Leading motor trade associations
Many garages, accident repair centres and car dealers join trade bodies to represent their best interests in the face of legislation and to keep them up to date with industry matters, health and safety, environmental and employment issues. Many then benefit from improved buying economies of scale and most trade bodies provide some sort of complaint handling and arbitration service for members of the general public.
Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF)
www.iaaf.co.uk
The IAAF represents the best interests of the UK’s independent garages as well as manufacturers, importers and independent wholesale distributors of automotive components and materials. It is run by a woman.
Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
www.motor.org.uk
The IMI is the professional association for individuals working in the motor industry. The Institute is the Sector Skills Council for the automotive retail industry, part of the Skills for Business network and also the governing body for the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme. The IMI runs the Professional Register for the motor industry.
Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)
www.rmif.co.uk
The RMIF is the trade association for the retail motor industry, representing the interests of garages, dealers, dealerships and bodyshops in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. It also operates the IGA (Independent Garages Association) that in turn operates the Trust My Garage Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Approved Code of Practice Scheme. All motorists can refer complaints about their member businesses to the RMI’s conciliation and arbitration service.
Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA)
www.smta.co.uk
SMTA provides a similar service to the RMIF representing the retail motor industry in Scotland.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT)
www.smmt.co.uk
SMMT represents the automotive industry at a national, European and global level across issues as varied as the environment, legislation, safety and security, as well as education and the economy. Their Regulation and Compliance Unit runs the conciliation service for The Motor Ombudsman’s CTSI (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) that operates the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) for New Cars (ie cars within their warranty period), Service & Repair, Vehicle Sales and Vehicle Warranties.
Right To Choose Campaign
www.right2choose.org.uk
FOXY Lady Drivers Club and FOXY Choice support the Right To Choose information campaign so that UK motorists can decide where to have their cars serviced, without invalidating any new car manufacturer warranty. As we see it, competitive forces and freedom of choice are always in the best interests of the consumer but motorists who choose a trustworthy independent garage over a franchised dealership must be sure to stick to the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule, to fit parts of an approved quality standard and keep all maintenance and repair records in case a warranty claim needs to be made.
Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association Ltd (VBRA)
www.vbra.co.uk
VBRA is an association for the vehicle body building, commercial vehicle repair, tail lift repair, car body and SMART repair industry, representing their best interests in the UK and Europe. The VBRA ‘car body repair’ code is the only one recognised by the Trading Standards Institute under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.