Garage Member Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 25 October 2026

1. About these terms

Please read these Terms carefully before you join. They explain our role, your obligations as a member, our fees, and the limits of our liability (section 13).

1.1 These Garage Member Terms (the Terms) form a legally binding contract between you, the business that operates the garage (you, your), and RMCMS Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales, trading as Trusted Garage Network (we, us, our).

1.2 You accept these Terms when you tick the acceptance box during sign-up, claim a listing, start a paid Membership, or first use the Garage Dashboard, whichever happens first. The person accepting confirms they are authorised to bind the garage business.

1.3 These Terms are the master agreement for all garages. The following documents also apply and form part of these Terms:

• the Plan Schedule for the Membership plan you choose (features, price, billing period);
• the Trusted Garage Standard (section 6);
• the Reviews Policy and Acceptable Use Policy;
• the Sanctions and Deactivation Policy (section 11);
• the Privacy Notice and Cookie Policy; and
• any Offer Terms for member benefits you take up (section 9).

1.4 If documents conflict, this order applies: (a) a Plan Schedule or Offer Terms, for that plan or offer only; (b) these Terms; (c) the policies listed above.

1.5 You are acting in the course of business. Consumer protection law that applies only to consumers does not apply to your relationship with us under these Terms.

1.6 We operate a platform that introduces motorists to garages. We are not a party to any contract between you and a motorist, and we do not carry out, supervise or guarantee vehicle work.

2. Definitions

Words such as including are illustrative and do not limit the words before them.

3. Eligibility, joining and Vetting

3.1 Who can join. You must be a sole trader, partnership, LLP or limited company carrying on a vehicle repair, servicing, MOT, tyre, bodywork, diagnostic or related motor trade business from premises in the United Kingdom.

3.2 Claiming a listing. If an Unclaimed Listing exists for your business, you may claim it by verifying that you control the business (for example, by a code sent to the listed phone number or email, or by documents we request). Making a false claim to a listing is a material breach and may be reported to the police or Action Fraud.

3.3 Vetting. Before your Profile goes live as a Verified Garage, we will carry out some or all of these checks:

1. identity of the owner or a director;
2. business status at Companies House (where applicable) and trading address;
3. absence of current insolvency, bankruptcy or director disqualification;
4. public liability insurance and, where relevant, motor trade (road risks) insurance;
5. relevant authorisations, such as DVSA MOT testing station approval for MOT services;
6. qualifications or accreditations you claim (for example IMI, manufacturer or EV/hybrid training);
7. a sample of independent customer references or existing reviews; and
8. any other check we reasonably consider proportionate to protect Motorists.

3.4 You authorise us to make these checks, including through third-party data providers. You must give us accurate, complete information and update it within 14 days of any change.

3.5 Our decision. Approval is at our reasonable discretion. We may refuse, defer or impose conditions on approval. Where we refuse, we will tell you in general terms why, unless doing so would breach law or compromise fraud prevention.

3.6 Ongoing checks. Vetting is not one-off. We may repeat any check at any time, including at renewal, and ask for updated documents. Failure to provide them within 10 Business Days may lead to suspension under section 11.

3.7 What verification means. Verification is an extra trust signal for Motorists. It shows that you passed our checks at the time they were made and that you have committed to the Trusted Garage Standard. It is not a guarantee, warranty or endorsement by us of your work, prices, availability or future conduct, and it is not a promise of any business outcome. You must not describe your verified status, or any Trusted Garage Network badge, as a guarantee or as meaning that we stand behind your work.

3.8 Only Verified Garages can be contacted. Motorists can send Booking Requests and messages through the Platform only to Verified Garages. Unclaimed Listings and garages whose verification is pending, suspended or withdrawn cannot receive Booking Requests or be contacted through the Platform.

4. Membership, Fees, billing and cancellation

4.1 Plans. We offer the Membership plans shown on the Platform at the time you join, which may include a free Basic plan and paid plans such as Standard and Premium. Each plan's features, Fees and billing period are set out in its Plan Schedule.

4.2 Fees and VAT. Fees are shown exclusive of VAT, which is added at the prevailing rate. Fees are payable in advance for each billing period.

