulting with the Office of Fair Trading and retailers of warranty products to ensure the Code remains a robust and delivers maximum protection for consumers. More information can be found here.
Motor Codes Limited's Registered Office address is:
Forbes House
Halkin Street
London
SW1X 7DS
United Kingdom
Registered in England with registered number 06517394.
