ISN Garage Assist Blog

Rising fuel costs push more motorists towards EVs If you’ve been near a forecourt at all this year, you’ll be painfully aware of just how high fuel prices currently are.A 5p fuel duty cut, announced back in March, was soon swallowed up in the wake of rising costs - so much so that it was barely noticed - and the latest reports suggest that the prices we’re paying at the pumps aren’t falling in-line with the wholesale cost.This all points towards high fuel prices lasting for many months to come and, according to used car site ChooseMyCar.com, motorists are beginning to...

UK Commercial Vehicle Production Up, Bucking Overall Trend The UK’s new commercial vehicle sector has experienced its best May (and year to-date) performance for a decade, bucking an overall trend of declining new vehicle production.According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), production was up 26.5% in May. 7,900 vehicles emerged from factories across Britain that month, the highest number since 2012.Exports in particular performed strongly, the figures showing a 91.6% increase on last year’s data. The majority of commercial vehicles built here now end up overseas - 67.9% to be precise. 91.8% of those...

A new study from Centrica Business Solutions has revealed that UK businesses are expected to invest in 163,000 electric vehicles (EVs) during the course of 2022 – a 35% increase on last year. The study found that businesses invested £11.6bn in EVs and associated infrastructure (like charging points) last year. This year, that number is set to rise 15% to £13.6bn. Only the beginningAll indications are that this is only the start of an electric revolution, as businesses increasingly wave goodbye to petrol and diesel power in favour of the clean, green, zero-emission alternative. According to this study, 62% of businesses...

Ever wondered which cars end up on the scrapheap the most? Well, thanks to data from Scrap Car Comparison, we now know which makes and models are scrapped most often - and it turns out that the UK’s best-selling cars aren’t at the top of the list.Every year, the company issues thousands of quotes to motorists looking to scrap their vehicle, helping them get the best possible price for it. They then analyse this data and compile it every 12 months, giving us an interesting snapshot of what’s lurking in our nation’s scrap yards.According to the data, Ford is the dominant...

Biennial MOTs Could Become a Reality in Britain Britain’s Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has suggested that MOT testing could switch from an annual requirement to a biennial one in a bid to address the current cost of living crisis. The measure, which was suggested during a recent Cabinet meeting, would mean that motorists would only be required to get their cars tested every year - not every year as is currently the case.Unsurprisingly, the idea has received widespread criticism from experts in the motor industry on safety grounds. Although the measure would help keep costs down for motorists, many believe that...

The DVSA intends to double down on MOT fraud, its latest business plan report has confirmed. With over 1,300 confirmed cases of MOT fraud recorded last year, the organisation is well aware of the issue - and says it plans to use ‘intelligence-based targeting’ to track the movements of vehicles. By employing this technology, the DVSA hopes to catch out garages issuing MOT tests to vehicles that haven’t even visited the garage. “We will increase our capability and capacity to investigate serious fraud and criminal activity by using advanced technology surveillance equipment and associated data processes for MOT surveillance, under the...

We will be showcasing the latest machines from Hofmann Megplan, hosting 121 demonstrations and we’ll be available to answer any questions you may have.You can expect a whole host of benefits this June at the one-of-a-kind UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, including free breakfast to those arriving before 10am and *free parking, to name a few.Kickstarting on 8-9th June at the NEC in Birmingham, the free-to-register, national event is open to the entire industry, and after the past two years, we would love to meet you in person once again.The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has been designed to put the...

Looking to branch out into the world of MOT testing for the first time? Or perhaps you’re considering expanding your facilities with a second test bay? Regardless of your circumstances, if you’re on the hunt for a company to complete the entire installation process from start to finish, ISN Garage Assist can help.To give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve put together a handy rundown of our MOT bay installation process.The planning phaseThe process begins with an email or phone call. However you choose to get in touch, we’ll respond promptly to arrange a mutually convenient time to complete...

Now is the perfect time to scale up your MOT offering - or begin testing for the first time. That’s according to new research from BookMyGarage. The company recently published the results of a freedom of information (FOI) request it submitted to the DVSA for data on monthly MOT figures. According to the data it received in return, garages look set to experience another lull in MOT testing demand this spring - a consequence of the six-month extension put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Last April and May, 2.3 million fewer MOT tests took place than during the...

Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, has announced that the nation’s Government is to explore the ‘next steps’ towards adopting biennial MOT testing. Having reviewed evidence submitted by members of the public in an official Call for Evidence, which ran from August to October 2021, Mallon said that the idea had received enough support to be considered more formally by the Government.Currently, the MOT testing rules in Northern Ireland are similar to those enforced in England, Wales and Scotland; private cars and motorcycles are first tested when they reach four years old, and annually after that.Light goods vehicles weighing under 3,500kg,...