4.3 Payment. Fees are collected by card or Direct Debit through our payment processor, Stripe. You authorise us and Stripe to take recurring payments for the Fees when due. You must keep valid payment details on file.

4.4 Failed payments. If a payment fails, we will retry it and notify you. If the Fees remain unpaid 7 days after the due date, we may restrict your Profile to Basic features or suspend it until payment is made. We may charge statutory interest on late sums under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

4.5 Term and renewal. Monthly plans renew automatically each month. Annual plans renew automatically for a further year unless cancelled. We will remind you at least 14 days before an annual renewal.

4.6 Your cancellation. You may cancel from the Garage Dashboard or by emailing support@trustedgaragenetwork.com:

• monthly plans: cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing month;
• annual plans: cancellation takes effect at the end of the current year, unless the Plan Schedule allows earlier exit on payment of any stated early-exit fee.

4.7 Refunds. Fees already paid are non-refundable except where we terminate for convenience under section 14.3, where the Platform is materially unavailable for more than 7 consecutive days through our fault, or where the law requires a refund. In those cases we will refund a pro-rata amount for the unused period.

4.8 Price changes. We may change Fees by giving at least 30 days' notice. A change takes effect at your next renewal. If you do not accept it, you may cancel before it takes effect without any early-exit fee.

4.9 Promotions and trials. Free trials and discounts apply only as stated in their offer terms. Unless you cancel before a trial ends, the standard Fees apply from the end of the trial.

4.10 No promise of leads, bookings or revenue. Your Fees pay for verification, your Profile and access to Platform features. We do not promise, and you must not rely on, any number of Profile views, enquiries, Booking Requests, bookings, jobs, Reviews, ranking position or revenue. Fees are not refundable, and we accept no liability, because you receive fewer leads or bookings than you hoped for, or none at all.

5. Your Profile, Garage Content and Unclaimed Listings

5.1 Accuracy. You are responsible for all Garage Content. It must be accurate, current and lawful, and comply with the CAP Code and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA). In particular:

• prices must include VAT and any compulsory charges, or clearly state what is excluded;
• MOT prices must not exceed the DVSA maximum fee;
• you must only list services you are qualified, equipped and (where required) authorised to provide;
• photos must show your own premises, staff or work, or be properly licensed; and
• you must not claim accreditations, awards or affiliations you do not hold.

5.2 Licence to us. You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence, for the duration of your Membership and 90 days after it ends, to host, display, reformat, translate and distribute Garage Content on the Platform and in marketing of the Platform, including through search engines and partner sites. You confirm you have the rights needed to grant this licence.

5.3 Editing and removal. We may edit Garage Content for format, length or compliance, and remove anything that breaches these Terms or the law. We will tell you where we materially change your content.

5.4 Unclaimed Listings. We may publish Unclaimed Listings for businesses using public or licensed data. An Unclaimed Listing shows limited information (typically business name, town and partial postcode), is clearly marked as not verified, and may display Platform features, partner services or promotions, including for RepairMyCar.io. Motorists cannot send Booking Requests to, or contact, an Unclaimed Listing through the Platform. An Unclaimed Listing does not mean the business is verified, endorsed or a member. To receive Booking Requests, a business must claim its listing and pass Vetting.

5.5 Requests about Unclaimed Listings. A business may ask us to correct or remove its Unclaimed Listing at any time by emailing listings@trustedgaragenetwork.com. We will act on valid requests within 10 Business Days.

5.6 Ranking. We display garages using factors that may include distance from the Motorist, services offered, Review rating and volume, response rate, Profile completeness and Membership plan. Paid plans may receive enhanced placement, which will be clearly labelled (for example Featured). We will publish a plain-English summary of the main ranking factors on the Platform.

5.7 Badges. Verified Garages may use the Trusted Garage Network badge and logo only as set out in our Brand Guidelines, and only while the Membership is active and not suspended.

5.8 Linking and use of our name. You may link from your own website to your Profile and use our name and badge as our Brand Guidelines allow. You must not suggest that we approve, endorse or guarantee your work, register domain names, social media handles or ad keywords that include our name, or frame our pages on your site. These permissions end when your Membership ends or is suspended.

6. The Trusted Garage Standard

Every Verified Garage commits to these seven standards. A serious or repeated failure is a material breach of these Terms.

