By Neil Gibbs, Head of Eurorepar Car Service Network
Picture this: it’s 8am on a Monday morning, and your workshop has three routine services booked – worth perhaps £1,200 in total. Down the road, a collision repair specialist is starting work on a single insurance job valued at over £8,000. While you’re fighting for margin on oil changes and brake pads, they’re operating in a market where the average private motor insurance claim paid in 2024 rose 13% on 2023 to £4.9k¹ and shows no signs of slowing.
This stark reality illustrates the crossroads facing independent garages today. As traditional maintenance revenues face pressure from extended service intervals and improved vehicle reliability, crash repair represents a potential lifeline that ensures long-term viability in an increasingly challenging market.

A market ripe for opportunity
The collision repair market represents a significant untapped opportunity for independent garages. Motor insurers paid out a record £11.7 billion in car insurance claims in 2024, dealing with 2.4 million motor insurance claims², demonstrating the sector’s substantial scale and resilience. Unlike routine maintenance, which is increasingly dictated by extended service intervals and improved vehicle reliability, crash repair demand remains consistent and largely immune to economic fluctuations.
What makes this particularly compelling for independent operators is the shifting landscape of the collision repair industry itself. Traditional bodyshops are consolidating, with larger chains acquiring smaller operations, leaving gaps in local markets. This creates openings for agile independent garages to establish themselves as credible alternatives, particularly for customers seeking personalised service and competitive pricing.
Supporting this opportunity, parts availability has never been better. Eurorepar’s collision parts range continues to expand rapidly, with new references being added regularly to meet the evolving needs of the collision repair market. This growing portfolio ensures independent garages can source quality replacement parts efficiently, reducing repair times and improving customer satisfaction.
The electric vehicle catalyst
The transition to electric vehicles presents both challenges and opportunities for the aftermarket. While EVs require less traditional maintenance – no oil changes, fewer moving parts, extended brake life due to regenerative braking – they amplify the importance of crash repair capabilities. EV bodies often incorporate lightweight materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre composites, requiring specialised repair techniques and equipment.
More significantly, the complexity of EV systems means that even minor collisions can result in expensive repairs. A typical job might involve recalibrating advanced driver assistance systems, checking high-voltage battery integrity, or addressing damaged charging components. This complexity translates to higher average job values, making crash repair an increasingly lucrative revenue stream.
Independent garages that establish crash repair capabilities now position themselves advantageously for the EV future. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, workshops with the skills and equipment to handle collision repairs will find themselves serving a premium market segment with substantial growth potential.
Revenue diversification
Crash repair offers independent garages several compelling business advantages beyond simple revenue addition. The work is typically higher value than routine maintenance, with average job values often exceeding £1,000 compared to standard service work averaging around £200. This improved job profitability can significantly impact overall business performance.
Furthermore, crash repair work is less seasonal than many automotive services. While customers might defer routine maintenance during economic uncertainty, insurance-driven collision repairs proceed regardless of economic conditions. This provides valuable revenue stability that can help workshops weather challenging periods.
The skills developed for crash repair also complement existing capabilities. Panel beating, spray painting, and component replacement utilise many tools and techniques already familiar to experienced technicians. This makes the transition more accessible than moving into entirely unrelated service areas.
Strategic considerations
Successfully entering crash repair requires careful planning and investment. Workshops need appropriate facilities, including spray booths that meet environmental regulations, plus specialised tools for modern vehicle construction methods. Staff training is crucial, particularly for handling advanced materials and safety systems.
Partnering with established networks can significantly ease this transition. The Eurorepar Car Service network, for example, provides independent garages with access to comprehensive collision parts catalogues through Distrigo Parts, where component availability directly impacts turnaround times and customer satisfaction. Being part of an OE-backed initiative ensures repairs meet insurance standards while maintaining profitability, with access to over 1,000 collision parts references backed by manufacturer warranties.
The insurance approval process represents another critical consideration. Building relationships with major insurers and understanding their requirements helps secure a steady workflow. Many successful collision repair operations invest heavily in these relationships, recognising that insurance work provides the volume necessary for sustainable growth.
Survive and thrive
As the automotive landscape continues evolving, independent garages must adapt to survive and thrive. Crash repair represents one of the most promising diversification opportunities available, offering higher margins, consistent demand, and strategic positioning for the electric vehicle transition.
The workshops that recognise this opportunity and begin building capabilities now will find themselves well-positioned for long-term success. In an industry where change is constant, crash repair offers a pathway to both immediate revenue growth and future-focused business development.