Automotive business ideas you can start for up to £20,000
65 ideas
This page brings together 65 automotive business ideas with startup costs of up to £20,000. Many are mobile, so a van and a good set of tools can replace a workshop.
Mobile vehicle wrap fitter
Fit colour-change and printed vinyl wraps to cars and vans, working from a rented unit or at the customer's site.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Local trade supplier of hub caps and trims
Stock wheel trims and caps and deliver them to garages, body shops and parts shops in your area.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile motorcycle mechanic
Service and repair bikes at riders' homes and workplaces from a van with your own tools.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile electric scooter dealer
Sell electric scooters online and by demo ride, delivering and setting them up for customers without a showroom.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Used motorcycle dealer from home
Buy, prepare and sell a few quality used bikes at a time, using online adverts and a small private space.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Mobile towing kit supplier to garages
Drive a stocked van round garages and recovery firms selling winches, hooks and straps.
- £4k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Used golf buggy reseller
Buy, refresh and sell used electric golf buggies to private owners, clubs and estates.
- £5k-20k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Mobile golf buggy servicing and repair
Service, repair and fit batteries to golf buggies at clubs and owners' premises from your van.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Van-based alternator and starter delivery round
Keep common alternators and starters in your van and deliver same day to garages on a regular round.
- £5k-20k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile outboard servicing and sales
Service and repair outboard engines at harbours, marinas and driveways, and sell parts and the odd engine on the side.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Online car accessories trade supplier
Sell car mats, covers and lights in bulk to small retailers and garages through a trade website, with stock kept at home.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Used moped and scooter reseller
Buy used mopeds, tidy and service them, and sell them online to local riders.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based used lorry and van broker
Match used lorries and vans with buyers from home, holding little or no stock and earning on each sale.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Used scooter reseller
Buy, tidy and resell used 50cc to 125cc scooters through online listings from a garage or lock-up.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Part-time used bike and scooter dealer
Buy a few good used bikes and scooters, tidy them up and sell them online from home.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Mobile scooter and moped mechanic
Service and repair scooters and mopeds at customers' homes or workplaces from a van.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile trailer repair and servicing
Fix brakes, lights and couplings on trailers at the owner's home, farm or yard from a fully equipped van.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Home-based used car dealer
Buy a few good used cars at a time, prepare them and sell to private buyers online.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Own-brand number plate frame importer
Source frames direct from manufacturers and sell your own range to resellers through a trade website and marketplaces.
- £4k-15k
- Part-time
- Online
Used off-road bike and quad dealer
Buy, tidy up and resell used motocross bikes, quads and pit bikes through online listings and local riding communities.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- Online
Online used car trader from home
Buy a few good used cars at a time and sell them through online listings, with no forecourt needed.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Mobile horsebox and trailer servicing
Service and repair horse trailers and horseboxes at owners' yards, so they don't have to travel to a garage.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile scrap metal collector
Collect scrap metal from homes and trades in a van and sell it on to a local recycler by weight.
- £1.5k-7.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Demo-bike electric motorcycle dealer
Start small with a demo bike, test-ride days and an online presence, with servicing handled by a partner garage.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
You might look at mobile car battery testing and fitting, dent repair for dealers and garages, or used trailer dealer, online and by appointment. They suit people with a trade background, such as mechanics, bodyshop workers and sales staff, as well as keen newcomers willing to train. Before you choose, think about what skills and qualifications you already have, whether you will work from a van, a unit or your driveway, and how you will find regular customers. Check insurance needs, where you can legally work and store stock, and whether your chosen idea needs any registrations or permissions.
More ideas
- Mobile car alarm and tracker fitter
- Used trailer dealer, online and by appointment
- Mobile car stereo fitter
- Van-based accessories trade round
- Mobile brake repair service
- Mobile car servicing at customers' homes
- Mobile smart repair for dents and scuffs
- Online trailer parts and accessories shop
- Used jet ski sales from home
- Valeting for dealers and fleets
- Mobile car scratch and scuff repair
- Mobile car air con regas and repair
- Mobile car window tinting
- Part-time restoration from your garage
- Window tinting studio in a small unit
- Car seat and interior trim specialist
- Online car care products shop
- Mobile car battery testing and fitting
- Trackside motorsport stand and van
- Mobile windscreen fitter
- Mobile car electrician
- Online used diesel engine reseller
- Classic engine rebuilds from a garage
- Mobile sunroof repair
- Mobile motorhome and caravan detailer
- Online lorry and van accessories shop
- Mobile motorhome service and repair
- Mobile spring fitting service
- Mobile quad bike mechanic
- Mobile motorhome repair and servicing
- Online racing and performance parts shop
- Trade parts delivery to local garages
- Mobile pickup canopy supplier and fitter
- Mobile car radiator and cooling repair
- Mobile paintless dent repair
- Dent repair for dealers and garages
- Mobile mechanic
- Mobile oil change service
- Car window tinting workshop
- Mobile driveshaft and CV joint fitter
- Mobile part-worn tyre fitter
Questions
Can I start an automotive business without a workshop?
Yes, many ideas here are mobile or appointment-based, so a van and tools may be enough. Check your insurance, whether you can work at customers' premises, and whether local rules or your lease limit work from home.
What should I budget for beyond tools and a van?
Allow for insurance, stock, training or certification, marketing and a cash buffer for quiet weeks. Get quotes for business and vehicle cover early, as costs vary with the work you do and the vehicles you handle.
Do I need qualifications to work on vehicles in the UK?
Requirements depend on the work. Some jobs expect proven skill rather than a set qualification, while others may involve specific training or registrations. Check with insurers, suppliers and relevant trade bodies before you take on customers.