1. Be honest about price. Give a clear written estimate or quote before starting work. Get the Motorist's agreement before doing any additional work or exceeding the agreed price, and record that agreement.
2. Explain the work. Describe in plain language what is needed, what is optional and what is advisory. Never pressure a Motorist into unnecessary work or misrepresent a vehicle's condition or safety.
3. Return replaced parts. Offer to return or show replaced parts unless they must be retained for warranty or environmental reasons, and say so where that applies.
4. Use suitable parts and methods. Use parts of appropriate quality, tell the Motorist if non-OEM, reconditioned or used parts are fitted, and follow manufacturer procedures, including on EV and hybrid high-voltage systems.
5. Respect the vehicle and the customer. Take reasonable care of vehicles and belongings in your custody, keep the premises safe, and treat Motorists courteously and without discrimination.
6. Provide clear paperwork. Issue an itemised invoice showing parts, labour, VAT and your business details, and stamp or update service records where requested.
7. Put things right. Offer your own written warranty on parts and labour of at least 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, operate a written complaints procedure, respond to complaints within 5 Business Days, and engage in good faith with any complaint we refer to you.

You must also respond to Booking Requests within the time set in section 7, and never canvass door-to-door or use high-pressure sales tactics while using our brand.

7. Booking Requests

7.1 How they work. Only Verified Garages can receive Booking Requests. A Motorist may send you a Booking Request through the Platform. We forward it to your registered email address and show it in your Garage Dashboard for 30 days from the date it was sent. After that, only we keep it, in line with our Privacy Notice. Motorists can also see your offers and services, which may help them choose you.

7.2 It is only a request. A Booking Request is an invitation for you to contact the Motorist. No contract exists between you and the Motorist until you both agree the work, price and timing directly. We do not take payment for the work and do not hold funds.

7.3 Response time. You must acknowledge or decline each Booking Request within 1 Business Day. Persistent failure to respond may affect your ranking or lead to action under section 11.

7.4 Your contract with the Motorist. You are solely responsible for the contract you make with a Motorist, for performing the work, and for complying with consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 where work is agreed at a distance.

7.5 Using Motorist data. You may use a Motorist's contact details only to deal with that Booking Request and any resulting work. You must not add them to marketing lists without their separate, valid consent, or share them with anyone else. You act as an independent controller of that data under UK GDPR.

7.6 No circumvention. You must not use Booking Requests to move Motorists to a rival platform, or offer Motorists any payment or incentive to cancel a Booking Request or leave a Review.

7.7 Delivery. We do not guarantee that every Booking Request will be delivered, for example where email filters block it. You should check your Garage Dashboard regularly.

8. Reviews

8.1 Every Review is verified before it is published. Reviews can only be left by verified Motorists, meaning a registered Motorist whose email or phone number we have confirmed. Before a Review appears on your Profile, we check that it relates to a genuine customer interaction with you, for example through a Booking Request on the Platform, an invoice or a job card. We also moderate it fairly against our Reviews Policy. We apply the same checks to positive and negative Reviews. You must also comply with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), which bans fake reviews, concealed incentivised reviews and misleading presentation of reviews.

8.2 You must:

• invite Reviews from all customers, or from a genuinely random selection, not only satisfied ones;
• reply to Reviews professionally, factually and without disclosing a customer's personal data; and
• tell us promptly if you believe a Review is fake, from a non-customer or from a competitor.

8.3 You must not:

• write, buy or commission Reviews about your own business or a competitor's;
• offer any discount, gift, refund or other incentive in return for a Review, or for changing or removing one;
• pressure, threaten or harass a Motorist about a Review, including threatening legal action other than through a genuine defamation claim;
• ask staff, family or connected persons to post Reviews; or
• copy Reviews from other sites onto your Profile as if they were ours.

8.4 Challenging a Review. You may challenge a Review through the Garage Dashboard on these grounds: the author was not a customer; it contains false statements of fact, personal data, abuse or discriminatory content; it relates to a different business; or it is the subject of genuine legal proceedings. We may place the Review on hold while we investigate, normally for no more than 14 days, and ask both parties for evidence such as an invoice or job card.

