Automotive business ideas you can run from your own premises
91 ideas
These 92 automotive ideas all work from a unit, garage or shopfront of your own rather than from a van or your home. They suit people with a trade background, such as mechanics, fitters and parts specialists, as well as buyers who plan to hire skilled staff.
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
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
Used golf buggy reseller
Buy, refresh and sell used electric golf buggies to private owners, clubs and estates.
- £5k-20k
- Side hustle
- 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
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
Powersports dealership with workshop
Run a small showroom and workshop selling and servicing off-road bikes, quads and utility vehicles for local riders and landowners.
- £25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Local breaker's yard with a parts counter
Dismantle end-of-life cars on a small site and sell used parts and scrap metal to garages and the public.
- £25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
About these ideas
You could look at a brake repair workshop, a motorhome repair workshop or a motorcycle shop with sales and servicing. Before anything else, think about the premises. Check rent or lease terms, business rates, planning use class, parking and access for larger vehicles. Then price the equipment, insurance and any training or qualifications the work needs. Many workshops also have rules on waste oil, fluids and refrigerants, so look into those early. Finally, consider location: footfall matters for shops, while specialist repair work can often thrive on an industrial estate.
More ideas
- 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
- Quad bike dealership with workshop
- Independent used car forecourt
- Truck parts trade counter and stockroom
- 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
- Small lorry repair workshop
- Trailer parts shop with trade counter
- Gearbox repair and rebuild workshop
- Wheel alignment and tracking workshop
- Small car body repair workshop
- Jet ski dealership with servicing
- Independent garage in a rented unit
- Windscreen repair and replacement
- 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
- Window tinting studio in a small unit
- Car seat and interior trim specialist
- Car care and detailing supplies shop
- Car radiator repair and recore workshop
- LPG car conversion workshop
- 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
- Diesel engine repair workshop
- Racing parts shop with trackside sales
- Radiator repair and recore workshop
- Dent repair for dealers and garages
- Used tyre shop with fitting bay
- Quick oil change unit
- Car battery shop with free testing and fitting
- Car window tinting workshop
- 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 should I check before taking on premises for a vehicle workshop?
Check the planning use class, lease length, rent reviews, business rates and whether the landlord permits vehicle work. Also look at ventilation, drainage, parking, and access for lifts or larger vehicles, and ask your local council what permissions your type of work might need.
Do I need qualifications to start an automotive business in the UK?
It depends on the work. Some jobs are open to anyone with the skills, while others may call for specific training, certifications or approvals, for example around refrigerants or safety-critical repairs. Check the requirements for your chosen idea and ask your insurer what they expect.
How do I manage waste and environmental rules in a workshop?
Workshops often produce waste oil, coolant, batteries, tyres and solvents. Check what you need to register for, how to store waste safely and which licensed carriers can collect it. Your local council and the Environment Agency are good places to confirm current requirements.