September to November will be the busiest period, accounting for almost a third of this spike in demand.
And while the prospect of a boom in demand will be welcome to many garages, the UK and Ireland’s leading supplier of parts, services and other workshop solutions has highlighted some key considerations for those looking to take full advantage.
Andy Hamilton, CEO of LKQ Euro Car Parts, said: “A recent poll by the Motor Ombudsman found that 63% of workshops plan on increasing prices to maintain margin. But what about labour rates?
“They’ve barely budged across the sector despite costs rising elsewhere. It’s time for garages to consider modest increases to protect profits – though of course there is a limit to how much can be passed onto customers that are already feeling the pinch.
“That’s why making marginal gains in profit and productivity also has to be a focus for garages. We’re doing everything we can to support – we’ve been talking about digitalisation for a long time, and this is where it can really make a difference.
“To give just one example, we’ve invested in enhancing our Omnipart trade website to help more garages go digital so that they can save time and keep phonelines free for customers.”
LKQ Euro Car Parts is also helping garages to support drivers who are facing hardships – recognising that having conversations about increasing costs might feel awkward in the current climate.
As well as highlighting the breadth of its range of parts – designed to suit every vehicle and every budget – there are a number of other solutions the business is recommending, to give garages and their customers some much-needed flexibility.
One example is Payment Assist, an interest-free, fee-free way to allow drivers to spread the cost of their bill and pay just 25% upfront – but where the garage still receives the full amount straight away.
And for garages, hiring temporary technicians through Autotech Recruit can be a good way to cope with a spike in demand, without taking on long-term cost.
Andy Hamilton added: “If managed in the right way, this MOT season can be a great opportunity for the independent aftermarket. The key though isn’t just doing the work; it’s making money from it.
“And while work volumes aren’t in question, the types of vehicles coming through the workshop doors are changing. Hybrids and EVs will account for a greater percentage of MOTs than ever this autumn, which means it’s important for garages to adapt and upskill as their customer base evolves.”
For more information, visit https://omnipart.eurocarparts.com/ or https://lkqacademy.co.uk/.