Small Garage/Mobile Mechanic

[Jason1985]

Hi All,

New to the site and looking for a little advice.

I have done my business plan, cash flow forecasts etc for a self employed mechanic operating from premises. However, due to personal credit rating,i am unable to get a start up loan to kick start me off.

I have most tools needed already, the loan was purely for premises deposit + first months rent, a set of ramps, diagnostic kit and a couple other small bits of equipment, press, transmission jack etc. I also already own a van and have trade insurance covering me on customers cars as well as my own vehicles.

As i am unable to get funding to start off with premises, i am thinking about going mobile to start me off, i would obviously need to kit my van out and secure it well, and get public liability insurance, and add some sort of tool insurance to my van, but what is the legality of working on peoples cars outside their home or work? from what i have read it is illegal to repair vehicles at the roadside if for financial gain. but there are plenty mobile mechanics around the country, so there must be someway around this?

Any advice on loan options or the legality of roadside repairs would be appreciated, alongside any other advise. I have done a little reading on the site and understand how i would be pricing, business accounts and taking card payments etc

Thank-you

 

[obscure]

......from what i have read it is illegal to repair vehicles at the roadside if for financial gain. but there are plenty mobile mechanics around the country, so there must be someway around this?

How do the RAC and AA get around this? I guess the law may be different now but I certainly remember them fixing our car at the roadside so we could reach our destination.

 

[fisicx]

Not sure it is illegal: https://www.whocanfixmycar.com/services/mobile-mechanic

Google lists loads of men in vans who can fix your car at home.

And Autoglass fix your car at home as well as the AA and RAC.

 

[pbdesigns]

How about being a bit clever about this.

If you're worried about fixing cars on the roadside, why not only fix cars that are on private land.

Therefore, how about marketing yourself as a "I'll come to your workplace" mechanic.

Part of your provision is based on the car being in a company car park - but the idea is you come to their workplace and work on their car whilst they are at work.

The customer saves the hassle to having to take the car to a garage and pick it up, so is a massive help to them.

 

[MikeJ]

Can't see anywhere saying it's illegal. The council would probably prevent you operating a car repair service outside your house, on the road, but that's not what you're trying to do.

 

[pbdesigns]

Can't see anywhere saying it's illegal.

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q621.htm

 

[Mr D]

Going to a company car park to work on a vehicle could work, so long as your van does not obstruct other vehicles.
Place I used to work had a full car park, a guy who couldn't get his car started called the AA. Took a couple of hours to fix, the driver had to keep moving his van to let cars in and out of that portion of the car park. Moving van by driving off the car park then back on the car park and again blocking any other drivers.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Where are you based, i.e. what part of the country?

Do you know any of the scrapyards in your area who may have a ramp you could "rent"... you might even get more work their way by using their yard... There's a couple of decent lads at one in Manchester who fix my cars whenever I need a mechanic, they just rip out the old damaged parts and replace with working parts from their yard... it's not always the best option but it's certainly the cheapest and more cost effective for me.

Are there any local workshops you could again rent space from?

Have you spoken to any other mechanics in the area who may need help with workload?

Just trying to offer other ideas that could help

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Hello Jason its nice to see real people on here instead those bearded techs that are frightened to answer the phone and only communicate via messaging or email to run their business

I think if there is a law you get around by saying you are doing an emergency repair to get the vehicle going again

Make sure you keep your books in order register as self employed and make sure you have good insurance
Target companies that may have a few older vehicles and possibly have premises Companies that don't want to go to garages for a number of reasons

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

If you live anywhere near Market Drayton, Shropshire...

https://www.gumtree.com/p/property-to-rent/car-workshop-for-let/1259176549

 

[wevet]

The biggest problem working on cars at the roadside is the danger to you and obstruction to others.

My suggestion is concentrate on commercial vehicle repairs. Most fleet operators will have their own car parks and if you are good at your job, reasonably priced and prepared to work during hours when the vans are in i.e. unsocial hours you should get busy quite quickly. I have a fleet and it is wholly maintained by mobile guys as it it is a lot less time consuming than going to a garage.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Who have you tried for the loan and what percentage of the load do you have to show your commitment. many start-up lenders may want to only match whatever cash you have to. so 50/50 basis or near that

 

[Gecko001]

How do the RAC and AA get around this? I guess the law may be different now but I certainly remember them fixing our car at the roadside so we could reach our destination.

Just a thought. Aren't AA and RAC clubs?

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Just a thought. Aren't AA and RAC clubs?

I'm not sure why we came to the conclusion the AA and RAC are getting around the law They don't do any roadside repairs any work they do is to get a motor up and running anything that needs a big job is always towed to a workshop

 

[The Byre]

Dear OP -

Farms, small-holdings and contractors!

1. They have space and electricity.

2. They run trouser-money businesses!

3. They think in terms of £1,000 repairs.

To expand on the above -

These types of customer have nearly always loads of space and in most cases, most or even all tools needed, inc. air tools and pits, etc.

They have money, cash money. That's how they work. Try paying for 20 round bales of hay with a credit card and see how far you get!

Tractor tyres cost hundreds each. A tractor that ain't running costs a whole lot more! A digger that can't be hired out is a really expensive digger! People who drive cars usually don't have money. Nine out of ten cars are bought on credit, so hitting them with a £1,000 repair bill for changing a fly-wheel and clutch bearing will cause palpitations and cries of "Can I pay at the end of the month?" (And we all know where that's going to end!)

Please put one of your leaflets into our post box - I have a digger that needs fixing!

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

Dear OP -

Farms, small-holdings and contractors!

1. They have space and electricity.

2. They run trouser-money businesses!

3. They think in terms of £1,000 repairs.

To expand on the above -

These types of customer have nearly always loads of space and in most cases, most or even all tools needed, inc. air tools and pits, etc.

They have money, cash money. That's how they work. Try paying for 20 round bales of hay with a credit card and see how far you get!

Tractor tyres cost hundreds each. A tractor that ain't running costs a whole lot more! A digger that can't be hired out is a really expensive digger! People who drive cars usually don't have money. Nine out of ten cars are bought on credit, so hitting them with a £1,000 repair bill for changing a fly-wheel and clutch bearing will cause palpitations and cries of "Can I pay at the end of the month?" (And we all know where that's going to end!)

Please put one of your leaflets into our post box - I have a digger that needs fixing!

THIS +1

There's a small plant hire firm in Bury, who has given space to a mechanic for free - they're providing the ramp/tools etc and all he has to do is service their plant hire vehicles in exchange along with their own company vehicles...

it's a bit of a no brainer TBH - Oh and they also pay him a basic "Part time" salary for working on their vehicles! - anything else is his bread and butter

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

+ COURIER COMPANIES
I do my own bodging on the spanners but some of the others like a good mechanic they can trust