8.5 Our decision. We decide whether to publish, edit, restore or remove a Review. We will not remove a Review simply because it is negative. We do not accept payment to remove, suppress or reorder Reviews.

8.6 Ratings. Your overall rating is calculated only from verified, published Reviews, using the method we publish on the Platform. We do not include unverified Reviews, Reviews imported from other sites, or Reviews removed under this section. Reviews older than 24 months may carry less weight but remain visible. Your rating reflects Motorists' opinions. It is not our assessment of your work and not a guarantee to anyone.

8.7 Consequences. Review manipulation leads to removal of the affected Reviews and may result in suspension or permanent deactivation under section 11, with a notice on your Profile where we reasonably consider Motorists should be warned.

8.8 Feedback shared with you. We share verified Reviews with you, along with booking details sufficient to identify the job. Use them only to respond, put things right and improve your service. You must not contact a Motorist to dispute or discourage a Review outside the reply and challenge tools we provide.

8.9 Our prize draws. We may run prize draws to encourage Motorists to leave Reviews. Entry never depends on what a Review says, and these draws are not incentives from you. You must not run your own review incentives.

9. Offers, member benefits and partner services

9.1 Your offers to Motorists. Verified Garages on eligible plans may publish offers (for example a discounted MOT or service). Each offer must state its price, what is included, any conditions and its end date. We may approve, edit, schedule or decline offers. You must honour any live offer for every Motorist who claims it in time.

9.2 Member benefits. We may arrange discounts or services for members from us or from third parties, such as discounted HR software, website and advertising packages, or lead-generation services. Benefits depend on your plan and may change or end on 30 days' notice.

9.3 Third-party terms. A partner benefit is supplied by that partner under its own terms. Your contract for it is with the partner, not us. We do not warrant partner products and are not liable for them, except where we are the supplier.

9.4 Our other products. We may promote other products in our group, including RepairMyCar.io, on the Platform, in emails to you and on Unclaimed Listings. You may opt out of marketing emails at any time without affecting service emails.

10. Insurance, qualifications and legal compliance

10.1 Insurance. Throughout your Membership you must hold, with a reputable UK-authorised insurer:

You must send us evidence within 10 Business Days of a request and tell us immediately if any cover lapses or is cancelled.

10.2 Authorisations. You must hold and maintain every licence and approval your services require, including DVSA authorisation for MOT testing, F-Gas certification for air-conditioning work, and appropriate training for high-voltage EV and hybrid systems.

10.3 Law. You must comply with all laws relevant to your business, including consumer protection, road traffic and vehicle construction rules, health and safety, environmental and waste law, data protection, equality, employment, anti-bribery and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

10.4 Notification. You must tell us within 5 Business Days if you become insolvent, lose any authorisation, are subject to regulatory action or a CMA or Trading Standards investigation, or change ownership or trading name.

11. Monitoring, sanctions, suspension and deactivation

11.1 Monitoring. We monitor Profiles, Reviews, Booking Request response rates, complaints and public information to check that Verified Garages continue to meet these Terms. We may carry out mystery-shopping or ask Motorists about their experience.

11.2 Sanctions ladder. Our response will be proportionate to the seriousness of the issue:

11.3 Immediate action. We may skip levels and act immediately where we reasonably believe there is a risk to Motorists' safety, money or data, or to the integrity of the Platform.

11.4 Notice and reasons. Before restricting, suspending or deactivating you, we will normally give you notice with reasons and at least 5 Business Days to respond. Where immediate action is needed, we will give reasons as soon as practicable afterwards.

11.5 Appeals. You may appeal any Level 3 to 5 decision within 14 days by emailing appeals@trustedgaragenetwork.com with your reasons and evidence. Someone not involved in the original decision will review it and respond within 15 Business Days. The appeal decision is final as far as our internal process is concerned, but does not limit your legal rights.

11.6 Fees during suspension. Fees remain payable during a suspension caused by your breach. If a suspension is lifted with no breach found, we will credit Fees for the suspended period.

12. Intellectual property, Platform use and data protection

12.1 Our IP. We and our licensors own all rights in the Platform, its software, design, data compilations, ratings and the Trusted Garage Network name and logo. You receive a limited, non-transferable licence to use the Garage Dashboard and badge for your Membership only.

