Update legislation or aftermarket and motorists lose out, warns IAAF
IAAF challenges DfT over industry's right to repair
Leading automotive aftermarket trade association, IAAF, has called on the UK Government and the Department for Transport (DfT) to update current sector-specific legislation or risk damaging the aftermarket, reducing consumer choice and increasing the cost of vehicle mobility.
The federation has written to the DfT highlighting the sector’s contribution to the UK economy. The aftermarket generates more than 60% of the UK's £93 billion automotive sector turnover and consists of around 40,000 businesses, predominantly SMEs, employing more than 345,000 skilled people.
More than 75% of all vehicle service, repair and maintenance work is carried out by the independent automotive aftermarket.
Currently, two legislative pillars support the ability of the UK independent aftermarket to offer vehicle owners and operators competitive choices for the repair and maintenance of their vehicles:
Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order (MV-BEO – 2023 No. 586, under the Competition Act 1998 – DBT)
Vehicle Type Approval Regulation (EU) 2018/858 – DfT
These currently provide the key principles and legislative technical requirements needed to ensure non-discrimination between authorised repairers (so-called main dealers) and independent operators.
However, they are no longer sufficient in the face of new vehicle technologies. These technologies are increasingly being used by vehicle manufacturers to distort the market, reducing consumer choice and increasing costs.
In addition, other legislation, such as the Data (Use and Access) Act 2028, is being cited incorrectly as a reason why critical service and repair information cannot be shared with parts of the aftermarket sector, to the detriment of effective competition.
The principal beneficiaries of this situation are typically non-UK vehicle manufacturers.
A recent IAAF survey of motorists reveals widespread support among UK drivers for the freedom to choose where their vehicles are serviced and repaired, highlighting the need for sector-specific legislation within the automotive aftermarket.
The research gincluded responses from 1,042 UK drivers and found that 82% believe they should have the right to select their preferred service provider for vehicle servicing, repair and maintenance.
Further findings revealed that 82% of participants support government action to update legislation and protect consumer choice in the automotive repair market.
Mark Field, Chief Executive of the IAAF, said: "The IAAF is committed to fighting for sector-specific legislation that protects the industry's right to repair and ensures fair competition. The automotive aftermarket must remain competitive and accessible to UK drivers, offering an alternative to potentially higher-priced vehicle manufacturer-specific services."