PEACE has broken out between two of the UK's largest vehicle repair associations in an effort to rescue the industry from collapse caused by spiralling costs and shrinking returns. The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association and Motor Vehicle Repairers Association, whose members have traditionally been major competitors in the car repair market, have announced they are to begin co-operating on major issues affecting their joint memberships.

But each organisation is stressing it will remain fully independent. The two associations, which represent a large proportion of vehicle repairers, have already begun discussions and will hold regular meetings in order to present a 'united front'. Insurance companies and Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, are two named targets of the VBRA and MRVA's united front.

Other issues on which the two organisations hope to agree a common stance are courtesy car provision and the practice of overall invoice discounting, as well as a number of other free services such as car collection and delivery.