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Motor Codes has revealed the top 100 UK garages in its Garage of the Year competition. The competition asked customers to vote for their favourite UK garage, with record numbers of votes being cast this year. A shortlist of the top 100 garages, with five businesses in each of the 20 categories has been produced.

The Motor Codes Garage of the Year competition is drawing record attention from consumers. Website statistics for the competition reveal that over 5000 votes have already been recorded in the first month of the competition, which runs until May.

Since 1985 the A1 Motabitz store in Ferndown, Dorset has enjoyed an ever-growing reputation with local residents. Most of the sales staff are on first name terms with customers, and every inch of shelf space is used to its maximum sales potential. Read more about our Retailer of the Year.

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“I think it's difficult to predict what’s going to happen in the market with all the problems that are about. The cost of fuel is one problem, and also the fact that cars these days are leaving the factory with so much equipment on them.

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“There are three current trends that will set the agenda over the next twelve to twenty four months and contribute significantly to the market size and dynamic over the next five years.

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"Despite the consolidation in the industry we’ve witnessed over the last few years, there is still over-supply at many levels of the distribution chain. Therefore it is likely that there will be further consolidation, particularly amongst suppliers and distributors.

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“So let’s focus on the independent automotive aftermarket retailer.  Right now, the next five years could seem a daunting prospect. Not only is the economic climate endlessly miserable but just when everyone had stocked up with winter products there was barely a frost!

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“There will be a lot of people out of it because they just won’t be able to cope with stocking and technology.

It will be interesting to see which of the big boys are still around. You might think that they’ll all still be here, but history teaches us otherwise.”

Brian Spratt

THIS MONTH'S QUESTION: Where will the industry be in five years time?

"I think that it is generally agreed that the future of the industry is going to become more challenging for various reasons; including complex vehicle technology, longer service schedules, customer service expectations and political influences on competence and accountability, all these issues will reduce the number of Independent Repairers able to work on the modern vehicle.