Drivers who take their vehicle to a garage displaying the Trust My Garage shield will be able to enjoy a service backed by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) after the independent garage scheme confirmed that it has applied to become a government approved code.
Trust My Garage, which was set up by the Independent Garage Association (IGA) following a government call for better regulation of independent garages in the UK, is now set to reinforce its position as the consumer-facing badge of the UK independent garage sector. This means that garages displaying the widely recognised Trust My Garage shield can be trusted to provide an honest and professional service to all motorists. Trust My Garage will work with Trading Standards to drive out any independent garages that do not comply with standards set.
The Trust My Garage consumer code will be the only code in the UK that is exclusively open to independent garage businesses. It will highlight the qualities within the independent sector and promote peace of mind to all customers. The code will have a strong disciplinary framework designed to root out garages who fail to maintain the high standards that Trust My Garage stands for. It will also support, quality garages to ensure that motorists always get the very best service at independent garages displaying the Trust My Garage shield.
Stuart James, Director of the Independent Garage Association, explained what code status means to a motorist: “By becoming a government approved scheme, motorists can be sure that garages displaying the Trust My Garage shield can be trusted to offer great customer service and a quality repair. We will work alongside Trading Standards and other consumer bodies to drive out the bad garages and ensure that the Trust My Garage network consists of the very best independent garages throughout the UK.
“Consumers are in no doubt that independent garages provide value for money, a quality repair and a high level of personal service. With the law stating that new cars can be serviced at independents without invalidating the warranty, the Trust My Garage brand is the final piece in the jigsaw.
“ With the independent garage sector being so huge, we are clearly signposting the garages that can be trusted by consumers”
The Trust My Garage code will begin with the service repair industry and will help motorists to identify good local independent garages.
There are plans later to extend the Trust My Garage brand to a code for independent used car sales, making Trust My Garage the recognised consumer code for the entire independent garage sector.
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