Automotive business ideas with start-up costs over £20,000
100 ideas
These 101 automotive ideas suit people who have savings, a loan or investor backing and want to build something with premises, equipment or stock. Examples include a motorcycle shop with sales and servicing, a small collision repair workshop and secure car storage in a rented yard or unit.
Used car exporter, part-time
Buy a few used cars at UK auctions and sell them to overseas buyers you find online.
- £6k-30k
- Side hustle
- Online
Vehicle export business with a small yard
Buy, prepare and ship used vehicles in volume from a rented yard to regular overseas dealers.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Vehicle wrapping workshop
Run a rented unit where you wrap cars and vans in colour film and printed graphics, with room to take on staff.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Buy, repair and resell salvage vehicles
Buy damaged cars from salvage auctions, fix them and sell them on to trade or private buyers.
- £10k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Motorcycle workshop in a small unit
Rent a small unit and service, repair and MOT-prepare bikes for riders in your area.
- £8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Home-based used electric car dealer
Buy a few good used electric cars at a time and sell them online to private buyers from home.
- £20k-60k
- Part-time
- From home
Used electric car forecourt with servicing
Run a small forecourt selling used electric cars, with basic servicing and charger advice for customers.
- £70k-250k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Electric scooter showroom with servicing
Sell road-legal electric scooters and mopeds from a small unit, with accessories and basic servicing.
- £12k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small car breaker's yard
Buy end-of-life cars, strip them for parts and sell parts to garages, trade buyers and the public, with the scrap going to a recycler.
- £25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Alternator and starter reconditioning workshop
Rebuild and test alternators and starter motors in a small unit and supply them to garages and repairers.
- £15k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Outboard engine shop and workshop
Run a small unit near the water selling outboards and parts and servicing engines for local boat owners and anglers.
- £12k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Secure car storage in a rented yard or unit
Rent a secure yard or lock-up space and let car owners store vehicles by the month.
- £10k-40k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Motorcycle shop with sales and servicing
Open a small showroom and workshop selling used bikes, with servicing, parts and accessories alongside.
- £20k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Independent MOT test centre
Run an approved MOT station in rented premises, testing cars and vans for local drivers.
- £40k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Add an MOT bay to your garage
Already run or share a garage? Get approved for MOT testing to bring in regular customers.
- £15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
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
Moped and scooter shop with servicing
Sell new and used mopeds and scooters from a small unit, with servicing and accessories alongside.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used lorry and van dealership with a small yard
Buy, prepare and sell used lorries and vans from a rented yard that buyers can visit and inspect.
- £15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used motorcycle shop with a workshop
Buy, prepare and sell used bikes from a small unit, with servicing and gear for local riders.
- £10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Scooter shop with servicing
Run a small unit selling new and used scooters, accessories and servicing to local riders.
- £15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used motorcycle and scooter showroom
Run a small unit selling prepared used bikes and scooters to local riders, with online listings.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small MOT test station
Run an approved MOT testing bay, on its own or alongside a small garage, for local drivers.
- £25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Used lorry dealer with a small yard
Buy, prepare and sell used trucks from your own yard to hauliers and owner-drivers.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small used car and van forecourt
Run a small forecourt selling used cars and vans, with trade-ins and finance options.
- £25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
Higher budgets usually go on tools, lifts, diagnostic kit, deposits and stock, so work out which of those your chosen idea really needs. Before committing, think about your technical experience or who you could hire, how much rent and business rates the site might add, and whether you can cover running costs while customers build up. Check planning, insurance, environmental and any trade-specific requirements for the work you plan to do. Compare ideas by how quickly you could realistically earn back your outlay.
More ideas
- Powersports dealership with workshop
- Local breaker's yard with a parts counter
- Specialist car breaker selling parts online
- Race and track car dealer with a small unit
- Used horse trailer and horsebox sales
- Electric motorcycle showroom and servicing
- Independent MOT and emissions test station
- Local car alarm trade counter with van deliveries
- Car security fitting workshop
- Local bodyshop parts supplier
- Trailer dealership with a small yard
- Mobile farm machinery engineer
- Used quad bike seller from home
- Quad bike dealership with workshop
- Small-scale used car dealer from home
- Independent used car forecourt
- Truck parts trade counter and stockroom
- Subcontract recovery driver
- Scooter and moped repair workshop
- Trailer repair workshop
- Tractor and farm machinery workshop
- Car stereo and audio workshop
- Classic car restoration workshop
- Small servicing workshop
- Mobile lorry mechanic
- Small lorry repair workshop
- Trailer parts shop with trade counter
- Gearbox repair and rebuild workshop
- Mobile gearbox diagnosis and fluid service
- Wheel alignment and tracking workshop
- Mobile wheel alignment for vans and fleets
- Small car body repair workshop
- Jet ski dealership with servicing
- Independent garage in a rented unit
- Windscreen repair and replacement
- Mobile exhaust fitter
- Small exhaust and silencer centre
- Used car parts shop or trade counter
- Self-service jet wash bays on a new site
- Take over an existing self-service car wash
- Wheel shop with trade counter
- Brake repair workshop
- Small collision repair workshop
- Car respray and bodywork paint workshop
- Car air con workshop
- Car care and detailing supplies shop
- Car radiator repair and recore workshop
- LPG car conversion workshop
- Mobile tyre fitting van
- Tyre shop with a fitting bay
- Motorsport shop with a small unit
- Car electrical workshop
- Reconditioned diesel engine supplier from a unit
- Driveshaft repair and replacement workshop
- Engine rebuilding workshop
- Lorry accessories shop with fitting bay
- Motorhome workshop and servicing centre
- Suspension spring workshop
- Motorhome accessories shop and fitting bay
- Quad and ATV repair workshop
- Mobile diesel engine repair
- Diesel engine repair workshop
- Mobile tyre fitter and puncture repairer
- Racing parts shop with trackside sales
- Radiator repair and recore workshop
- Used tyre shop with fitting bay
- Quick oil change unit
- Car battery shop with free testing and fitting
- Windscreen fitting centre
- Sunroof fitting and repair workshop
- Motorhome detailing and restoration bay
- Motorhome repair workshop
- Walk-in tyre and puncture repair shop
- Pickup canopy and cover fitting centre
- Small independent garage
- Small tyre fitting workshop
Questions
What does a start-up budget over £20,000 usually cover in automotive?
It often covers things like premises deposits, ramps or lifts, specialist tools, diagnostic equipment, initial stock, insurance and branding. Get several quotes for your chosen idea and keep a cash reserve for the first few months of running costs.
Do I need qualifications to start an automotive business?
It depends on the work. Some jobs, such as vehicle testing or repair, may expect specific training, approvals or experience. Check with the relevant bodies, your insurer and your local council before you buy equipment or sign a lease.
Should I rent premises or start from a smaller setup first?
Renting gives you space and credibility but adds fixed costs, so check lease length, business rates, planning use and insurance. If your idea can begin mobile or in a small unit, that may reduce risk while you test demand.