Guide · Automotive
Vehicle & Automotive Compliance Software
"Automotive compliance" means two different things depending on who you ask. In vehicle finance it refers to FCA authorisation and consumer credit permissions. In a workshop, bodyshop or transport yard it means something more practical: proving that the equipment is examined, the testers are calibrated, the licences are current and the technicians are qualified. This guide is about the second one.
What the records actually cover
| Record | Typical interval | Who asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle lifts and ramps — thorough examination | 6 or 12 months | HSE, insurer |
| Brake tester, headlamp aligner, gas analyser calibration | Annual (per equipment) | DVSA MOT audit |
| Torque wrenches and measuring gauges | Annual or by use | Manufacturer approvals, BS 10125 |
| Spray booth, extraction and compressor checks | 14 months (pressure), annual | HSE, insurer |
| Technician qualifications and MOT tester training | Annual training year | DVSA, manufacturer schemes |
| Operator licence, waste carrier, insurance, lease documents | Renewal dates | Traffic Commissioner, EA, insurer |
Intervals vary by equipment and by scheme — always work from the certificate and the manufacturer's instructions rather than a generic figure.
Where it goes wrong
- Certificates live in one manager's inbox, and nobody else can produce them.
- A calibration lapses quietly and the test results taken on it get questioned.
- Ramps get examined but the report is never filed against the ramp.
- Technician training expires mid-year with no reminder in front of it.
- Multi-site groups have no single view of which site is behind.
What to look for in software
- One register per item, with its own interval — not one shared reminder date.
- The certificate attached to the item, not stored separately.
- Reminders before the due date, to more than one person.
- Full history retained, so you can show the previous certificate too.
- Per-site grouping if you run more than one workshop.
- An export or read-only view you can hand an auditor.
FileGuard does this side only — it is not a job-card, estimating or invoicing system, and vehicle businesses normally run it alongside one. See garage management software for how the two halves fit together, garage compliance management for the workshop detail, and LOLER inspection software for lifting equipment examinations. Bodyshops and accident-repair centres can start at the bodyshop compliance page.
Common questions
Is this the same as garage management software?
No. Garage management software runs the front of the business — bookings, job cards, parts, invoicing. Compliance software covers the records behind it. Most workshops need both.
Who needs it?
MOT stations, independent garages, bodyshops and accident-repair centres, commercial vehicle workshops, and fleet or transport operators holding an operator licence.
Does it cover FCA automotive compliance?
No. If you need consumer credit permissions or FCA authorisation for vehicle finance, that is a separate regime handled by specialist compliance firms. FileGuard covers equipment, certificate and training records.