Garage quality guaranteed?

• Kitemark scheme launched for workshops
• Garages audited every year
• Kitemark could be approved by OFT

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Motorists hunting for guaranteed good service from workshops and garages will be able to look out for a new Kitemark from the British Standards Institute (BSI) from next month.

The Automotive Kitemark will be awarded to garages that meet the BSI's new set of criteria, which will cover customer care and the quality of work done.

Every garage that is granted the Kitemark will be audited and visited by mystery shoppers every year to ensure its high standards are maintained, while regular unannounced inspections will also be made.

Motorists will also be able to use a new independent arbitration service established by the BSI if they are unhappy with the way their complaint to a garage has been handled.

Head of product development at the BSI Mike Pearson said: 'The Kitemark acts as an asset enabling the more professional operators to differentiate themselves from less reputable traders, whose behaviour has blighted the reputation of the industry.'

The BSI counts 11 unsuccessful attempts made by the industry to improve its poor standards over the past 30 years.

The Retail Motor Industry attempted to draw up a new code of conduct and charter mark following appalling results in Department for Trade and Industry mystery-shopping exercises, but abandoned its efforts to have the code approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The BSI is hoping that the first wave of garages will be granted the Kitemark next month, and it is confident that its Kitemark will be approved by the OFT.

Motorists spend £10 billion a year getting their cars serviced and repaired.