- Motor trade specialists
- Accounts and tax
- VAT Margin Scheme
- Business support
Specialist accountants for the motor trade
Motor Trade Accounting offers accounting, tax and business support from specialist motor trade accountants for garages, dealers, body shops and every kind of motor business across the UK. Understand your accounts, pay the right tax and make decisions with an accountant who knows how the trade works.
- Motor trade specialists
- Accounts, tax and VAT
- Business and finance support
- Across the UK
Tell us about your business
Leave your details and a specialist motor trade accountant will be in touch to talk through what you need.
Who it's for
Accounting for every kind of motor business
From a one-person mobile mechanic to a multi-site dealership, the motor trade has its own VAT rules, stock and finance arrangements. Find the page for your kind of business.
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Garages and workshops Servicing, repairs and diagnostics: labour, parts and workshop overheads kept in order. -
Car dealers Used and franchised dealers: margin scheme sales, stock, finance commission and prep costs. -
Body shops Accident repair and paint work, insurer payment terms and materials costs. -
MOT centres Test fees, repair work that follows a test, and the costs of running a test bay. -
Tyre and exhaust centres Seasonal stock, disposal costs and fast-moving parts on thin margins. -
Motorcycle dealers Bike sales under the margin scheme, workshop income and seasonal trading. -
Van dealers Commercial vehicle sales, VAT on vans and stock that ties up cash. -
Mobile mechanics Van costs, tools, mileage and getting the self assessment right. -
Valeting and car wash Cash takings, staff costs and records that stand up to scrutiny. -
Breakdown and recovery Expensive vehicles, fuel, call-out work and account customers. -
Auto electricians Diagnostic equipment, software subscriptions and EV training costs. -
Motor factors and parts Stock control, trade accounts and credit control for parts suppliers. -
Car and van hire Fleet purchases, VAT on hire vehicles and capital allowances. -
Classic car dealers Specialist stock, restoration costs, imports and the margin scheme.
What's covered
More than accounting. Built for the motor trade.
The right level of help for where your business is now, from the everyday paperwork to the decisions that shape the next few years.
- VAT Margin Scheme Pay VAT on the margin, not the whole sale price, with the records HMRC expects.
- VAT returns and advice Accurate returns and clear answers on the VAT questions the trade throws up.
- Year-end accounts Statutory accounts prepared properly and explained in plain English.
- Bookkeeping Up-to-date records, so the figures are there when you need them.
- Payroll Payslips, RTI submissions, pensions and benefits handled correctly.
- Corporation tax Company tax worked out, claimed and planned for ahead of the deadline.
- Self assessment Personal tax returns for sole traders, partners and directors.
- Making Tax Digital Digital records and compatible software for VAT and Income Tax.
- Management accounts Monthly or quarterly figures that show how the business is really doing.
- Cashflow forecasting See the pinch points coming and plan stock, staff and spending around them.
- Virtual finance director Senior finance support for big decisions, without a full-time hire.
- Business health check A thorough review of your accounts, systems and tax position.
- Vehicle stock accounting Stock records, valuation and stocking finance kept under control.
- Starting a motor trade business The right structure, registrations and records from day one.
Why a specialist
The motor trade doesn't fit a general accountant's template
Selling a used car under the VAT Margin Scheme, valuing a forecourt full of stock, reclaiming VAT on a workshop ramp but not on the courtesy car: the motor trade has rules and pressures most businesses never meet. Get them wrong and you can overpay tax for years without knowing, or build up a problem that only shows when HMRC asks questions.
A motor trade specialist starts from how your business really runs. They know what a stock book should look like, how stocking finance affects cashflow, what a healthy labour rate means for a workshop and where the VAT traps sit. That means fewer surprises, figures you can act on and someone who understands the question before you finish asking it.
- A clear look at your VATMargin scheme sales, standard-rated work and blocked input tax checked against how you actually trade.
- Systems that save timeBookkeeping, stock records and payroll set up so the paperwork stops eating into your week.
- Numbers explained plainlyNo jargon, just what the figures say about your business and what to do next.
How it works
Getting started is simple
- 1
Send an enquiry
Tell us a little about your business and what you need help with. It only takes a couple of minutes.
- 2
Talk it through
A specialist motor trade accountant gets in touch to understand your business, your current setup and what's worrying you.
- 3
Get a clear plan
You'll know what support is recommended, what it covers and what it costs before anything starts.
- 4
Ongoing support
Accounts, tax, VAT and advice handled through the year, with someone to call when a question comes up.
Questions
Common questions
What is a motor trade accountant?
An accountant who works with motor trade businesses and knows the rules that apply to them, such as the VAT Margin Scheme for used vehicles, vehicle stock valuation and stocking finance.
What types of motor business can get help?
Independent garages, car, van and motorcycle dealers, body shops, MOT centres, tyre centres, mobile mechanics, valeters, recovery operators, auto electricians, motor factors, hire companies and classic car specialists.
What accounting services are available?
Year-end accounts, bookkeeping, VAT returns and Margin Scheme advice, payroll, corporation tax, self assessment, management accounts, cashflow forecasting and part-time finance director support.
Can a specialist help me pay less tax?
A specialist makes sure you claim what you're entitled to and use the right VAT treatment, so you pay the right amount and no more. Many businesses find they have been missing allowances or misapplying the Margin Scheme.
Will my current accounting setup be reviewed?
Yes. The first conversation covers how your records, VAT and tax are handled now, and a fuller business health check is available if something doesn't look right.
Is it difficult to switch accountants?
Usually not. Your new accountant contacts your old one for the information they need, and you carry on trading while the handover happens.
What happens after I send an enquiry?
A specialist motor trade accountant gets in touch to talk through your business and what you need. There is no obligation to go ahead.
How much does ongoing support cost?
It depends on the size of the business and the work involved. You'll get a clear quote after the first conversation, before any work starts.
Ready to move your business forward?
Tell us what's on your mind, whether it's VAT, a messy set of books or a plan to grow. A specialist motor trade accountant will talk it through with you.