Automotive Repair Systems

What Automotive Repair Systems does

Automotive Repair Systems Limited is a UK-based provider of SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Technique) cosmetic automotive repair services, founded in 1997 by Andy Patterson as a sole trader specialising in Paintless Dent Removal and incorporated as a Limited company in 2000. Headquartered in Orpington, Kent with a regional office in Liverpool, the company operates a mobile-first service model delivering seven core repair lines — alloy wheel refurbishment (mobile and in-plant Diamond Cut), chips/scuffs repair, paintless dent removal, glass chip repair, and interior/leather repair — supplemented by dealership-specific SMART Repair Booths, insurance-approved bodyshop services, courtesy cars, and protection/car care products (GardX, Reggie's Original).

The business is built on proprietary physical repair techniques, bespoke in-house tooling, and a state-of-the-art automated Diamond Cut plant capable of running 180 wheels in rotation with computer-mapped precision lathes. A fleet of 10 Mobile Diamond Cut vans launched in 2023-2024 enables same-day on-site alloy wheel repairs for dealer groups, displacing the conventional 3-day plant turnaround. The company holds BS10125, NBRA, IMI, ATA, and OFT accreditations and operates an IMI Approved Training Centre established in 2020.

Revenue is generated through transactional retail repair services (quote-based, mobile or drop-off), recurring trade/dealer contracts (SMART Repair Booths installed free with an accredited technician, plus credit accounts), insurance direct-billing, and ancillary product sales. Headcount grew from 9 employees in 2000 to 162 in 2022, with a 2025 target of 200 technicians supported by nationwide recruitment. The company is wholly owned by Automotive Group Holdings Ltd, has no disclosed external funding, and is described as one of the largest independent mobile SMART repair companies in the UK.

Name

Automotive Repair Systems

Legal name

Automotive Repair Systems Limited

Website

https://automotiverepairsystems.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

UK-based mobile SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Technique) repair specialist founded 1997, serving retail vehicle owners, car dealerships, insurers, and fleets with cosmetic alloy wheel, paint, dent, glass, and interior repairs via mobile vans and two bodyshops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive SMART Repair Services

NAICS

Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair (81112), Automotive Body, Paint, and Interior Repair and Maintenance (811121), Automotive Repair and Maintenance (8111)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Collision Repair, Bodywork & Paint (Light-Duty) (TLAKAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bumper, Panel & Plastic Repair (Composite/Trim) (TLAKAEAG), Auto Glass Repair & Replacement (TLAKAAAH), Mobile Auto Repair & Roadside Assistance (TLAKAAAL)

Keywords

• SMART automotive repair
• Alloy wheel refurbishment
• Mobile dent repair
• Vehicle paint repair
• Bodyshop services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orpington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retail SMART Repair Services: One-time repair services for individual vehicle owners including chip/scuff repair, alloy wheel refurbishment, paintless dent repair, glass chip repair, and interior repair. Mobile service comes to customer's location.
2. Trade/Dealership Services: Services for dealerships and motor trade including SMART Repair Booth (provided free of charge with accredited technician), Diamond Cut Division, Insurance services, and retail SMART setups.
3. Courtesy/Hire Car: Kia Picanto and Kia Niro Hybrid hire vehicles for customers whose cars are being repaired at Orpington bodyshop.
4. GardX Protection Products: Vehicle exterior protection products including CX2 ULTRA Protection (£499) and GX1 Paint GardX Protection (£299).
5. Reggie's Original Car Care Products: Car care products including Alloy Wheel Cleaning Kit (£16.95), Car Care Cleaning Kit (£18.95), and Leather Care Kit (£29.95).
6. Credit Accounts: Credit accounts available for Dealer and trade users with payment terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Automotive Repair Systems delivers mobile and bodyshop-based Small and Medium Area Repair Technique (SMART) services for cosmetic vehicle damage, including alloy wheel refurbishment, paintless dent repair (PDR), paint chip and scuff repair, glass chip repair, and interior/leather repair. The company operates a nationwide mobile technician fleet supported by two bodyshop facilities in Orpington and Liverpool, serving both individual vehicle owners and motor trade/dealership customers.

