Meet your rental and leasing regulatory duties
If you hire goods to consumers, rent out vehicles, hire out plant or machinery, or sell hire services …
Retail & Consumer Goods
Which motor trade rules apply to your business
"Motor trade" covers very different businesses — selling cars and motorcycles as a dealer, repairing and MOT-testing vehicles in a garage, selling parts and accessories, or dismantling and scrapping end-of-life vehicles. Each has its own regulators and rules, on top of the duties they all share. Work out which description fits you and follow the right guide.
UK-wide
On this page
UK-wide
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The motor trade spans selling vehicles, repairing and testing them, supplying parts, and dismantling and scrapping them at the end of their life. The rules depend almost entirely on what you do: a used-car dealer, an MOT garage, a parts factor and a vehicle dismantler are different businesses with different regulators — Trading Standards and the FCA for dealers, the DVSA for MOT testing, the Environment Agency for end-of-life vehicles, and local authorities for scrap-metal licensing.
Many of these rules are devolved or work differently across the UK — MOT testing in Northern Ireland is run by the state, not private garages, for example. Start with the duties every motor business shares, then follow the guide for what you do.
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1
Put the shared duties in place
Whatever you do, start with the universal spine. Follow "Run a compliant motor trade business" for data protection, equality, employers' liability insurance, health and safety (motor work is higher-risk than most), fire safety, consumer fair trading and the waste duty of care.
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2
If you sell cars, vans or motorcycles
You must not mislead buyers about a vehicle's history, must display the right information, and — if you arrange finance — must be authorised by the FCA. Follow "Sell vehicles: rules for dealers", which also covers the type-approval duties for dealers and importers (each vehicle needs GB type approval and a Certificate of Conformity before registration).
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3
If you repair, service or MOT-test vehicles
Opting into the MOT scheme needs DVSA approval as a test station, and garages have specific air-conditioning (F-gas) and hazardous-waste duties. Follow "Run a vehicle repair garage or MOT station".
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4
If you sell vehicle parts and accessories
Safety-critical parts must meet approval standards, and you must offer take-back of waste batteries and electrical items. Follow "Sell vehicle parts and accessories".
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5
If you dismantle, salvage or scrap vehicles
Depolluting and scrapping end-of-life vehicles needs an environmental permit and Authorised Treatment Facility status, and trading in scrap or salvage needs a scrap metal dealer licence. Follow "Run a vehicle dismantler or salvage business".
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6
Confirm you have covered everything
Finish with the motor trade compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are in place before you begin or continue trading.
Official sources
Authoritative starting points for motor trade businesses.