Workwear for garages and MOT centres

Matching workwear across reception and workshop makes a small garage look like a well-run business. It also has to survive brake fluid, gearbox oil and a constant cycle of hot washing.

Reception and the workshop are two jobs

Service advisors and reception staff need a polo, shirt or softshell that looks smart over the counter. Technicians need coveralls or trousers and a top that can be ruined by oil without anyone minding.

Use the same colours and logo for both so the customer sees one team. A darker shade for the workshop hides oil, while the front desk can wear the same colour in a smarter cut.

Oil, fluids and constant washing

Engine oil, brake fluid, coolant and grease stain light fabric for good. Navy, black and grey polycotton coveralls hide marks and hold up to hot washing. Many garages use a laundry service, so check garments can go through industrial washing without the branding peeling.

Steel toe cap boots with an oil and fuel resistant sole are standard on most workshop floors. Look at the EN ISO 20345 marking and your risk assessment when choosing.

Customer cars stay clean

Nothing undoes a good service like a greasy handprint on a cream seat. Clean overalls for road tests, disposable seat covers and steering wheel covers matter as much as the technician's kit. Avoid jackets with exposed metal zips or rivets on the back pockets when sitting in customer cars. Make road-test overalls a separate, clean set kept on a hook by the key board, so nobody climbs into a customer's car in the coverall they wore for an exhaust job.

MOT bays and testers

Testers spend time in the pit and under ramps. A bump cap protects against knocks from axles and exhausts, and knee pad trousers help with tyre and brake checks. Keep the tester's name visible on their top; customers often ask who carried out the test. Pit work is often cold and draughty in winter, so a fleece or thermal under the coverall helps. A head torch clipped to a bump cap is a cheap upgrade for seeing under the car.

Where to put your logo

Embroider the garage logo on the left chest of polos, softshells and coveralls, with the technician's or tester's name on the right. Embroidery copes with industrial laundry far better than small prints. A large printed logo across the back of coveralls is visible from the waiting area through the workshop window. Keep the logo identical at reception and in the workshop so customers see one business.