ALMOST two-thirds of garages believe the repair industry should not be regulated by Government legislation.

The findings from a study compiled by Federal Mogul Aftermarket UK found that of 1,000 garages polled, 60% backed a self-regulating system compared with 23% opting for a Government scheme.

However, despite discrepancies over who should provide the legislation, 80% of garages and workshops favoured the introduction of a garage licensing system.

Rob Clulow, marketing manger at Federal Mogul, said: 'It is clear from this survey that many people in the industry have recognised the benefits of a structured licensing scheme.

'The introduction of a licensing scheme will enable us to ensure that the very small minority of fly-by-night operators that give the industry a bad name are weeded out.'

The Good Garage Code has gained backing from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, but still needs to be passed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). It should be implemented over the next couple of months, receiving OFT approval by the end of the year.

The code was developed last September following a meeting between the Department for Transport, ministers and the motor industry.