Product overview

Automotive Repair Systems is a UK-based provider of SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Technique) repair services, operating since 1997. The company offers a unified portfolio of automotive cosmetic repair solutions delivered through both mobile technicians and fixed bodyshop facilities. The core offering consists of seven primary service lines: Mobile Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Centre (Diamond Cut Division), Mobile Diamond Cut Repair, Chips & Scuffs Repair, Paintless Dent Repair, Glass Chip Repair, and Interior/Leather Repair. These are complemented by dealership-specific services including S.M.A.R.T Repair Booths, Insurance Services, and Retail Services, as well as add-on offerings such as courtesy cars, GardX paint protection products, and Reggie's Original car care products. Services are delivered via a nationwide network of mobile technicians and two bodyshop locations in Orpington (Kent Head Office) and Liverpool, with an IMI-approved training centre supporting technician certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Mobile service that travels to the customer's home or workplace to restore damaged alloy wheels. Targets individual vehicle owners and dealerships needing fast on-site wheel refurbishment with turnaround of approximately 40 minutes per wheel.
• Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Centre (Diamond Cut Division) Bodyshop-based diamond cut alloy wheel refurbishment using automated computer-mapped lathes with 3-day turnaround. Serves dealerships and trade customers needing precision-cut wheel faces and two-tone finishes with powder coating.
• Mobile Diamond Cut Alloy Wheel Refurbishment On-site same-day diamond cut wheel repair service delivered via specialist mobile vans equipped with precision lathes. Enables dealerships to offer instant wheel repairs without waiting for off-site turnaround.
• Chips & Scuffs Repair

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 minutes average repair time per wheel
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Italian Leather CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Italian leather company that supplies tanneries for vehicle manufacturers and luxury motor yachts. Enables near-invisible and permanent leather repairs in the UK market. First to bring this product into the UK.
• National Body Repairers Association (NBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association membership providing industry representation and standards compliance for vehicle repair services.
• Leading InsurerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance approved bodyshop trusted by leading insurers to deliver top-quality repairs and exceptional customer service. Direct billing available.
• GardXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReseller of GardX vehicle protection products including CX2 ULTRA Protection and GX1 Paint Protection.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dent Wizard: Specialist PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) provider operating in the UK, serving both retail customers and automotive dealers. Directly competes with ARS's PDR service line and has similar dealer group relationships for hail damage and cosmetic dent repair.
• AutoRestore: UK nationwide provider of cosmetic vehicle repair services (alloy wheels, PDR, paint refurbishment) for fleets, dealerships, insurers, and retail — a direct head-to-head competitor across multiple of ARS's service lines.
• Belgrove Vehicle Solutions: UK-based mobile repair provider offering PDR, alloy wheel refurbishment, interior repair, and bodywork polishing to dealerships and fleets. Comparable to ARS in mobile service model and dealer channel focus.
• ChipsAway: UK's largest mobile SMART repair franchise network, offering paint chips, scuffs, minor dents, and alloy wheel repairs direct to consumers. Closest direct competitor to ARS's retail mobile SMART repair offering, though operating via a franchise model rather than company-employed technicians.

Broad incumbents

• Synetiq: Major UK insurance-approved repair network and salvage operator, providing vehicle damage repair through a national bodyshop network. Competes with ARS in the insurance-approved bodyshop segment, though broader in collision and salvage services.
• RAC Motoring Services: UK roadside assistance and vehicle repair provider with broad mobile service capabilities. While primarily roadside, RAC's mobile technician network overlaps with ARS's mobile repair model and dealer/fleet service distribution.
• Nationwide Accident Repair Services (NARS): One of the UK's largest accident repair networks, insurance-approved and serving major fleets and insurers. While broader in scope (collision repair), NARS overlaps with ARS on insurance-approved bodyshop services and dealer relationships.

Others

• Marshmallow: UK motor insurance challenger and approved repair network operator. Marshmallow directs policyholders to approved repair partners, creating an insurance channel that ARS competes for alongside other bodyshop networks.

Regional players

• Bellway Vehicle Solutions: UK-based mobile cosmetic repair service for dealerships and fleets, with diamond cut wheel repair and SMART repair offerings. Comparable to ARS in mobile-on-site service model and dealer customer base, though smaller scale.

Emerging players

• Bumptech: UK specialist in bumper scuff and minor bodywork repair, offering mobile service to dealerships and trade customers. Direct overlap with ARS's bumper/panel repair offering but narrower service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Automotivegroupuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/automotiverepairsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automotive-repair-systems---uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/automotiverepairsystems
• Xx.com/automotivers

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automotive Repair Systems