Update legislation or aftermarket and motorists lose out

29 May 2026  

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is challenging 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 aftermarket accounts for more than 60% of the UK’s £93 billion automotive sector turnover and comprises around 40,000 businesses, predominantly SMEs, employing more than 345,000 skilled people. The IAAF has highlighted this to the DFT along with the fact that 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, the IAAF argues that they are no longer sufficient in the face of new vehicle technologies, and that these technologies are increasingly being used by vehicle manufacturers to distort the market, reducing consumer choice and increasing costs.

In addition the IAAF believes that 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. And the principal beneficiaries of this situation are typically non-UK vehicle manufacturers.

A recent IAAF survey of motorists revealed 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 included 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.”