The Your Car - Your Choice pilot project has begun in the UK, aimed at raising awareness of the rights that motorists have to get their car serviced anywhere they choose from new.

The campaign, organised by the IAAF, will target independent garages and motor factors with an awareness day in Chesterfield at Bilstein Group, Markham Vale on Thursday 16 May. Here, garages will be able to quiz experts from around the trade and find out where they can go for support in challenging some of the misconceptions on garage repair and servicing within the warranty period and beyond.

The campaign has received a boost with major automotive companies signing up to support the pilot project. These include: Automechanika Birmingham, Bilstein Group, Comline, Comma, First Line, Hella, Impression Communications, MAHLE Aftermarket, National Auto Parts, SMPE, TMD Friction, Johnson Controls (Varta), WAIglobal and ZF Aftermarket.

All participating companies will feature in the pilot project’s social media campaign to garages and motorists throughout Chesterfield and surrounding areas. In addition, all IAAF distributor members in the area are being invited to get involved and spread the campaign message to garages.

There is still a huge misunderstanding in Ireland and the UK of the rights that motorists have to get their car serviced anywhere they choose from new. As BER comes to an end in its current format on 31 May 2023, the IAAF believes now is the time to seriously raise awareness, especially as the sector enters a “digital phase” of car technology and data ownership.

According to GIPA, 72% of consumers believe their vehicle has to be returned to a Franchised Dealer for servicing / repair so as not to invalidate the warranty. The IAAF has also found that 46% of garages are unsure of block exemption regulations  and don’t have the confidence to talk about it to existing or potential customers.

For further details of the supplier sponsorship package, please contact: Mike Smallbone,  email: msmallbone@iaaf.co.uk

For more information on the Your Car – Your Choice campaign go to: www.yourcaryourchoice.co.uk