Glossary
Garage & workshop glossary
Plain-English definitions of the UK workshop terms that come up in bookings, MOTs, invoices and audit conversations.
- ADAS calibrationCalibrating driver-assistance sensors after windscreen or bumper work. Often a specialist add-on.
- Audit trailAn immutable log of who changed what and when. Essential when a dispute arises.
- Bay capacityCapacity is how many bay-hours you can sell per day. Getting this right is the difference between fully booked and overbooked.
- Bay-hourOne hour of one bay's productive time — the unit workshops should measure capacity in.
- Booking depositA booking deposit is a small pre-paid amount taken at online booking to reduce no-shows.
- Cambelt / timing beltThe rubber belt driving valvetrain timing. Ignore its interval and the engine self-destructs.
- Catalytic converter (CAT)The exhaust component that reduces harmful emissions. High MOT-fail item.
- Class 4 MOTClass 4 covers most cars and light vans up to 3,000kg. Here's how it affects workshop scheduling.
- Class 7 MOTClass 7 covers goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg. Here's what it means for a garage.
- Condition-based service (CBS)A service interval based on real vehicle condition, not calendar. Common on BMW and Mini.
- ConsumablesSmall parts and materials used in a job — bolts, clips, cleaner. Should be on every invoice.
- Diagnostic timeTime spent diagnosing a fault — usually charged at a higher labour rate than mechanical.
- DPFThe Diesel Particulate Filter traps soot. When it blocks, the workshop clean is a real revenue line.
- DPF regenerationThe process of burning off soot from a diesel particulate filter. Can be forced in a workshop.
- DSGThe VAG dual-clutch gearbox. Needs oil service every 40k miles or so.
- DVLAThe DVLA is the UK's driver and vehicle licensing agency. It's the source of truth for reg-based data.
- DVSAThe DVSA regulates MOT testing and vehicle standards in the UK. It's the rule-maker your MOT bay follows.
- Estimate / quoteAn estimate is a customer-approved price for a job before work starts.
- EV servicingServicing for electric vehicles — fewer parts, more diagnostics, high-voltage safety training required.
- Fast Lane servicesFast Lane services are the fast, predictable jobs — MOT, oil, brakes, tyres — that can be booked online without a phone call.
- Fast-fitFast-fit refers to workshops focused on quick jobs — tyres, exhausts, batteries, brakes.
- GDPRThe UK data-protection regime. A small garage really only has five things to do to comply.
- HaldexA four-wheel-drive coupling common on VAG vehicles that needs periodic oil service.
- HGVHeavy Goods Vehicle — 3.5t and up. Requires special MOT class, wider bays and DVSA-approved plant.
- Job cardA job card is the record of work carried out on a vehicle — parts, labour, notes and photos.
- Job referenceThe job reference is the one code — like JOB-1042 — used across booking, workshop, invoice and payment.
- Labour rateThe £/hour rate a workshop charges for mechanical time, often split by bay type.
- Labour timeThe standard time a job should take, from books like Autodata or manufacturer data.
- Labour-time bookA reference of standard labour times per job — Autodata, HaynesPro or manufacturer data.
- LCVLight Commercial Vehicle — vans up to 3.5t. Different servicing profile from passenger cars.
- MOTThe MOT is the annual UK roadworthiness test for vehicles over 3 years old. Here's what it means for a garage.
- MOT advisoryAn MOT advisory is a note about a defect not yet at failure level — a future paid job if handled well.
- MOT retestRetest is the follow-up test after an MOT failure. Handling it well protects the customer relationship.
- PHV (Private Hire Vehicle)A PHV is a licensed private-hire vehicle — Uber, Bolt, local mini-cab. Their servicing rules differ from retail cars.
- Purchase order (PO)A reference issued by a fleet buyer that must appear on the invoice for their finance team.
- UK VATUK Value Added Tax — currently 20% standard rate — must appear on every invoice from a VAT-registered garage.
- Waiting PartsA workflow status for jobs paused while a part is on order. Aging it prevents lost revenue.
- Workshop bayA workshop bay is one work area — usually a lift or a floor space — that can hold one vehicle at a time.
- Workshop loadingHow full each bay is over time — a health metric that predicts revenue.