12.2 Restrictions. You must not scrape, copy or resell Platform data, reverse-engineer the Platform, create multiple or fake accounts, share login credentials outside your business, or use automated tools without our written consent.

12.3 Your account security. You are responsible for activity under your account. Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication where offered and tell us at once of any unauthorised access.

12.4 Data roles. We are a controller of personal data we collect through the Platform, as described in our Privacy Notice. When we pass you a Motorist's details in a Booking Request, you become an independent controller of that copy. Each party is responsible for its own compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

12.5 Your obligations. You must keep Motorist data secure, use it only as section 7.5 allows, respond to data subject requests that relate to your copy, and notify us within 48 hours of any personal data breach involving data received through the Platform.

12.6 Your staff. You must tell your staff whose personal data you add to the Platform (for example names or photos) how we will use it.

12.7 Security offences. Introducing malware, attempting unauthorised access to the Platform or another member's account, or launching denial-of-service attacks may be an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. We will report it to the authorities, cooperate with them, and deactivate your Membership immediately.

12.8 Guides and content. Any technical, legal or business guidance we publish for garages is general information. It is not professional advice, and you should not rely on it as such.

13. Liability and indemnity

13.1 What we do not exclude. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

13.2 Platform provided as is. We will use reasonable care and skill in running the Platform, but we do not promise it will be uninterrupted or error-free. We may carry out maintenance, normally outside 08:00 to 18:00 on Business Days.

13.3 Excluded losses. Subject to 13.1, we are not liable for loss of profit, revenue, business, goodwill, anticipated savings or data, or for any indirect or consequential loss.

13.4 Not our responsibility. We are not liable for: (a) any shortfall in, or absence of, Profile views, enquiries, Booking Requests, bookings, jobs or revenue; (b) Booking Requests that are not delivered, or that Motorists do not follow up; (c) the acts or omissions of Motorists; (d) the content of verified Reviews written by Motorists, or your rating; (e) the work you carry out; or (f) disputes between you and a Motorist.

13.5 Cap. Subject to 13.1, our total liability arising from or in connection with these Terms in any 12-month period is limited to the greater of £500 and the Fees you paid in the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim.

13.6 Your indemnity. You will indemnify us against losses, fines, reasonable legal costs and third-party claims arising from: your vehicle work; your Garage Content; your breach of these Terms, the Trusted Garage Standard or any law; or your misuse of Motorist data.

13.7 Claims period. Any claim against us must be notified in writing within 12 months of you becoming aware of it.

14. Changes, termination and general terms

14.1 Changes to these Terms. We may change these Terms for legal, regulatory, security or genuine business reasons. We will give at least 30 days' notice of material changes by email and in the Garage Dashboard (15 days where required by law or safety). If you object, you may cancel before the change takes effect without any early-exit fee.

14.2 Termination by us for cause. We may terminate immediately by notice if you commit a material breach not remedied within 14 days of notice, commit a breach under section 11.3, or become insolvent.

14.3 Termination by us for convenience. We may end your Membership or close the Platform on 60 days' notice, with a pro-rata refund of prepaid Fees.

14.4 Effect of ending. When your Membership ends: your Profile reverts to Basic or an Unclaimed Listing, or is removed; your badge rights end and you must remove our branding from your premises, vehicles and website within 30 days; Reviews already published may remain on the Platform; and sections 5.2, 7.5, 12, 13 and 14 continue.

14.5 Notices. We send notices to the email address in your Garage Dashboard. You send notices to legal@trustedgaragenetwork.com. Email notices are received on the next Business Day after sending.

14.6 General. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them to a group company or buyer of the Platform. No third party has rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. If a provision is unenforceable, the rest stays in force. A delay in enforcing a right is not a waiver. These Terms are the entire agreement on their subject. Neither party is liable for delay caused by events outside its reasonable control.

14.7 Disputes. Tell us first at support@trustedgaragenetwork.com and we will try to resolve it within 30 days. If not resolved, either party may propose mediation through CEDR before going to court.

14.8 Law and courts. These Terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.

14.9 Contact. Trusted Garage Network is operated by RMCMS Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. Website: trustedgaragenetwork.com. Email: support@trustedgaragenetwork.com.

Version 1.0, effective 25 October 2026.