ISN Garage Assist Blog

Britain’s Millionth Electric Car Hits the Road The last couple of years haven’t exactly been ones to remember for car makers. With supply issues to contend with and an uncertain economic climate d, sales haven’t yet reached pre-pandemic levels.Things are beginning to look. According to the SMMT’s latest new car registration figures, 4.6% more new vehicles hit the roads this September compared with the same month last year.However, compare last month’s figure against 2019’s and the difference remain stark: 34.4% more vehicles were registered in September of that year.Bumper year for EVsSeptember did bring one significant bit of good news for...

Every car over three years old needs an MOT to be road legal. Light commercial vehicles and motorcycles need them too, so demand for testing is always high, year-round, no matter which type of vehicle your workshop specialises in. If you don’t currently offer MOT testing in-house and would like to, your first question may well be the one posed in the title of this article: what equipment do I need? Let’s take a closer look at each piece of equipment used in an MOT test. MOT testing equipmentTypically, garages looking to branch out into MOT testing will choose a complete...

Looking into adding an MOT bay to your workshop? If you’re not sure which type of bay you need, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at each of the different types and what sets them apart from one another, allowing you to make an informed decision on which one’s best suited to you. Class 1 and 2If you predominantly work on motorcycles, this is the type of bay you’ll need. Class 1 and 2 vehicles include: MotorcyclesScootersMopedsSidecars Class 1 and 2 bays consist of roller brake testers, headlamp testers and, optionally,...

Supply chain management and consultancy firm, Fleet Assist, has concluded that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are 22% cheaper to service (on average) than equivalent fossil fuel vehicles. The company reached the conclusion by analysing all of its data for 2022 thus far - all 850,000 vehicles and 5,200 garages worth. According to the organisation, the price differential largely comes down to reduced labour costs; there are simply fewer components requiring regular servicing on an EV when compared to an ICE vehicle.Parts costs can be lower, too. On average, the parts spend for an EV service is 28% less than for an...

52% of motorists know their car is faulty, study finds According to a new study, the majority of British motorists know their car has a fault that needs fixing.The research, carried out by online mechanic quoting and booking platform ClickMechanic, found that 52% of motorists were aware of at least one fault with their vehicle.Meanwhile, 62% of participants reported surprise breakdowns to be the most stressful part of car ownership.In the context of Britain’s ongoing cost of living crisis, these figures certainly make sense. With bills on the increase and fuel prices remaining high, it’s no surprise that many people simply...

Autonomous cars have been the stuff of science fiction for decades, but they’re now fast-becoming a reality. Although fully autonomous cars aren’t available to buy just yet, manufacturers like Tesla continue to push the envelope with self-driving systems that can cope with a variety of situations.Wondering how these systems work? That’s exactly what we’re going to investigate in this article. Hardware and software Autonomous vehicles rely on advanced hardware and software systems, each of which have to talk to one another multiple times a second to keep the car on the road. It all starts on the outside of the car,...

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...