ISN Garage Assist Blog

We have found a 'Jewel' in James! A great deal of experience, and a big reputation are just two things that James Jewell brings to  ISN Garage Assist in his new appointment as Aftersales Director. The rapid expansion and ongoing development of our service division into the UK's largest of its kind required an individual who is passionate about forging a long term, senior career in the Garage Equipment industry, and we believe James is just that person. Working closely with the likes of Chris Grimm, Sean Blomley and Joe Berryman, James will ultimately be seeing through the key goals we...

Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, has announced that the nation’s Government is to explore the ‘next steps’ towards adopting biennial MOT testing. Having reviewed evidence submitted by members of the public in an official Call for Evidence, which ran from August to October 2021, Mallon said that the idea had received enough support to be considered more formally by the Government.Currently, the MOT testing rules in Northern Ireland are similar to those enforced in England, Wales and Scotland; private cars and motorcycles are first tested when they reach four years old, and annually after that.Light goods vehicles weighing under 3,500kg,...

Looking to branch out into the world of MOT testing for the first time? Or perhaps you’re considering expanding your facilities with a second test bay? Regardless of your circumstances, if you’re on the hunt for a company to complete the entire installation process from start to finish, ISN Garage Assist can help.To give you an idea of what to expect, we’ve put together a handy rundown of our MOT bay installation process.The planning phaseThe process begins with an email or phone call. However you choose to get in touch, we’ll respond promptly to arrange a mutually convenient time to complete...

We will be showcasing the latest machines from Hofmann Megplan, hosting 121 demonstrations and we’ll be available to answer any questions you may have.You can expect a whole host of benefits this June at the one-of-a-kind UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, including free breakfast to those arriving before 10am and *free parking, to name a few.Kickstarting on 8-9th June at the NEC in Birmingham, the free-to-register, national event is open to the entire industry, and after the past two years, we would love to meet you in person once again.The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has been designed to put the...

Biennial MOTs Could Become a Reality in Britain Britain’s Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has suggested that MOT testing could switch from an annual requirement to a biennial one in a bid to address the current cost of living crisis. The measure, which was suggested during a recent Cabinet meeting, would mean that motorists would only be required to get their cars tested every year - not every year as is currently the case.Unsurprisingly, the idea has received widespread criticism from experts in the motor industry on safety grounds. Although the measure would help keep costs down for motorists, many believe that...

Ever wondered which cars end up on the scrapheap the most? Well, thanks to data from Scrap Car Comparison, we now know which makes and models are scrapped most often - and it turns out that the UK’s best-selling cars aren’t at the top of the list.Every year, the company issues thousands of quotes to motorists looking to scrap their vehicle, helping them get the best possible price for it. They then analyse this data and compile it every 12 months, giving us an interesting snapshot of what’s lurking in our nation’s scrap yards.According to the data, Ford is the dominant...

UK Commercial Vehicle Production Up, Bucking Overall Trend The UK’s new commercial vehicle sector has experienced its best May (and year to-date) performance for a decade, bucking an overall trend of declining new vehicle production.According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), production was up 26.5% in May. 7,900 vehicles emerged from factories across Britain that month, the highest number since 2012.Exports in particular performed strongly, the figures showing a 91.6% increase on last year’s data. The majority of commercial vehicles built here now end up overseas - 67.9% to be precise. 91.8% of those...

Rising fuel costs push more motorists towards EVs If you’ve been near a forecourt at all this year, you’ll be painfully aware of just how high fuel prices currently are.A 5p fuel duty cut, announced back in March, was soon swallowed up in the wake of rising costs - so much so that it was barely noticed - and the latest reports suggest that the prices we’re paying at the pumps aren’t falling in-line with the wholesale cost.This all points towards high fuel prices lasting for many months to come and, according to used car site ChooseMyCar.com, motorists are beginning to...

52% of motorists know their car is faulty, study finds According to a new study, the majority of British motorists know their car has a fault that needs fixing.The research, carried out by online mechanic quoting and booking platform ClickMechanic, found that 52% of motorists were aware of at least one fault with their vehicle.Meanwhile, 62% of participants reported surprise breakdowns to be the most stressful part of car ownership.In the context of Britain’s ongoing cost of living crisis, these figures certainly make sense. With bills on the increase and fuel prices remaining high, it’s no surprise that many people simply...

Britain’s Millionth Electric Car Hits the Road The last couple of years haven’t exactly been ones to remember for car makers. With supply issues to contend with and an uncertain economic climate d, sales haven’t yet reached pre-pandemic levels.Things are beginning to look. According to the SMMT’s latest new car registration figures, 4.6% more new vehicles hit the roads this September compared with the same month last year.However, compare last month’s figure against 2019’s and the difference remain stark: 34.4% more vehicles were registered in September of that year.Bumper year for EVsSeptember did bring one significant bit of good news for...

