FixMyCar will launch its FixRated approved network of trusted garages in partnership with The Motor Ombudsman (TMO) in early 2025.
The UK online car maintenance marketplace said the network of garages will be vetted to ensure they adhere to Ombudsman’s Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.
Garages that join FixRated will “benefit from increased visibility on FixMyCar’s website”, which it said was visited over five million times in the last year and generated over one million car maintenance and repair jobs.
FixRated garages will be given a digital badge displayed on their profile to enable drivers to identify them as part of this new network within garage listings.
The marketplace currently works with over 15,000 garages, dealerships and mobile mechanics across the UK.
As part of their FixRated membership, garages must permit site assessments, be rated at least four stars or above on Trustpilot or Google and be a member of The Motor Ombudsman to ensure service quality.
The Motor Ombudsman’s complaint handling process will also be provided as a benefit to FixRated garages and includes in-house and impartial Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service should a complaint remain unresolved via their own internal complaints-handling processes.
Interim chief executive at FixMyCar, Amanda Webb, said: “Having the ability to call on the support, expertise, and resources of an automotive authority like TMO, underlines our goal of elevating industry standards.
“We look forward to working closely with them.
“Garages continue to battle against an unfortunate reputation for being unreliable in honesty and quality, a stereotype that is not reflective of the many hard-working garages we work with every day.
“FixRated is just one step we’re taking to help combat this for the good garages we know are out there and we look forward to welcoming and supporting those garages onto FixRated.”
FixMyCar expects the sign up of the first FixRated garages to begin as early as January 2025.
However from today, garages can register their interest in becoming part of the new network to be one of the first to join.