We want to see unnecessary and unfair practices driven out of the motor industry service and repair sector, and the Code aims to do exactly that.

Alec Murray RMIF Chairman

Complying with the Code should not place any additional burden on responsible garages - in fact, it should even enhance the marketing toolkit of a business. I urge all garages to join the thousands who have already committed.

Paul Everitt SMMT Chief Executive

At only £75 annual subscription fee, garages must ask themselves why they would not want to sign up to this affordable scheme.

Alec Murray RMIF Chairman

For too long the bad practices of a minority have damaged honest businesses and ripped off consumers. I'm delighted that the industry has got together to tackle this problem and drive up standards.

Rt Hon John Hutton MP

The automotive service and repair sector has regularly faced accusations about its standards and the associated detriment that this causes consumers, as a result of consumer complaints statistics and mystery shopping exercises.

Most recently, the sector faces a very serious threat from Consumer Focus (previously the National Consumer Council), involving Consumer Focus submitting what is known as a ‘Super Complaint' to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), as they feel that consumers are facing ‘significant' detriment in this area.

But for the introduction of the Code, it is generally acknowledged that the outcome of the Super Complaint would be the regulation of the service and repair sector, potentially via a mandatory licensing scheme.

This means that if you are involved in the maintenance or repair of cars in any way, you would have to be licensed to do so. Although many garages will meet with any requirements of such a regime, there would be issues with cost, bureaucracy, enforcement and implementation of such regulation.

The Code provides the sector with the opportunity to prove that it is able to keep its own house in order and to maintain standards across the industry.