Did you know your business could benefit from significant capital allowance measures? 1. Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)Introduced in 2008, AIA is an allowance for tools and equipment which allows a business write off 100% of qualifying capital expenditure against taxable profits for the same period. AIA is an incentive for a business to invest because it accelerates the tax relief available in the year of purchase, rather than over several years, helping cash flow and enhancing business growth. 2. Super-deductionThe super-deduction tax break was introduced in the 2021 budget. It allows you to claim 130% of what you spend on qualifying equipment for...

We have found a 'Jewel' in James! A great deal of experience, and a big reputation are just two things that James Jewell brings to  ISN Garage Assist in his new appointment as Aftersales Director. The rapid expansion and ongoing development of our service division into the UK's largest of its kind required an individual who is passionate about forging a long term, senior career in the Garage Equipment industry, and we believe James is just that person. Working closely with the likes of Chris Grimm, Sean Blomley and Joe Berryman, James will ultimately be seeing through the key goals we...

Mark Berryman, one of the company's longest serving team members, has been promoted to Supply Chain & Operations Director for ISN Garage Assist.Having originally joined as Service Manager within the original Hofmann Megaplan business, Mark eventually became Service Director, and ultimately Managing Director following the acquisition by ISN Europe. The formation of ISN Garage Assist as the 'umbrella' for sales of the company's equipment brands and installation/service activities has led to a reshuffle of key personnel, and Mark will now be utilising the strengths and relationships he has built up over the years with suppliers and key customers, whilst also working...

EU Announces Plans To Renew MVBER: Will The UK Follow Suit?The European Commission has confirmed plans to extend the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MVBER) until 2028.It’s currently due to expire on 31 May next year but, provided the proposed five-year extension is implemented following an ongoing review process, independent garages within the EU will be able to continue operating as they have done since the current version was implemented in 2010.The same does not apply here in the UK, though. We adopted the MVBER when we left the EU in 2020, but our version still hasn’t been renewed - meaning...

Biggest Challenges Faced By Workshops In 2021 RevealedA nationwide survey of garages and workshops by the Motor Ombudsman has named staff shortages as the most significant challenge faced by the industry over the past year.67% of respondents felt that the biggest obstacle of 2021 was simply finding enough mechanics and MOT testers to keep up with customer demand. This was due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected 50% of the garages surveyed. Employees self-isolating compounded the staffing shortfall, and MOT testing demand rose sharply following the six-month exemption put in place the previous year, making it even harder to...

2030 might seem a while away, but before too long it’ll be upon us - and all of the brand-new petrol and diesel models we’re so used to seeing in 2022 will disappear from new car showrooms for good. This obviously has serious implications for the car manufacturing industry (and for supplying dealerships), but what about the nation’s independent garages and workshops? How will they cope - and will it actually affect their day-to-day operations much? Staff shortages The first potential bump in the road for independent garages is manpower (or lack thereof). A recent study by the Motor Ombudsman indicated...

The RAC delivered troubling news for motorists recently when it published statistics on pothole-related callouts.According to the figures, the third quarter of 2021 was the worst in 15 years for pothole-induced damage.From July to September last year, the company responded to 1,810 breakdown callouts for broken springs, bent or cracked wheels and damaged dampers. Those callouts represented 1.2% of the total during that period - significantly higher than normal.The organisation’s Pothole Index has been tracking these breakdowns since 2006. According to this data, today, drivers are 1.5 times more likely to experience a pothole-related breakdown than in 2006.What does this mean...

It’s a busy life!Here at ISN Garage Assist we enjoy nothing more than helping our customers, and our alignment and ADAS specialists have been busier than ever in recent weeks. Here’s a round-up of some of our latest installations.First up we installed an Ssence 600 HD wheel aligner, along with a Geolift 4200 4 post lift at the Global Motoring Hub, who work with private collectors buying, selling and sourcing high performance and classic cars.They also offer a Bodyshop repair service to the public and used to outsource their alignment jobs but it was costing too much time and money. Now,...

Garage equipment is a significant investment for any business. From vehicle lifts to wheel alignment machines and tyre changers, kitting your garage out with the tools you need to complete a variety of jobs isn’t cheap.With that in mind, it’s vital to maintain all of your machinery and tools correctly to avoid having to replace them prematurely. This can be a time-consuming and challenging process in itself, especially when you’re trying to tackle customers’ work at the same time. Avoiding downtime is of course a priority, as this can be detrimental to both your company’s bottom line and its reputation.That’s why...

Everyone has been through the mill over the past 18 months - whether it has been a business folding, furloughing staff or equipment breakdowns, you name it, someone has had to deal with a huge amount of stress to get to where they are today. However, as we emerge from the pandemic, it is great to see so many success stories, including those from the DVSA’s fourth annual review released last month. The published document celebrates the ‘Beat the Rush’ campaign set out last Autumn, to encourage vehicle owners to bring forward their MOT test to spread the demand for MOT...