Motor Codes has opened its third annual Garage of the Year competition.

The OFT-approved self-regulator for the automotive industry has called on motorists to champion their local garage and help remove the stress of finding a trustworthy garage for car owners across the UK.

Previous winners, hailed as Golden Garages, were franchised dealer Kinghams of Croydon in 2010 and independent Clive Woolford Motor Engineers in 2011.

Chris Mason, managing director at Motor Codes, said the aim is not just to seek out the best but to show that there are garages the length and breadth of Britain that can give motorists peace of mind.

"The vast majority of garages out there provide top quality customer service. Garage of the Year helps point out the good guys so that motorists don’t need to worry about making a costly mistake in choosing a garage."

Customers nominating their garage will be in with a chance to win an even more stress-free car servicing experience, with a year’s free servicing on offer, as well as tickets to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The competition opens for voting on 24 February, through www.motorcodes.co.uk.  In April, the top 50 large and small garages will be shortlisted and customers of those garages can continue voting, to help decide the Motor Codes Garage of the Year.