One of the main selling points of an electric vehicle traditionally has been lower running costs. According to a new report from the RAC, though, this may no longer be the case.Charging costs have risen 42% on average since May, the organisation says, putting prices virtually on a par with those experienced by petrol car owners at the pumps.Electric family cars now cost £32.41 on average to rapid charge to 80% capacity, the RAC says - that’s an increase of £9.60 since May and £13.59 since last year.Drivers exclusively using rapid charging points can expect to pay 18p per mile to...

Promising signs have emerged from the UK’s new car market, which experienced its first consecutive month of year-on-year growth in November.According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), sales grew by an impressive 23.5%, with 142,889 vehicles finding homes during the penultimate month of 2022.As is becoming the norm, a significant proportion of these vehicles were electric. 39,558, to be exact, a rise of 34.2%. That means EVs now represent one-fifth of all new cars sold for the first time - a significant milestone on the road to 2030.After many months of slow sales, brought on partly...

There’s plenty to consider when buying a car, new or used. Reliability is an important factor, but every car is going to go wrong at some point - it’s inevitable. At least one or two of the thousands of mechanical and electrical components in a modern car are bound to let you down at some point.An important question to ask, then, is how expensive are these faults likely to be? Are there car manufacturers to avoid if you want to keep repair costs down?The answer is yes. According to analysis from Warrantywise, some of Britain’s favourite car manufacturers charge significantly less...

A petition to stop the Government’s long-rumoured plans to extend the MOT grace period for newer vehicles has been launched and is rapidly gaining momentum.Currently, new vehicles don’t have to be tested until they’re three years old. But, under the new proposals, this time period would increase to four years - a move that many in the industry are concerned about.The Government is considering the change to try and save motorists money amid the current cost of living crisis. But, industry experts say it could end up costing them more in the long run - and could make Britain’s roads a...

Since 1992, the minimum legal tyre tread depth in the UK has been 1.6mm. But is it time for this figure to be revised?Halfords certainly think so. Following the publication of a new study, conducted by Professor Peter Wells at Cardiff University’s Centre for Automotive Industry Research, the retailer has issued a fresh call for the legal limit to be revised.The study compared the stopping distances of vehicles fitted with ‘barely legal’ tyres with those fitted with tyres in good condition (4mm of tread).It found that, in wet conditions, stopping distances increased by as much as 90 feet at 70 mph. Commenting...

We are pleased to share with you one of our latest MoT installs from the Northern town of Goole. This premium ATL MoT garage equipment install was managed by our National Sales Manager for MOT Equipment, Andy Davidson and took place at Fusion Autos.&...

It's not exactly news to many that ADAS Diagnostics was a hot topic throughout 2019 – and so far, our prediction of little let-up moving into 2020, has been spot on! But for many looking to invest in this state-of-the-art equipment, ADAS diagnostics has become the biggest technological headache of the year so far. ADAS like most new technology when it is first introduced is an unknown. It is highly anticipated and can be viewed as another unnecessary expense. But with these sensors now commonplace on consumer vehicles, you risk falling behind the curve if not investing & missing out on...

The all-new "Twister Evo" tyre changer has taken pride of place in our stunningly refurbished showroom.This ingenious new machine features the first ever electric bead breaker and our famous lever-less system.Over the next few months the 'Twister' will be going on tour and demonstrated at every exhibition and distributor event we can find, and we feel sure that this revolutionary new product will soon be a favourite with the tyre industry. For more information on the Hofmann Megaplan range of Tyre Changing Equipment visit our main website hofmann-megaplan.co.uk or to find out where you can see the Twister Evo tyre changer please call our...

We have another great install to tell you about! This time in Ilkeston, Derbyshire where SMART Tyre centre has taken delivery and installation of their new, all singing and dancing, Hofamnn Megaplan megaline SSence 600 3D alignment machine. It now only takes them a matter of minutes to diagnose any alignment problems a vehicle might have, that ultimately could cost the the customer hundreds of pounds in the long run. The optional megatab megatab - additional information for your customer or greater flexibility for the workshop. As an added option for the Ssence 600 the megatab gives a live view of the vehicles alignment,...

Earlier in the year, Kwik Fit conducted research that found 17.7 million drivers in the UK (a 15% increase since 2018) would be interested in paying a monthly subscription fee for ongoing maintenance for their vehicle. Due to their findings, the company announced the introduction of a pilot scheme in Yorkshire and the North West, which if successful, will be fully rolled out to the entire UK in the summer of this year. The new Kwik Fit Club subscription claims to help motorists spread the cost of service and maintenance costs throughout the year. Unsurprisingly, the concept is especially attractive to...