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National Body Repair Association (NBRA)

The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) is the UK's dedicated trade association for the vehicle body repair sector. They represent independent and multi-site vehicle repairers, specialist repair businesses and supporting organisations across the automotive repair industry.

Their role is to support high standards throughout the sector, provide guidance to our members, represent the industry's interests to key stakeholders and help consumers identify repairers that are committed to professionalism, transparency and customer service.

VISIT : National Body Repair Association (ext. website)

 CERTIFIED 

Approved Code of Practice

This is to certify that the published Consumer Code of Practice of the National Body Repair Association (NBRA) was officially granted APPROVED CODE status in 2004. Since then, the relevant provisions, processes and procedures have been continuously monitored and regularly audited by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) - the representative body of the UK Trading Standards profession, since 1881, and one of the primary Government-endorsed consumer protection bodies in the United Kingdom - operating on behalf of the Approved Code Scheme (see Code Audit Record, below).

Approved Code Registry :

Code Sector

Automotive and Repairs 

Code of Practice

Click here to view (pdf opens in new tab)

Year of Approval

2004 

Members

250 (October 2026)

Last Audited

October 2026

Code Audit Record

NBRA Audit 2026 (pdf opens in new tab)

The NBRA Code of Practice

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The NBRA Repairer Code of Practice sets out the standards of conduct, customer care and business practices expected of their members for retail repairs.

The Code is designed to promote consumer confidence by ensuring member businesses operate fairly, communicate clearly, maintain appropriate business standards and provide customers with access to an independent dispute resolution process where required.

Read the NBRA Code of Practice (pdf)

Vehicle repairs are often complex, technical and costly. Consumers may require repairs following an accident or insurance claim and may not always have the knowledge needed to assess repair processes themselves.

A strict Code of Practice helps ensure customers receive:

  • Honest and transparent communication

  • Fair treatment

  • Clear pricing and repair information

  • Professional business practices

  • Access to a recognised complaints process

The Code provides reassurance that member businesses are committed to operating responsibly and placing customer interests at the heart of their service.

The NBRA Code of Practice requires members to:

  • Trade legally and responsibly.

  • Hold appropriate business insurances.

  • Conduct business honestly and fairly.

  • Provide clear information regarding services and charges.

  • Treat customers professionally and respectfully.

  • Handle complaints in a timely and effective manner.

  • Comply with relevant consumer protection legislation.

  • Cooperate with the NBRA's Code requirements and dispute resolution processes.

The Code is designed to support both consumer confidence and high standards within the repair sector.

NBRA members include:

  • Vehicle body repair centres

  • Accident repair centres

  • Independent bodyshops

  • Multi-site repair groups

  • Commercial vehicle repairers

  • Specialist repair businesses

  • Vehicle refinishing and cosmetic repair providers

Members range from family-owned independent repairers through to large regional and national repair groups.

Before joining, businesses must demonstrate that they are operating lawfully and legitimately and hold appropriate business insurance.

Applicants are audited against the requirements of the NBRA Code of Practice. We undertake a Consumer Codes audit process to ensure compliance with the standards required by the Code.

Membership is not a one-time approval. Members are expected to continue meeting the requirements of the Code throughout their membership and cooperate with any investigations or reviews that may arise.

Complaints and allegations of non-compliance are investigated fairly and proportionately.

Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, actions may include:

  • Guidance and corrective action requirements

  • Formal warnings

  • Additional monitoring

  • Suspension of membership benefits

  • Removal from membership

Our aim is to protect consumers while encouraging members to achieve and maintain the standards expected under the Code.

Disputes and Complaints

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As a consumer, if you ever enter into a dispute with a business that is a member of the National Body Repair Association, the business must offer you Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This is a simpler, cheaper and faster alternative to going to Court. And the adjudications of the independent ADR body are binding on the business (although you are still free to go to Court afterwards).

Offering customers ADR is a mandatory and non-negotiable requirement for membership of the Approved Code Scheme - ensuring that only the best, most customer-centric businesses remain in the scheme. It also acts as a powerful incentive for any member business to treat you with respect, courtesy and fairness, at all times.

Complain about an NBRA Member business

If you feel you have been mistreated by a business that is a member of the Approved Code Scheme, there are steps you can take. In the first instance, please reach out to them - explaining the nature of your complaint in clear and unambiguous language, and mentioning that you are aware of their membership of NBRA and the Approved Code Scheme. In most cases, this approach will ensure your complaint receives proper attention - and, ideally, a resolution will be forthcoming. If you are not happy with the result, they must offer you Alternative Dispute Resolution, or you can request it.

Only if this approach fails to bear fruit should you contact NBRA, or their nominated ADR body (see their contact details, above) - who will then do their best to help you resolve your dispute with the business.

Complain about the National Body Repair Association

In the interests of complete transparency and fairhandedness, if you represent a business and would like to complain about the way that the National Body Repair Association operates as part of the Approved Code Scheme, please contact us at : [email protected]

NBRA is also accountable to its Code of Practice and, in the event of dispute with one of its Members over its management of this Code, is also subject to review and referral to the Approved Code Scheme (CCAB/CTSI) and its disciplinary processes. Where a potential breach of the management the Code has been identified through investigating a Member complaint, NBRA will normally endeavour to resolve the complaint before referring the matter to CTSI for their involvement.

Organisation Information

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Code Sponsor Name

National Body Repair Association

Website

www.nbra.org.uk

Contact Number

0207 291 9750

Email or Online Form

[email protected]

Contact Address

RMIF Ltd, Santis House, Curriers Close, Charter Avenue Industrial Estate, Coventry, CV4 8AW

Corporate Details (from Companies House) :

Registered Name THE RETAIL MOTOR INDUSTRY FEDERATION LIMITED
Company Reg. No. 00133095
Established 1913
Reg. Address 201 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5AB 

PLEASE NOTE : We recently changed the consumer-facing name of the scheme from the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) to the Approved Code Scheme. However, some of our publicity and contractual materials (produced before June 2024) may still include references to the original name. Until we have adapted everything, both names remain valid - and we apologise for any confusion.