Automotive business ideas you run out and about
56 ideas
These 56 automotive ideas take the work to the customer, so you spend your days on driveways, at workplaces and in garage yards rather than in a fixed workshop. They suit practical people who like variety, are comfortable driving a lot and can solve problems on the spot.
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
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
Sell-your-car-for-you broker
Photograph, advertise and sell people's cars for them, handling the buyers, for a flat fee or commission.
- £200-1.5k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
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
Breakdown and vehicle recovery truck
Run one recovery truck moving broken-down and accident-damaged cars for motorists, garages and insurers.
- £12k-50k
- Part-time
- Out and about
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
Mobile pre-purchase car inspector
Check used cars for buyers before they hand over their money, at the seller's address.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Mobile motorhome inspector
Visit buyers and owners to check a motorhome's condition and write up a clear report before they commit.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
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
Mobile car alarm and tracker fitter
Fit alarms, immobilisers and trackers at customers' homes or workplaces from a van.
- £2k-10k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile farm machinery engineer
Drive to farms to service and repair tractors and machinery where they break down.
- £5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile car stereo fitter
Fit stereos, speakers and sound upgrades on customers' driveways or workplaces, with no shop rent to pay.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Subcontract recovery driver
Start smaller by taking overflow recovery jobs for garages and breakdown networks using a used or lower-cost truck.
- £6k-25k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Van-based accessories trade round
Drive a regular round selling and delivering car accessories to garages, dealers and shops in your area.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile brake repair service
Fit pads, discs and brake parts at customers' homes and workplaces from a fitted van.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Mobile car servicing at customers' homes
Drive to customers and do routine servicing like oil, filters and spark plugs on their driveway or at work.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
You might start with a mobile mechanic, a mobile tyre fitter and puncture repairer, or a van-based alternator and starter delivery round that supplies local garages. Before choosing, think about what you already know, which tools and van you would need, and how you will deal with weather, parking and safe working space. Check what training, insurance and waste disposal arrangements apply to the work, then test local demand before buying equipment.
More ideas
- Mobile lorry mechanic
- Mobile smart repair for dents and scuffs
- Mobile gearbox diagnosis and fluid service
- Mobile wheel alignment for vans and fleets
- Mobile car valeting
- Valeting for dealers and fleets
- Mobile car scratch and scuff repair
- Mobile windscreen chip repair
- Mobile car air con regas and repair
- Mobile exhaust fitter
- Mobile car window tinting
- Mobile car battery testing and fitting
- Mobile tyre fitting van
- Trackside motorsport stand and van
- Mobile windscreen fitter
- Mobile car electrician
- Mobile sunroof repair
- Mobile motorhome and caravan detailer
- Mobile motorhome service and repair
- Mobile spring fitting service
- Mobile quad bike mechanic
- Mobile motorhome repair and servicing
- Mobile diesel engine repair
- Mobile tyre fitter and puncture repairer
- Trade parts delivery to local garages
- Mobile pickup canopy supplier and fitter
- Mobile car radiator and cooling repair
- Mobile paintless dent repair
- Mobile mechanic
- Mobile oil change service
- Mobile driveshaft and CV joint fitter
- Mobile part-worn tyre fitter
Questions
Do I need a workshop to start a mobile automotive business?
Not always. Many mobile services work from a van and visit customers directly. It is worth checking where you can store tools, parts and waste, and whether your home, a rented unit or a lock-up is suitable and allowed.
What should I check about insurance and qualifications?
Check which cover your work may need, such as public liability, motor trade or vehicle insurance for business use. Also ask relevant trade bodies or suppliers whether particular qualifications are expected for tasks like brakes, air con or towing equipment.
How do I choose between a repair service and a delivery round?
Compare your skills, start-up costs and how you like to work. Repair services need tools, training and customer contact, while delivery rounds rely on reliable driving and trade relationships. Speaking to local garages or drivers can show where demand exists.