A scheme to promote professional servicing of cars has been launched by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
The Autosure Professional Register (APR) will be similar to the RECI scheme used by electrical contractors, with only SIMI qualified technicians being allowed to sign off on a service job.
A sticker noting this APR service will be fixed to the window.
According to a recent survey two-thirds of motorists are putting off servicing their cars because they can't afford it. SIMI says there's a big increase in 'untrained and illegal' operators offering to service cars.
SIMI president Gerry Caffrey says the work carried out by such operators can be to a poor standard, which could leave a car in dangerous condition and the owner out of pocket when something goes wrong with their car.
