Italian Auto Repair Shops Confront New Safety Rules and Market Shrinkage

In Italy, automotive repair workshops must comply with Legislative Decree No. 81/2008, which obliges owners to protect not only employees but any person entering the premises. The decree requires a detailed Risk Assessment Document (DVR) covering hazards such as vehicle movement, noise, dust and dangerous substances, and mandates clear safety procedures, signage and designated pedestrian routes. Non‑compliance can make the workshop owner liable for injuries suffered by customers.

A recent CNA report for the province of Forlì‑Cesena shows that independent garages have fallen by 12 % over the last decade, leaving about 500 active shops. Growth in vehicle technology, higher costs for hybrid and electric‑vehicle equipment, rising parts prices, competition from Chinese manufacturers and a chronic shortage of qualified technicians are compressing margins. The rise in used‑car transactions—over 21 000 ownership changes in 2025—has increased demand for maintenance, but labor gaps of more than 50 specialists per year threaten the sector’s viability.