ISN Garage Assist Blog

Our Guide to Buying 2-post Vehicle Lifts As you’ll know, garage and MOT bay mechanics today have an array of car lifting solutions to access the wheels, side and underside of a vehicle with ease. The 2-post car lift is one of the most popular types of car lifts due to its affordability and space-saving aspects. When it comes to vehicle lifts, there are so many configurations and brands to choose from, it can be a minefield to get straight answers about lifting capacities and requirements. If you’re considering the purchase of a new 2-post vehicle lift as a new workshop...

At ISN Garage Assist, we take pride in supporting workshops across the UK to reach their full potential. When Brake & Service World, based in Luton, approached us to update one of their workshops, we were ready to take on the challenge. Their vis...

You may check the oil & grease, but when was the last time you had your vehicle lift inspected fully?A recent investigation by ‘Prosafe’, an EU market surveillance group consisting of the Market Surveillance Officers from each EU Member State, found that as little as 12.77% of import lifts from outside the EU had 0 defects. The rest had issues!The joint action, which looks into the quality of CE marking on any product that is marketed and subsequently sold in the EU started in in January 2016. Known as Joint Action JAMACH14, it was created to look at enforcing correct CE...

Summer may now be over and Brexit is still looming but politics isn't the only area that never has a dull moment. It's been a year of big changes across the Garage Equipment sector and these changes show no sign of slowing down into the end of 2019 with MOT Bay Management in the limelight.The latest and biggest change we've seen for several years is the automation of the connectivity between MOT equipment and various systems. The Next MOT Equipment Change As of 1st October 2019, all Brake Tester equipment will be required to have the capability to connect directly to...

With the introduction of connected brake testers into the industry taking place last week, we are taking a deeper look into the benefits of MOT connected equipment for your business. The DVSA have brought in new rules & regulations surrounding mandatory connected equipment, but not many garage owners know what that means for their equipment or services. Keeping informed and up to date with the latest MOT news is all a part of offering the service. We have already altered our way of thinking and operating to incorporate MOT connected equipment into your garage to make this easier. Even before full connection to the DVSA, this new way of operating is highlighting the benefits...

As experts in MOT Bay Management, here at AMN Garage Assist, we want to keep you up to date with the latest in MOT equipment news, especially as it is such a hot topic area with lots of change pending and some already in play.In the latest update, the cut-off date for new testing equipment being approved for use in MOT sites without connectivity has now passed. Moving forward... Applications that hope to be approved by the DVSA for MOT testing equipment must include the most up to date software to ensure equipment can connect to the MTS and pass the...

 Following on from the introduction of connected Roller Brake Testers in October 2019, the DVSA has now announced the second cut-off deadline for the next piece of MOT equipment.Connected decelerometers will officially be on the mandate from 1st February 2020.Working closely with decelerometer manufacturers, the DVSA has been able to develop the software that will allow these products to connect to the MOT testing service. What does this mean for you? As with the roller brake testers, the DVSA will only approve new applications for testing facilities if they include an approved model of connected decelerometer brake tester from this date.This...

2019 has been an incredible year at AMN Garage Assist – we have helped hundreds of garages with everything from brand new equipment installs to the management of their MOT Bay.As the year draws to a close it is natural to reflect on the changes that have impacted us & our customers. Much of this change was focused on the inevitable rollout of MOT Connected Equipment. We’ve been at every relevant gathering with bodies like the DVSA & GEA to ensure we are one step ahead of these new developments.This also means we’re ready to answer any questions you might have...

Established in 1945, the Garage Equipment Association has been leading from the front for 75 years now as founder and upholders of many industry standards. This not-for-profit organisation is at the forefront of many industry processes, including: Administrating the approval of UK MOT equipment Accrediting of garage equipment engineers Arbitrating for our industry Training & certification of engineers across a number of disciplines& so much more!Considering the reputation and how highly respected the GEA is across the industry, it is easy to see why we are so proud to be members. It’s a sign of quality which resonates with everything we...

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="3.22"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="3.27.4" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"] The AMN Garage Assist team is available & ready to help you serve the key workers of the UK. We are continuously monitoring the situation around COVID-19 & operating in line with the latest advice from the Government. It is essential now, more than ever, that we as a sector ensure the roads of the UK remain safe. While steps like the MOT exemption may mean owners are not required to ensure their vehicle is MOT'd, they must ensure it remains safe to...

