Motor Codes grew significantly in 2013 and demonstrated more relevance than ever to both industry and consumers.
The value of its garage comparison site, populated with 175,000 online reviews is evident. There are now 800 more Trading Standards-approved garages across the UK; a total of 7,750.
Fulfilling its function as a route to ‘safe-haven’ garages for the public and a commercial driver for code subscribers, the comparison site generated a potential revenue stream for subscribers of £17.5 million for the year.
Relationships with government and consumer organisations strengthened, with the Motor Codes advice team endorsed as a referral partner of Citizens Advice. The team administered a conciliation caseload worth £1.65 million, recovering £400,000 for customers and defending subscribers to the tune of £1.25 million in unfounded claims – twice what it receives in subscription fees.
Summarising the achievements of Motor Codes, managing director, Chris Mason praised the growing network of approved garages:
“The automotive industry has pulled together to deliver this success story. We now have the complete package: a means of people sourcing a professional, reliable business and a proven, robust consumer protection mechanism. That is what the government tasked us to achieve back in 2008. In 2013, Motor Codes progressed to the next level, driving business to subscribers.”
