Who needs to be licensed?

If you carry on the business of repairing motor vehicles then you must hold a repairer’s licence. This includes part-time work, mobile work and subcontractors and includes working in a partnership or as a company.

If you are not carrying on a business and only repair vehicles owned by yourself, or your family or friends and do not receive any payment or reward for your work, then you do not need to have a licence.

Commercial vehicle owners

Commercial vehicle owners who repair only their own motor vehicles do not require a licence. If, however, they repair other vehicles, say for subcontractors, for a fee, gain or reward, then they do need to be licensed.

How do you obtain a licence?

To be granted a licence you must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• be a fit and proper person 
• employ tradespeople who hold tradesperson certificates and/or be certificated yourself
• have sufficient financial resources to carry on the business.

You can obtain an application form and further information on the repairer’s licence from the Business Licence Information Service (BLIS).