“Fixing cars is getting harder.” It’s a comment we hear time and again from technicians in independent garages. And it’s true, the cars rolling onto ramps today are a different beast from the ones we were fixing even five years ago. So why does it feel harder, and what’s actually driving that shift? Here are three of the biggest trends reshaping repairability in the independent sector.
1 – The Relentless Rise of Vehicle Technology
Complexity in modern cars isn’t new, but the pace of change has clearly picked up. A few examples:
• Emissions systems have grown steadily more sophisticated since Euro 6, and the intricate after-treatment systems we once associated only with diesels are now standard on petrol engines too.
• Electrification has exploded, spanning everything from mild hybrids to full battery electric vehicles, each with its own architecture, safety requirements, and diagnostic quirks.
• Infotainment has essentially become a smartphone bolted to the dashboard. At the same time, telematics keep the car permanently connected to the internet — enabling over-the-air updates and the shift toward software-defined vehicles.
• ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), once reserved for flagship models, is now fitted as standard on every new car built since 2022.
All of this comes at a cost, and not just a financial one. More complex systems inevitably mean more complex faults. The electronics on a modern car now rival those of an aircraft, and there’s an undeniable skills gap opening up across the sector as a result. Which brings us to the next challenge.
2 – Having the Right Tools and the Right Training
Most technicians already recognise that ongoing development isn’t optional, what you learned during your apprenticeship won’t carry you through an entire career. Staying current with new vehicle technologies and diagnostic techniques comes at a cost: the price of the course itself, plus the lost productivity while a technician is out of the workshop rather than on the tools.
But it’s worth flipping that thinking around. What does it cost not to train? Extended diagnostic time you can’t bill for. Incorrect parts fitted. Turning away from work you’re unfamiliar with. Or worse, taking on a job you ultimately can’t finish. Over time, those hidden costs add up to far more than the training would have.
Then there’s the hardware question. A scan tool, smoke machine and scope have long been the backbone of a technician’s kit, but now it feels like there’s a specialist tool for almost every job: refractometers for AdBlue testing, a growing library of timing tools for cambelt and timing chain work, insulated tools and PPE for EV work, and ADAS frames and targets for camera and radar calibration.
Attempting these jobs without the right kit is a false economy. It risks damage to the vehicle, blows out job times, or forces you to outsource the work anyway. The smarter approach is to decide which jobs you actually want to take on, invest in the tools that support that work, and turn away anything outside it. Get the tools and training right, and the investment pays for itself quickly. Get it wrong, and you end up doing work you can’t properly charge for.
3 – Shifting Regulations and Legislation
Regulation might not be the most exciting topic, but it has a very direct impact on day-to-day garage work. Some changes are widely known, such as MOT test updates or the rollout of Euro 6 and Euro 7 emissions standards. Others fly under the radar, like General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2), the EU rule mandating that cars built from 2022 onward include specific ADAS systems as standard. Despite Brexit, most new cars sold in the UK already comply with EU regulations, simply because they’re built for the wider European market.
Legislation also shapes how the aftermarket accesses repair data, through type approval regulation — and the recent introduction of SERMI to the UK, with further changes due this year, is a clear example of that access being tightened and formalised.
Manufacturers decide the shape of a car, its powertrain, and its features, but every one of them has to meet the same legal bar for emissions, safety, and, increasingly, data protection. And compliance with new regulations is almost always delivered through new technology, which brings us right back to where we started.
The throughline: technology, training, and regulation aren’t separate pressures — they feed each other. New legislation drives new tech, new tech demands new tools and training, and the cycle keeps accelerating. For independent garages, staying ahead means treating training and equipment investment as core business strategy, not an afterthought.
Need support with a complex diagnostic job? IVS 360™ connects you with brand-specific Dealer Master Techs who can help you handle even the trickiest repairs.