A new analysis from Scrap Car Comparison reveals a growing EV “postcode lottery” in Wales, with several local authorities offering no access at all to fully certified EV mechanics, despite EV adoption continuing to rise.
The study compared every UK motor repair business with those that employ at least one IMI TechSafe qualified EV technician. This allowed the team to identify which parts of the country are already well-prepared for the shift to electric driving and which areas currently offer very limited support.
Electric vehicles have systems that are different from the petrol and diesel cars with which mechanics are already accustomed. Though it is not a legal requirement for mechanics in the UK to be certified before they can work on EVs, many manufacturers will require technicians to be appropriately trained to maintain any vehicle warranties. Businesses and technicians will also be putting themselves at risk of voiding both insurance policies and Electricity at Work regulations if working on EVs without the appropriate qualifications.
After cross-referencing data from Companies House with the IMI’s “TechSafe”-certified EV technicians, Newcastle upon Tyne is revealed as the area of the UK with the most EV-safe car repair businesses. With more than three-quarters (79%) of the area’s businesses home to at least one mechanic that’s certified as EV safe by the IMI, electric car owners in the Newcastle Upon Tyne area won’t have to go far to find a suitable garage for any repair work.
Bath and Northeast Somerset follows in second, with 75% of vehicle repair businesses home to one EV-certified technician, while Brighton and Hove places third (65%).
At the othere end of the scale, several areas in the UK are lacking any EV-safe car repair businesses, according to IMI “TechSafe” registration data. In total, nine locations, including Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde have no businesses with EV qualified mechanics registered to the scheme, with the numbers in Bedford and North Lincolnshire also down to below 1% of all car repair businesses boasting an EV specialist.
Despite being home to 515 registered car repair businesses, North Northamptonshire also has just four businesses with registered EV-safe technicians, making up just 1% of car repair businesses in the area suitable for repairs for those who require a certified professional.
Key findings for Wales:
- Flintshire has the strongest access to EV trained specialists in Wales, with 60% of repair businesses employing at least one IMI certified technician
- Several Welsh areas including Torfaen, Bridgend, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion currently have next to no certified EV support at all, with 0% of garages employing an IMI qualified technician
- Other large Welsh authorities such as Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wrexham and Carmarthenshire also show very limited access, reinforcing the EV repair postcode lottery across the country
- Across the UK more than 6,100 repair businesses now have at least one IMI certified EV mechanic, but large regional gaps remain despite EVs making up nearly a fifth of new vehicle registrations in 2025
