An update on Block Exemption Regulations - The new Competition Act 1998 (Motor Vehicle Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2023 (‘MVBEO’) came into force on 1 June 2023.

The MVBEO replaces the similar Block Exemption Regulations (BER) which were retained following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The new MVBEO will provide a UK block exemption for certain vertical agreements in the automotive aftermarket related to the purchase, sale or resale of aftermarket goods or the provision of repair and maintenance services (‘MVA agreements’). This is to ensure fairness in the industry between manufacturers/main dealers and independent operators ensuring that software and coding must be made available to ensure their ability to complete vehicle repairs.

Therefore, this means that you can continue to trust our professional team here at Star Tech to carry out our usual high standard of servicing and repairs on your vehicle and still retain the manufacturer’s warranty. This is subject to similar conditions as before, such as ensuring that we use genuine manufacturers parts and that we adhere to a strict service schedule as specified by each manufacturer. However, it has widened its scope to include -

• spare parts
• fluids (coolants, lubricants, cleaners etc. but not fuel) necessary for the effective operation of the motor vehicle; and
• software required to repair or replace a part or system, together with any code or other information necessary to use the software.

We welcome this update and having worked this way for 17 years, we would not dream of doing it any differently. So, rest assured, you are in very capable hands.

Always wanting to keep ahead of the changes in our industry, Managing Director Matt visited Mechanex at Sandown racecourse last Tuesday exploring the latest equipment, training and seminars with various trade bodies.

There were presentations by Neil Pattemore (see image) of the IAAF discussing MVBEO and how it gives independent service centres even greater access to manufacture information.

Find out more about MVBEO here.

To book your Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Smart or Mini in, call our service team on 01202 694758 or contact us.