Parts supplier Groupauto has launched a Motor Codes backed approved scheme for independent garages which has ambitions for 500 members by this spring.

It aims to help raise confidence in independents and make the garage experience more transparent for consumers.

All of the garages signing up to the new scheme will have to join Motor Codes, and in doing so will be subject to the same standards and quality control checks as existing subscribers, mostly franchised dealers at present, adhere to.

Alongside the scheme Groupauto has launched an online garage finder, available at approvedgarages.co.uk.

Groupauto said the not-for-profit initiative will provide consumers with a network of trusted independent garages delivering quality and transparency, while also providing the garages in the scheme with new and repeat business.

Motor Codes already has an agreement with Unipart's Car Care Centre programme and the RAC Approved Garages scheme. They contribute 584 and 217 garages to the Motor Codes network respectively.

Those garages signing up to Approved Garages will also have access to technical training offered by Groupauto and its training partner eXponentia.

The group wants 5-600 independent garages signed up by April.