Every brand of garage equipment has its own nuisances. Different ways you’d deal with installing, servicing, parts & fixing.To that ends every business is also different, with different combinations of equipment, tools & techniques.All of this will need servicing so what's the solution? Have someone new turning up every other week to calibrate a different tool or service a lift? Someone else to chase for everything to ensure it is safe & compliant.Well no, that sounds terrible. What you need is a brand agnostic servicing solution. That’s one company that will handle all the calibrations & servicing no matter the make,...

This February, the introduction of connected Decelerometer brake testers have been brought into circulation, as the DVSA continue to take the necessary steps towards securing a completely connected MOT process.As we have highlighted before in our previous blog, the DVSA will now only approve new applications for testing facilities if they include an approved model of connected decelerometer brake tester, as of February 1st 2020.This is only the second of two pieces of MOT equipment that have made the change to connected compatibility, with more MOT rule extensions drawing ever closer. The future of MOT services in 2020 Looking to the...

Could the end be in sight sooner than expected for the MOT Exemption?  Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday night (10/05/2020), the GEA released a statement revealing they have been speaking to the DVSA. Part of this statement included a comment from the DVSA stating they would like to remove the Vehicle MOT extension program as soon as is practical to do so. With many now having reason to use their vehicles more regularly under the latest guidelines, this could be much sooner than the original 6-month extension. This new guidance is now encouraging many people to go back to...

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="3.22" custom_padding="||0px|||"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.27.4" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"] This essential document has been produced by the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF), Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The "COVID-19 Protective Measures: Automotive Aftermarket Sector Industry Guidance and Best Practice" has been supplied by these leading bodies with the aim of educating those in garages, warehouses, mobile operations and parts distributors about safe operating practises surrounding the recent pandemic. It's content touches on every aspect of...

The DVSA has stated it expects twice as many MOT tests to take place in September, October and November. From calibrations to your MOT Testing Bay Layout, now is the time to ensure you're ready for a busy end to 2020. The end of the MOT exemptions has bought with it speculation around just how big the MOT boom will be in what we have left of the year.Research from the DVSA suggests that from September, up to double the number of MOT tests will need to take place, a demand many garages are not ready for.While this may seem like a...

The latest DVSA figures show that an extra 20,000 MOT tests have been conducted every day so far this month. Garages have been pushed to their limits with the number of MOTs they are performing every day. At the beginning of August, the DVSA predicted twice as many MOT tests would take place leading into September and the rest of the Autumn period. With an exceptional rise seen in August already, a new prediction of 200% above the normal levels of testing is now predicted at the peak of this recovery. In the its Matter of Testing blog, the DVSA said:...

Many testing garages are raising the issue that the DVSA’s “Beat the Rush” Campaign isn’t doing enough to help with the incredible demand expected for the Autumn months.  The campaign calls on garages to urge their customers to bring forward their MOT test to spread out the increase in testing demand this autumn, across the remaining months in 2020.  A number of vehicle owners continue to put off their MOT test until the end of the 6-month exemption period, with many owners not wanting to pay out for the test and any associated fixes, as they are still on furlough.  Throughout August, the DVSA has stated that over 20,000 extra tests have been performed daily...

The government has announced new changes and restrictions to the guidelines surrounding the ongoing pandemic. A lot of industries and businesses have been affected once again. What do the recent changes mean for MOT garages? At the moment, the new restrictions do not affect MOT garages. Although the government put an MOT extension in place at the beginning or April, MOT testing has continued and been carried out safely, with everyone’s health in mind throughout the pandemic. Due to the incredible work by garages across the UK over the past 7 months MOT service has continued without interruption. There is no...

The testing numbers are in and no-one could have expected 3.7 million MOTs would be carried out in September - not even the DVSA. After receiving mixed reviews, the DVSA’s “Beat the Rush” campaign has been shown to have brought in over one million vehicle owners, that in turn brought their MOT test forward last month but were not due until between October 2020 and January 2021. The campaign that was released early in August to encourage vehicle owners to bring forward their MOT test, also shows that 310,000 more tests were carried out in August this year – an extra...

We know everyone is fed up of hearing about the coronavirus now – the year 2020 has been plagued with the news and reality of the virus affecting so many and impacting massively on the global economy. But for the garage sector, the end of Q2 and all of Q3 has been geared towards fighting back strongly to ensure the survival of numerous businesses. With the end of the MOT exemption and the furlough scheme, the beginning of Autumn saw the increase of vehicle users returning to the roads for work, and then the obvious demand for MOT servicing. Most garages...