5 Safety Signs You Need for Your Garage & MOT Centre

The UK motor vehicle maintenance & repair industry is vast and growing, with revenue projected at around £34.9 billion in 2024–25 and encompassing nearly 43,000 businesses employing roughly 216,000 people (see  ibisworld.org.) These numbers underline the importance of standing out, both for business success and operational safety. 

Yet, many garages are facing a "perfect storm" of rising costs, parts shortages, and customers delaying services, with 89% of repairers citing operational expenses and 56% expecting reduced work due to customers cutting back on essential repairs (see The Motor Omsbudsman). 

In such a competitive and high-risk environment, clear, compliant safety signage helps ensure workplace safety, regulatory compliance and customer confidence.

1. MOT Vehicle Testing Centre Signs

For garages that carry out MOTs, clear signage is crucial for first impressions and safety, and are a legal requirement. MOT & Reception Signage such as signs for MOT Vehicle Testing Centre direct customers to reception or waiting areas, lending authority and order. Help your visitors understand where they need to be, for their own safety and comfort, and you’ll spend less valuable time trying to herd people and have more time to work on their vehicles. 

There are certain signs that must be displayed. As per the DVSA “The three triangles MOT sign detailed in The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 11, diagram 864 must be displayed in a prominent position, no part higher than 4.5m from the ground and no more than one sign on each road frontage.”

>> Click here for the sign that meets DVSA requirements

It is also a requirement of the DVSA that an authorised MOT testing centre has a weatherproof, clearly defined MOT viewing area that is safely accessible from the reception area and that there are signs in place to alert vehicle owners to the presence of the MOT viewing area. 

>> Click here for the sign that meets this requirement  

To find out more about the legal requirements for MOT Vehicle Testing Centres, take a look at the DVSA website.

2. Hazard Safety Signs in the Work Area

Garages contain numerous risks, obvious and hidden, to visitors and employees. Whether you’re using compressed air, have open pits, or areas with moving vehicles, safety signs remind people to take care and minimise their own risk. 

These types of signs can be custom worded to suit your specific workplace if a standard sign doesn’t seem to fit. Keeping safety signs visually prominent helps reduce accidents and support best safety practice.

3. Workplace General Safety Signs

All workplaces need signs directing people in case of an emergency and garages are no exception. Visitors and staff need to be informed of safe exit routes with Fire exit signs, of first aid provision with First Aid signs, and of where to muster with an Assembly Point sign. 

Whether you have emergency lighting in place or not, we advise having emergency safety signs made in photoluminescent material to aid evacuation in case of reduced visibility. 

Safety signage is not enough on its own; you must keep all exit routes clear and train staff in safe evacuation procedures. Keep your fire evacuation plan up to date and carry out regular fire drills to improve familiarity and identify areas of risk. 

Get more information on carrying out a workplace fire risk assessment.

4. PPE Requirement Signs

Motor mechanics and engineering can be a demanding job and PPE is a tried and tested way of minimising the risk of injury, illness, or worse. Safety signs remind staff to use approved items of PPE in certain areas to reduce the risk. 

In garage and motor servicing environments, you may see Eye Protection Must be Worn signs or Hand Protection Must be Worn signs in key areas. Place these signs in a prominent position at eye level close to where the PPE must be deployed, not on a noticeboard in a different room. Carry out regular checks that the PPE is fit for purpose and in good working order, that the staff can access the PPE easily, and they know how to use it correctly. 

5. Chemical and Hazardous Substances Signs

Garages use a range of hazardous substances including brake fluids and lubricants, paints and lacquers, and strong cleaning products. For more information about how to carry out a chemicals and hazardous substances risk assessment, how to reduce risk in the workplace, and advice for your specific industry,  visit the COSHH section on the HSE website. 

Safety signs which are useful in a motor garage include a Warning Harmful Waste Oil sign, a Chemical Store Keep Out sign, and a Danger Corrosive sign.

Read our article: Top 5 Essential Safety Signs for Chemicals

Why Safety Signs Matter

A good safety sign…….

• Enhances safety: Highlights hazardous areas and prevents injuries.
• Reinforces professionalism: Consistent, branded signs signal trustworthiness and credibility.
• Improves customer experience: Confidently guided customers feel reassured when entering a structured, well-signed garage.
• Supports compliance: From emergency exits to PPE and CCTV, good signage meets legal obligations for MOT testing stations overseen by the DVSA.

In today’s high-stakes garage environment, where rising costs and competitive pressures are the norm, installing clear, high-quality signage makes good business sense.

Signs sourced from providers like Parrot Signs & Graphics not only ensure legal compliance but also support safer working practices, smoother customer flow, and a more professional image.