Motor trade
Websites & marketing for garages and mot centres
There are 50,935 vehicle maintenance and repair firms registered in the UK, and the number has risen 8.0% since 2021. Here is how they win customers online, and what a garage’s website needs to do.
Drivers usually go looking for a garage when something has gone wrong or a service or MOT is due. They search close to home, often on a phone, and they want to see prices for common jobs, opening hours and a way to book without a long phone call.
Trust matters as much as price. Garages that show who they are, what they charge and what other customers say tend to be the ones people feel safe booking.
The UK market for vehicle maintenance and repair firms
The number grew 8.0% between 2021 and 2026, well ahead of the +0.8% for UK businesses overall, so more firms are competing for the same customers.
93% of them have fewer than 10 employees, 21% are sole proprietors and 72% are limited companies. Most are small operations, so a clear, quick website is a genuine way to stand out from competitors who have not looked after theirs. The ten areas with the most firms hold about 18% of the UK total.
Where vehicle maintenance and repair firms are concentrated
| Area | Firms | Per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| London | 4,040 | 4.4 |
| Birmingham | 775 | 6.6 |
| Somerset | 610 | 10.3 |
| North Yorkshire | 605 | 9.5 |
| Cornwall | 570 | 9.7 |
| Buckinghamshire | 550 | 9.4 |
| Leeds | 530 | 6.3 |
| Wiltshire | 495 | 9.4 |
| North Northamptonshire | 455 | 12.0 |
| West Northamptonshire | 450 | 10.1 |
Most firms per 10,000 residents
| Area | Per 10,000 residents | Firms |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 13.9 | 100 |
| Teignbridge | 13.7 | 190 |
| Maldon | 13.5 | 95 |
| Mid Devon | 13.4 | 115 |
| North Devon | 13.3 | 135 |
| Fermanagh and Omagh | 13.2 | 155 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts 2026 (enterprises), SIC 45200: Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, and mid-2025 population estimates, via Nomis. Open Government Licence v3.0. Counts are rounded by ONS and cover VAT- and/or PAYE-registered businesses only. London is the 33 boroughs combined; areas under 60,000 residents, and areas with very few firms, are left out of the density table.
What a garage’s website needs to do
- Opening hours, location and a tap-to-call number that are obvious on a phone
- Online booking, or a simple request form, for services and MOTs
- Prices or price guides for common jobs, where you are happy to share them
- Approvals and memberships you really hold, such as being an authorised MOT test station
- Pages for each service (MOT, servicing, brakes, tyres, diagnostics)
- Reviews and an easy way to leave one
Mistakes we see
- No online way to book
- Prices hidden, so customers assume the worst
- Out-of-date opening hours
- One page for every service
How we would approach it
- SEO. Almost every customer searches locally, so being found for each service in your area is vital.
- Bespoke web design. Clear services, prices and booking on a fast mobile site.
- Email automation. Reminders when an MOT or service is due bring customers back (with their consent).
Guides that help
- How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)
- How to Rank Higher on Google: SEO Tips for UK Businesses
- Website Design for Tradespeople: What Your Site Needs to Win More Jobs
Find your area
See the business picture where you work: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, or browse all areas.
Questions from vehicle maintenance and repair firms
What should a garage website include?
Opening hours, location, a clear list of services, booking, price guides where possible, any approvals you hold and reviews.
How do garages get more MOT and service bookings?
By being easy to find for local searches, showing prices and availability clearly, making booking quick and reminding existing customers when work is due.
Can a garage send MOT reminders by email?
Yes, with the customer's consent. Reminders are a simple way to bring regular customers back, as long as you follow UK email and data rules.
How many vehicle maintenance and repair firms are there in the UK?
ONS counts 50,935 vehicle maintenance and repair firms registered for VAT and/or PAYE in the UK for 2026. That figure excludes firms below the VAT threshold that are not registered for PAYE, so the real number is higher.
Where are most vehicle maintenance and repair firms based?
By number of firms, the biggest concentrations are in London, Birmingham and Somerset. Per 10,000 residents, Boston, Teignbridge and Maldon come out highest.
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